KUCHING: The official takeover of the Bintulu Port from the federal government, initially scheduled for completion by Nov 30, has been postponed to the end of this month.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the rescheduling is due to factors beyond the state government's control.
"We will try our level best to get this takeover done, the latest by Jan 30 next year," he said at an appreciation dinner hosted by the Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry (MIPD) last night.
He said MIPD and the Transport Ministry were in the final stage of turning the Bintulu Port into a state port.
Uggah, who is also Sarawak infrastructure and port development minister, said the ministry's next big target and challenge is to construct the Tanjung Embang port.
"This is a cherished dream of our premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg).
"We must ensure that his dream will materialise and that the port competes with other ports in the region," he said.
He said MIPD hopes to create a single state port authority to consolidate all six state ports, as the necessary law has recently been passed by the state legislative assembly.
Consolidation of ports in Sarawak is expected to be achieved by June next year.
"So there is a lot of hard work to be one for a seamless transfer into this single entity and one which we want to do at a minimal cost," he said.
Uggah said MIPD will be restructured, including getting more officers and staff, given the increasing workload and responsibilities.
He said the ministry wants to increase the number of officers and staff from the present 42 to between 60 and 100.Uggah said the ministry has been allocated RM1.31 billion for next year, covering many critical projects, adding that it aims to spend all the allocation to benefit the people.
He said the state Public Works Department (JKR) has been entrusted to build some 39 new "projek rakyat " involving an allocation of RM6.07 billion next year.
He said JKR will alsobe supervising more than RM1.6 billion worth of infrastructure and amenity projects from all nine regional development agencies, next year.
Also present were the two deputy ministers of infrastructure and port development Datuk Majang Renggi and Datuk Aidel Lariwoo, MIPD Permanent Secretary Datuk Chiew Chee Yaw and state JKR director Dr Cassidy Morris.