Hoping for new Labuan port under 11MP
Published on: Saturday, November 15, 2014
LABUAN: A new modern integrated port proposed under the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) but which failed to take off under two previous Members of Parliament here – Datuk Hj Yussof Mahal and Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman – has not been scrapped.The project is still being actively pursued by current MP Datuk Rozman Isli."I am hopeful that the project will be incorporated in the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) which begins next May.
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A Master Development Blueprint is being prepared by five consultants on developing various aspects of the island. The establishment of an integrated port, which is important for the island, is expected to be included," he said.Rozman said the 11th plan takes a new approach by adjustments made to economic planning and policies. This would pave the way for speeding up important projects. The proposed new port could undertaken by the Government or be under a private initiative of even a joint venture.
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He added a number of companies, including from overseas, had expressed interest in investing in the project.Regarding the chosen site for the port, Rozman said one site mentioned was Pulau Eno which is on the tip of the Southern-west part of the Island.
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The area was in proximity with the oil and gas hub but a final decision would be made after input from experts.He said a new port was important as it could help the island to evolve into an enterport serving as an area for storage and distribution of goods to surrounding ports.After all, Labuan has a natural deep water harbour and this asset needed to be fully exploited.A new port for Labuan had been mentioned a number of times in the previous years.In June 2011 when MP was Datuk Hj Yussof Mahal, a delegation from a reputed port builder – Shanghai Harbour and Enginering Company was here to look at the recommended site for the proposed port and held discussion with officials from Labuan Corporation (LC) with a view to building and operating the port with modern facilities. However, there was no further progress.In May 2011, the then Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakri stated here that the RM1.4 billion Labuan port would be at a 209-hectare site at Rancha-Rancha. He said studies had been completed and it was now a matter of funding and the project was being decided by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).The Minister further said it was important for a foreign company to be involved as such company would have the network to bring in more ships to Labuan.However, again there was no further news on the proposed port until recently, when former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh proposed a mega development plan for Labuan to have an integrated port on a reclaimed site between Labuan harbour and Sabah mainland. The project was proposed along with a bridge link to Menumbok.Following the proposal, many here thought "this time it was for real" but so far there was no response from Labuan Corporation.Many in the industry feel it was time for the present port to be relocated because it was incongruously sitting in the heart of the commercial area of the island. The increased cargo volume handled by the port had led to inadequate storage facilities for containers leading to a second container yard to be established at a distance from the port and this escalated haulage charges.The other factor was the frequent movement of long vehicles seeking access to the port that had to pass the heavy traffic in the town area. And the roads were not designed to handle such long vehicles. This added to the traffic congestion.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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