KUALA LUMPUR: The dissolution of Bintulu Port Authority and the declaration of Bintulu District as a Federal port is in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the move was also in accordance with the Port Authorities Ordinance 1961 where all ports in Sarawak are under the authority of the state government.

"On behalf of the GPS members of parliament, we would like to thank the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Cabinet for agreeing to the Sarawak government's desire to manage all Sarawak ports, including Bintulu Port, under the administration of the state government.

"This is in accordance with the provisions under the MA63 as well as the Federal Constitution and the Sarawak State Constitution," he said in a press conference in Parliament this evening.

Fadillah added that three committees will also be established to scrutinise matters relating to assets, manpower and finances before the bills are gazetted.

"Date of enforcement will be decided by the ministry (of transport) through the gazettement.

"The dates will be decided after all review, discussion and negotiations between the federal government and the state government approve on matters relating to legislations, port operations, finances and manpower.

"All of this is expected to be finalised this year."

Earlier, the Dewan Rakyat approved the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2024 and the Declaration of an Area in the Bintulu District to be a Federal Port (Repeal) Bill 2024.

The Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Bill, seeks to repeal the Bintulu Port Authority Act 1981, to dissolve the Bintulu Port Authority established under the act, to provide for the vesting of its properties to the government or Sarawak state government or any entity empowered or appointed by the state government under the relevant written laws and to provide for related matters.

The Declaration of an Area in the Bintulu District to be a Federal Port (Repeal) Bill 2024, seeks to repeal the Declaration of an Area in the Bintulu District to be a Federal Port Act 1979, following the change in the status of Bintulu Port from a federal port to a state port.

It was previously reported that a memorandum of understanding regarding the change of the status of Bintulu Port to Sarawak Port was signed between Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas on March 22.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/1077934/fadillah-dissolution-bintulu-port-authority-line-ma63