Kota Kinabalu: A non-political group, Justice For Sabah, wants the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department (JPDS) to explain the notice posted at the entrance to its boat and ship licensing/permit office, which does not allow a runner or agent to have dealings at the licensing counter.Its spokesman Datuk Hiew King Cheu said he received complaints from people who need to go to the JPDS office to process boat licences.
After studying the situation, the former Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament opined that he cannot understand why JPDS needs to do such action to disallow applications or renewals for all boat licences to be done through/by runners and agents.
“JPDS ought to give an explanation on this matter,” he said in a statement, Friday.
Hiew said it is a common practice to use a runner or appointed agent to help the owners renew or apply for a licence/permit.
He said the runners or agents helped many people in saving time and hassles in the tedious licence applications.
“On the other hand, why does JPDS, which is in charge of all boat/vessel licensing and inspection, taking months to process the approval and issuance of the licences? Is it so difficult and complicated? The JPJ can handle hundreds of road vehicles in a day with permits, Puspakom inspection and road tax.
“If all the boat owners have to go themselves to the JPDS licensing office to do the inspection of boats, renewal of licences and new applications, the queue in front of the JPDS office would probably be very long,” he said, while urging JPDS and the Works Ministry to take immediate action before things turn bad.
