LABUAN: The Labuan Port Authority (LPA), currently overseen by the Bintulu Port Authority, will operate directly under the Transport Ministry pending the official transfer of the Bintulu Port Authority to the Sarawak Government.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the reorganisation, mandated under the Federal Port Act, would be implemented once the transfer of the Bintulu Port Authority to Sarawak is completed by 2025.
"Under the ministry, LPA will assume federal port authority status but several key issues need resolution before the formal handover," he told reporters after officiating the integrated programme of Gegar Labuan at the Labuan International Sports Complex here on Saturday (Nov 9).
Loke said his ministry would appoint a general manager to lead the LPA.
Addressing the long-proposed Labuan Integrated Port project, he noted several development proposals from the private sector remain under review.
"Any port development project will follow a privatisation model without requiring government funding. This model allows the ministry to act strictly as a regulatory body rather than an operational entity," he added. – Bernama