By : DATUK DR JEFFREY KITINGAN
WE take to task Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha for saying Sabahans misread and misunderstood the country's cabotage policy in shipping transportation of goods. He is such in a denial attitude that he contradicts himself even to his Prime Minister Najib Razak's view on cabotage.
Since when did the Federal cancel the cabotage policy? Please show us the special announcement that there is no more cabotage policy. Don't just say it.
Even the Prime Minister said, "we are considering (on reviewing cabotage), but here a minister said there is no cabotage, when this very cabotage policy had been strangling our economy in Sabah and Sarawak. Because of cabotage, cost of living is higher here, cost of transportation is higher and this has discouraged investors from coming to Sabah."
There is a delay cost, and so we lose, there is no profit, and as a result cost is raised much higher, and eventually burdening the local consumers, affecting adversely the poor people. It also makes our goods not competitive for export.
In the same breath i would like to challenge Najib if you really mean what you said that you are committed to the future of Malaysia as reported, then please implement the Malaysia Agreement, the 20 Points as the only way to save Malaysia is to respect the original concept of Malaysia and restore Sabah and Sarawak's position as equal partners in the Federation.
Furthermore, to save Malaysia will be to implement 'One Country, Two Systems' whereby a unitary system for the Malaya Federation and a federation system for Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya as equal partners. - Sabahkini
Govt was fully aware of complaints that the policy was stifling the State economic growth, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Govt want every part of the country to grow economically and that is why the ministry need to look into these issues.
ReplyDeletesebaiknya polisi ini dikaji semula.
ReplyDeleteMungkin kita akan tunggu keputusan mengenai perbincangan dari pihak tertentu untuk perkara ini.
ReplyDeleteKerajaan perlu mencari jalan yang terbaik untuk membantu harga yang ada di Sabah tidak terlalu tinggi berbanding dengan di Semenanjung.
ReplyDeletethe cabotage policy is a policy that is practiced by many nations worldwide including developed nations. for some of these nations, it is so strictly implemented that no foreign-owned vessels are even allowed to operate within their domestic waters.
ReplyDeletethe high costs of goods cannot be blamed solely on the cabotage policy without also referring to the total costs of transportation and logistics ashore including port costs and the high surcharges in Sabah.
ReplyDeletethe low productivity at the ports in Sabah also adds towards additional shipping costs. freight is only one component which makes up 46% (from a study by Malaysian Shipowners Association) whilst others such as forwarding, trucking, storage etc make up the rest...