By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government is awaiting federal approval to gazette Sepanggar Bay Container Port for 24-hour operations to help ease congestion.
Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick said the application was still pending approval from the Ministry of Finance.
He said a task force comprising government agencies, port user associations and the port concessionaire/operator was monitoring 10 interim action plans to address congestion caused by limited container storage space.
The port expansion project is currently subject to an extension of time until October 2027.
“One of the 10 action plans approved by the Sabah Cabinet is to coordinate 24-hour operations by government agencies involved in container clearance,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Ewon said the agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, currently provide services outside normal working hours through overtime arrangements upon request by port users.
He said the fatal accident involving the unloading of a container along Jalan Pelabuhan Sepanggar was also discussed at the Sabah Cabinet meeting two days ago.
Following the discussion, he would convene a special meeting with enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with the ban on parking container trailer trucks on road shoulders in KKIP and along Jalan Pelabuhan Sepanggar.
The agencies include the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, Road Transport Department, Royal Malaysia Police and Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
Ewon said another action plan involved providing a transit parking area for container trailers by KKIP.
The facility was now open and being used by container trailer service companies.
He urged all such companies to use the designated parking area instead of leaving their trailers on road shoulders.
“The Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport will continue to monitor issues relating to Sepanggar Bay Container Port and coordinate the implementation of appropriate action plans,” he said.
‘One of the 10 action plans approved by the Sabah Cabinet is to coordinate 24-hour operations by government agencies involved in container clearance’ – Ewon
