Bintulu: “Development is important, but oversight is equally necessary. Only when development and checks and balances exist together can Sarawak move forward more steadily and go further,” said DAP Bintulu Branch Chairman Chiew Chan Yew.
In a statement, he said the official handover of Bintulu Port to the Sarawak Government is an important and commendable milestone in Sarawak’s development journey, as well as the result of continuous negotiation and cooperation between the Federal Government and the Sarawak Government.
“To witness such a new chapter and progress is naturally a shared aspiration of all Malaysians. Regardless of background, any policy direction that benefits national development and serves Sarawak’s long-term interests should be viewed rationally and appreciated,” he said.
Chiew said that since the Pakatan Harapan-led Federal Government came into power in 2018, the Federal level had begun to take a more proactive approach in engaging and addressing matters related to Sarawak’s autonomy. At the same time, the Sarawak Government had started to express its intention to regain management control of Bintulu Port, followed by gradual planning and coordination.
He said that after about seven years of continuous effort and negotiation, the completion of the handover is indeed something to be welcomed with pride and appreciation.
Chiew stressed that this achievement was not brought about by any single party alone, but was built upon the Sarawak Government’s long-standing pursuit, as well as the Federal Government’s continued institutional cooperation since the Pakatan Harapan administration, and was finally completed under the Unity Government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“This handover shows that when the Federal and State Governments are willing to work together pragmatically, many long-standing unresolved issues can actually achieve meaningful breakthroughs,” he said.
He added that the outcome involved coordination, cooperation, and efforts from various Federal departments and reflected Sarawak’s long-term objective of strengthening its autonomy.
“Looking back at the history of Malaysia’s formation, Sarawak, as one of the three founding territories, has its own important position. The Federal Government’s role in helping to build key infrastructure in the early years, and later allowing Sarawak greater room to operate and manage these assets once the system matures, is a direction worth pursuing seriously,” he said.
Chiew said Bintulu Port, as one of Sarawak’s most important deep-sea ports, plays a critical role in logistics and trade and is a strategic asset with long-term, stable revenue. For decades, including during the Barisan Nasional era, this issue did not see any substantial breakthrough, making this handover even more significant.
He emphasised that DAP has always supported the pursuit of Sarawak’s rights, including greater administrative autonomy, fiscal capacity and policy implementation space. Only with greater autonomy can Sarawak plan its development more effectively in line with local needs.
However, Chiew said the handover of management rights is only the first step. What matters more now is how these strategic assets are managed, operated, and translated into real benefits that the people can feel.
He said Sarawakians have always placed high hopes on autonomous development. From major development projects and policies, such as the growth of Samalaju Industrial Park, to the establishment of PETROS in recent years, and to projects involving Affin Bank and AirBorneo, Sarawak has indeed invested significant resources and public funds.
“What the people expect is not merely who owns the assets, but whether these investments can ultimately create more job opportunities, improve public services, drive the local economy, and bring real improvements and benefits to people’s lives,” he said.
He added that the people’s expectations are not complicated. After large amounts of public resources are invested, every major decision should lead to higher efficiency, better services, and fairer development outcomes, instead of remaining only as slogans or figures on paper.
Chiew also pointed out that, because these major assets involve significant public resources and Sarawak’s long-term development direction, there must also be strong checks and balances.
“The greater the power and resources, the greater the need for transparency and accountability, to ensure every decision, every investment and every ringgit of public funds can withstand scrutiny and truly serve the overall interests of the people,” he said.
