MCA boss told: Sabahans not dumb
Published on: Friday, October 09, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai's statement that the Cabotage policy cannot be repealed because it is the country's sovereign right is an insult to the intelligence of every Sabahan and Sarawakian who had had to live with the consequences of the repressing policy for the past 35 years.Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) Honorary Lifetime President Datuk Seri Wong Khen Tau said Liow talked as if Sabahans and Sarawakians know nothing about sovereignty."So he said it is the country's sovereign right? In this case, it seems that sovereignty only applies to Peninsular Malaysia. Are we Sabahans and Sarawakians not entitled to any sovereignty?" he said.
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Wong also hit out at Liow who is MCA President for stating that the Cabotage policy is not the main reason for the high cost of goods in Sabah but that the inefficiency of ports and transportation costs are the main culprits. He said the Minister should ponder on his points because even in Kota Kinabalu, where transportation costs from the ports to the warehouses are not very significant, the prices of goods are still more expensive than those in the peninsula by 20 or 30 per cent."In a study we did on the costs of goods in Sabah and the contributing factors that lead to the higher prices in the State, we found that shipping fee is the leading factor to this problem. One of the reasons is because of our low export volume. Now, we know this, we don't need others to spell it out for us."But it is because of the Cabotage policy that is hindering our export. It is too costly to export our products. Because of this, we only trade domestically and it is hard to increase our volume. If the shipping cost is cheaper, we would like to export our products worldwide."However, can we do that? No and it is the Minister's fault. How can you blame the port? How much is the port charging?" he said. As the Minister of Transport, Wong said Liow has the authority to implement other solutions to the problem if he is really does not want to do away with the Cabotage policy.
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Wong said since the policy is now partially liberalised, the sector between Port Klang and Sabah must be fully liberalised and that would be enough for now."We are not asking him to repeal since he wants to keep it so much. He can make it his historical institution, I don't care. If he really believes it is not affecting the prices of goods in Sabah, I challenge him to fully liberalise the policy.
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"Give it two years. See what will happen to the prices and the export volume in Sabah. I challenge him to do it if he dares," he said. Wong added that Liow's statement that the ports in Sabah are ineffective is a slight to the local Infrastructure Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who had been working hard to improve the ports especially in Sepanggar as the State's hub.Liow's promise to 'help' develop Sepangar, said Wong, is unclear because the Minister failed to go further by specifically saying how he is going to help the project.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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