KOTA KINABALU – The Labuan port has shown tremendous improvement since its privatisation in 2020, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.
He said the newly renovated and reorganised port’s turnaround time has improved from about three days to only 24 hours upon docking.
“I was told that the port operates 24 hours, which means a vessel that docks at the port will be cleared in just within a day, thus cutting down the client’s operation cost.
“With some 300 staff within the group, the chief operating officer Datuk Seri Patrick Tiong Chiong Kui said they are also exploring other businesses such as cruise ships to boost the tourism sector in Labuan,” said Ongkili, adding that the port’s upgrading would encourage new opportunities and businesses that would benefit the island.
He said this after visiting the Megah Port Management (MPM), a concessionaire of the Labuan Liberty Port (LLP) today.
MPM submitted its tender to upgrade the facility in September 2019, was awarded the project in January 2020, and took over the LLP in April the same year.
“The upgrading works cost MPM some RM8 million, which saw a tremendous difference compared to its previous condition.
“It was not easy, especially since it happened during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but they managed to work through it and had developed the port in leaps and bounds,” said Ongkili. – The Vibes, September 3, 2022
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