Kuching: DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen has urged the Sarawak Government to expedite the expansion of Senari Port and provide a transparent explanation on the future of Pending Port.
So, Chong said, people may better understand the Government’s overall vision rather than witnessing the gradual decline of what was once one of Kuching’s key logistics hubs, without any clear direction.
Chong, who is also Stampin MP, said he recently visited the Sejingkat Bridge construction site, which connects Tanjung Bako and Demak Laut, to inspect the progress of the project and assess its wider impact on Kuching’s development.
“There is no doubt that the Sejingkat Bridge is a welcome infrastructure project that will bring significant benefits to the people. I have always supported development projects that improve connectivity, enhance public convenience, and raise the quality of life.
“Once completed, the bridge will provide residents of Samarahan with an additional route to Kuching city, reducing their reliance on the existing Kuching–Samarahan Expressway and helping to ease the chronic traffic congestion that commuters have endured for years.
“However, while acknowledging the bridge’s transportation benefits, I have also identified what appears to be a serious planning flaw – the insufficient navigational clearance beneath the bridge,” he said.
He said the bridge’s air draft clearance of about 26 metres has prevented Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels and bulk cargo ships that previously accessed Pending Port from passing underneath the bridge.
“Pending Port had long served as the unloading point for vehicle carriers and bulk cargo such as corn and animal feed. Due to the height restriction, these vessels have now been forced to divert to Senari Port, effectively limiting Pending Port’s former role as a commercial cargo port,” he said.
Chong said the shift of cargo operations has placed additional pressure on Senari Port, which was originally designed mainly for container traffic.
He added that industry players have informed him that vessels calling at Senari Port now face additional waiting periods of one to two weeks before securing berths and completing cargo operations.
“These delays will ultimately increase costs for businesses, importers and manufacturers, and these costs will eventually be passed on to consumers,” he said.
Chong also raised concerns that some vehicle carrier ships have bypassed Kuching and unloaded at Bintulu Port due to capacity constraints at Senari Port, thereby increasing logistics costs.
“This raises an important question. When planning the Sejingkat Bridge, did the Sarawak Government already anticipate that Pending Port would effectively lose its operational function and intend to consolidate cargo operations at Senari Port? Or was this simply a major planning oversight?
“If the Government had already foreseen that Pending Port would no longer be able to function as before, why was the expansion of Senari Port not carried out simultaneously with the construction of the bridge to accommodate the additional cargo volume?” he asked.
Chong said, with Pending Port having effectively lost its original commercial port function, the Sarawak Government should also explain its plans for the extensive port land currently occupied by the Kuching Port Authority in Pending.
“Has a redevelopment plan already been formulated? If so, the public deserves to know. We welcome the construction of the Sejingkat Bridge because it will undoubtedly improve connectivity between Kuching and Samarahan and benefit thousands of daily commuters.
“However, major infrastructure projects must not focus solely on road transport. They must also take into account maritime logistics, economic development, and comprehensive urban planning,” he said.
