Pre-Privatisation: Sabah Ports Authority

Privatisation of the port is preceded with an entity called Sabah Ports Authority (SPA). It will be jumping the gun if we go straight to the present era of privatised entity. It must have a beginning, and that must start from the era when the port operations and management was under the control of Sabah Ports Authority.

Not withstanding this scenario, prior to the inception of SPA, the port operation i.e. Kota Kinabalu, was organised through the control of 3 separate departments namely, The Public Works Department, The Marine Department and also the Immigration Department.

SPA is a state statutory body established in 1968 by the SPA Enactment 1967 and repealed and replaced in 1981. The Authority is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Sabah. In the context of privatisation, SPA will act as The Regulatory Authority (RA) in respect of port operational activities and to ensure that the terminal/port operator (the privatised entity)must fully comply as enshrined in the Privatisation Agreement. SPA will, as the RA set standards and benchmarks comparable to other ports in the region.

SPA is very unique in the sense that it is an umbrella authority to all the ports in the state of Sabah, unlike Sarawak and other Malaysian ports in the Peninsula where all the ports are their own Authority. I am of the opinion that this umbrella concept is good as control of operations, management and especially planning for port expansion will be done at Headquarters. Much costs can be saved in this manner, as it will avoid duplications of services. With some seven ports all over Sabah, effective controls can only be had, with strong port managers and regular inspection by the head of SPA, which is the general manager.

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