Interim Proposal to Address Sepanggar Port Congestion to Be Presented to State Cabinet, Says Ewon

11 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET), Datuk Ewon Benedick, said an interim solution proposal to address congestion at Sepanggar Port will be presented to the state Cabinet in the near future.

He said the interim measures are necessary as long-term solutions, such as the ongoing Sepanggar Port expansion project, will take time to be fully completed.

“Following complaints regarding congestion at Sepanggar Port, today I personally accompanied a prime mover from a depot at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) to Sepanggar Port to collect a container for delivery to a customer, in order to directly assess the issues raised,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after conducting an inspection at Sepanggar Port here today.

Ewon said his observations confirmed that the complaints were well founded, with several factors identified as contributing to the congestion, including operational efficiency issues that require immediate attention.

“I found that the complaints raised are indeed valid. There are many factors contributing to congestion at Sepanggar Port, but efficiency-related issues must be addressed and improved without delay,” he said.

He stressed that congestion at Sepanggar Port is now MINDET’s top priority, as the port is a key enabler of Sabah’s overall industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“Congestion at this port has a direct impact on supply chains, logistics costs, and the competitiveness of industries and entrepreneurs in the state. That is why resolving this issue has become my number one priority at MINDET,” he said.

In this regard, Ewon said several discussions will be held with relevant stakeholders before a Cabinet paper is tabled to seek approval for the proposed interim solutions.

He also assured that the Sabah Government remains committed to ensuring smooth port operations in order to support sustainable economic growth in the state.