Despite the official news of the Bintulu Port indicating a record cargo handling of 50 million metric tons in 2022, everything from efficiency, freight operations, to manpower leaves much to be desired at Bintulu Port.
The Publicity Secretary DAP Bintulu branch, Chiew Chan Yew held a press conference with port user, to highlight the existing problems at the Bintulu Port and the urgent need for improvement.
Mr Ling, 34 years of experience as a user of Bintulu Port, has faced various issues such as crane and forklift malfunctions, and operations come to a halt even with light rainfall during the rainy season. He emphasized that Sarawak does not experience typhoon seasons, so halting operations for even light rain is unacceptable.
He continued to explain that sometimes ships are near the port, unloading thousands of containers per trip, but they receive delayed notices and have to wait for days or even longer in the open sea. These additional expenses are borne by the port users themselves.
He also revealed that when it comes to mechanical failures at the port, the responses they receive are either a lack of budget or the choice of purchasing lower cost equipments, which inevitably leads to short lifespans.
He mentioned that he is a food supplier, and due to the perishable nature of food, delays of more than 10 days or even two weeks in shipping result in food spoilage losses.
Chiew Chan Yew added that Bintulu Port users face a multitude of problems, which should not be the level of service a world-class port should provide. He questioned why these issues persist, including the root causes of mechanical failures, manpower problems, and complex procedures, all of which burden the users.
He cited examples of foreign ports that do not shut down operations due to minor weather conditions, and all losses are entirely the responsibility of users, leaving them feeling unjustly treated despite paying for all services.
"If these issues are not addressed, they will only worsen. Bintulu Port lacks effective management and efficiency, and all additional costs are unfairly shouldered by the users. These problems reflect a failure of the department in charge."
Bintulu Port has operated since 1983, with its operational methods remaining unchanged for 40 years. Chiew Chan Yew suggested involving the private sector to enhance competitiveness and allow capable leaders to take charge of the deep-water port, earning it a genuine world-class reputation.
In response, Chiew Chan Yew stated that he would send a letter to the federal Ministry of Transport and urged the Sarawak government to take this matter seriously, rather than allowing the problems to persist. He added that even though the port's management board is recommended by the Sarawak government, their performance in management is disappointing.
Meanwhile, he expressed concerns that Bintulu Port's inbound traffic has gradually declined. He fears that if services, management, and human resources are not improved, Sarawak's freight industry may decrease its competitiveness and no longer be attractive to users.
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