Transport Ministry does not declare Bintulu port as hub for Sabah, Sarawak

The Ministry of Transport has never specifically placed Bintulu Port as a shipping transportation hub specially for Sabah and Sarawak.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said in truth, a port would naturally be visited due to the availability of quantity cargo supplies and container as well as good and efficient port facilities.

"In other words, this depends on market-driven and hinterland economic activity.

"Basically, Bintulu Port is hive of activity because of the oil and gas activities particularly LNG (liquefied natural gas) and not because any port is declared as a transportation hub," he said in a statement here Monday.

Abdul Rahim said: "Sepanggar Port and Kuching Port are both free to be visited by foreign ships and if there are ships that offer direct services to a foreign destination, they can also export through their own ports without having to go to Bintulu Port or Port Klang."