‘Bintulu Port’s transition from federal to Sarawak jurisdiction provides clear framework for next 30 years’
BINTULU (Sept 22): The formal return of Bintulu Port to Sarawak after 48 years under federal jurisdiction marks a defining milestone for Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad (BPHB), said Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki. The State Secretary and BPHB chairman said the transition, which took effect on Sept 1, 2026, had also provided Bintulu Port [...] The post ‘Bintulu Port’s transition from federal to…
On September 22, Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad (BPHB) celebrated the return of Bintulu Port to Sarawak after a 48-year period under federal jurisdiction. This transition, effective since September 1, 2026, provides Bintulu Port with a clear framework for operation over the next three decades. Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, State Secretary and BPHB chairman, highlighted that several long-standing structural issues affecting the port's future have now been resolved.
The transition was formalized through a Completion Agreement between the federal and Sarawak governments, along with a separate Tripartite Agreement involving Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd (BPSB), the wholly-owned subsidiary of BPHB. This appointment was confirmed in the Sarawak Government Gazette Notification Swk. L.N. 261, published on September 10, 2026, under the Port Authorities Ordinance 1961.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the official handover of Bintulu Port on September 16. BPSB will continue to operate, manage, and develop the port under the Heads of Agreement between the Sarawak government, Bintulu Port Authority (Sarawak), and BPSB, pending the execution of the Port Operation Concession Agreement.
BPHB bid farewell to former president and group CEO Dato Ruslan Abdul Ghani and welcomed Anuar Ismail as his successor, who officially assumed his duties on August 17. Ruslan is credited with significant progress in areas such as facial recognition, autogate systems, drone-based port security, and BookAjak, an in-house ride-hailing application.
BPHB's efforts in digitalization have earned it the Outstanding Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Leadership Award. The port currently handles up to four million tonnes annually, representing about 25% of Sarawak's total exports. Anuar Ismail has pledged to steer BPHB's Halatuju Roadmap, with a vision to transform Bintulu Port into a smart, agile, and green port by 2030.
With a secure operating framework in place until 2056, Bintulu Port is well-positioned for continued growth.
Written by urgent.news from Borneo Post Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
