Minister Briefed on Port Performance and Expansion Efforts During LPPS Visit

9 December 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister III, who is also the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneur and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick was accorded a comprehensive briefing on the current performance, role and development direction of ports throughout Sabah during his visit to the Sabah Ports Authority (LPPS) .

During the visit, Ewon also shared the focus of his ministry in line with the expanded portfolio which now places transport under the ministry’s responsibility.

“Besides gaining a deeper understanding of the existing initiatives being carried out by LPPS, I also shared my vision and direction for the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport."

“I am very confident that LPPS will continue to contribute to efforts to regulate port development throughout Sabah, which is an important enabler for industrial investment here."

“I also hope the Sabah First team at LPPS will continue to be strengthened to deliver quality services to stakeholders,” he said.

He said this after the briefing from LPPS General Manager Dollyn Aloysius in conjunction with his official visit to LPPS.

Regarding congestion issues at Sepanggar Port, Ewon said they were being addressed through upgrading works and increasing the port’s capacity.

“Efforts to upgrade and increase capacity at Sepanggar Port are ongoing despite delays, and a fourth Extension of Time (EOT) has been granted.

“I hope the project can be completed according to the scheduled timeline. I have a responsibility to monitor its implementation because any delay in the upgrading project at Sepanggar Port is a loss for Sabah,” he said.

He is confident that LPPS and the ministry can jointly assume responsibility to ensure that all port upgrading projects in Sabah are successfully carried out.

Ewon said LPPS is also responsible for private jetties, including those operated by major factories, and requested that enforcement or monitoring be implemented to ensure Sabah can safeguard its rights, particularly with regard to revenue collection.

“At the ministry, we will continue to work with other ministries, especially regarding routes between industrial parks and the ports, as well as cooperation between the State and Federal Governments concerning industrial development needs in Sabah,” he said.

He added that from January to October 2025, LPPS, through ports across Sabah (Teluk Sepanggar Container Port, Tawau Port and Sandakan Port), handled a total of 445,054 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers.

Also present during the visit were Assistant Minister of Industry , Entrepreneur and Transport Datuk Jonnybone J. Kurum, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Datuk Thomas Logijin, as well as ministry and LPPS officials.