KUCHING: Sarawak's request for the Bintulu port to be handed over to the state is not just about "buying Malaysia's most profitable port," Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said.

Taking to his Facebook to share his thoughts on last Friday's memorandum of understanding signing in Putrajaya to launch the process of changing the status of Bintulu Port from federal port to state port, Sim said it was about state sovereignty and how the port will be "part of Sarawak's nation building ."

He said as the Bintulu Port is on Sarawak soil, it should therefore come under state control as agreed under the terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) - the agreement in forming Malaysia.

Bintulu Port however, was an exception.

The port was declared a federal port through an Act passed in Parliament in 1978.

It became operational in 1981 and became an important import and export gateway for Sarawak.

It soon became East Malaysia's largest container port and the nation's sole liquefied natural gas (LNG) export gateway.

Sim said Sarawak, since 2018 - the year Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg took office - has come a fair way with its revenue.

That year, he said the state recorded $5.8 billion revenue.

He then pointed out that when the state's revenue jumped to RM13.3 billion last year, the World Bank declared Sarawak as a high income state.

He then declared "the best is yet to come."

"As we continue (our) nation building, Sarawak aspires not ( to be) just a high income state but (a state of) high household income.

"The approach under Premier Abg Jo 'buying' Bintulu Port, Affin Bank and MasWing in fact is not new," alluding to the purchase of key assets from the federal government which started in 2018.

"We bought Bakun (hydroelectric power) dam from the federal government which not only generated good revenue for Sarawak but (also) finally gave Sarawak a total control of electricity (generated in the state) and (which) allowed us to sell to Sabah, Indonesia and soon Singapore for a premium."

Electricity generation is also a purview of the state under the terms of the MA53.

Sim said the state then took a 15 per cent stake in LNG Tiga Sdn Bhd (MLNG Tiga) from Shell Malaysia to increase its shareholding to 25 per cent.

"The Premier always said, with the extra revenue, we can always give more back to the rakyat."

Sim said starting during the Covid-19 pandemic, the state disbursed RM6.7 billion under the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS).

"No other states in Malaysia gave anywhere near what Sarawak government did."

He added in 2026, Sarawak students will get free education in state owned tertiary education institutions including free education for B40 children "as part of social intervention."

Sim then asked all Sarawakians to pray for good progress in the ongoing talks for the state to regain its autonomy over education and health.

He described the autonomy over health and education as "crucial components in Sarawak's nation building."

"No one can stop Sarawak's nation building, achieving #PCDS 2030 unless we, Sarawakians are intentionally or unconsciously divided between now and the next six years by ourselves or by unseen hands outside Sarawak.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/1030064/bintulu-port-key-component-sarawaks-nation-building-drive-says-deputy