Anwar, Abang Johari witness Bintulu Port handover to Sarawak

KUCHING, September 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the official handover of Bintulu Port from the federal government to the Sarawak state government. The handover ceremony took place at Kuching International Airport, with Transport Minister Anthony Loke representing the federal government and Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas representing the state government.

The transition marked the end of Bintulu Port's federal status and its incorporation into Sarawak's jurisdiction, effective September 1, 2026. The handover involved four key documents and the dissolution of the Bintulu Port Authority, with the port authority functions now overseen by the Bintulu Port Authority (Sarawak), a state statutory body.

The takeover process lasted three years, starting in January 2023 when Abang Johari announced his intention to transfer Bintulu Port, and culminating in the signing of a completion agreement on June 21, 2026. The agreement was ultimately valued at RM1.8 billion, and a cheque was exchanged between the federal and Sarawak governments in Bintulu.