The Labuan Port Authority (LPA) is set to transition into a standalone entity directly under the Ministry of Transport (MoT), moving away from its current operation under the Bintulu Port Authority (BPA).
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah confirmed that a formal announcement will be made once all matters related to the handover from BPA to the Sarawak government are finalised.
He said, “The transition of the Bintulu Port Authority to the Sarawak government has already been approved by Parliament. After the remaining internal matters are resolved, the Labuan Port Authority will be officially gazetted as a single authority.”
During a recent working visit to the Road Transport Department’s Labuan branch, Hasbi emphasized that the move toward making the LPA an independent authority is certain, noting that it is only a matter of completing internal processes.
The LPA has been operating under the BPA since January 26, 2017, when the BPA extended its regulatory functions to include the LPA. Since then, the LPA has been responsible for the development, administration, and port services to ensure Labuan Port functions effectively as a gateway for merchant ships, supporting Labuan’s designation as an International Offshore Financial Centre since October 1, 1990.
Additionally, the LPA appointed Straits Inter Logistic Berhad (SILB) as the new terminal operator for Labuan Liberty Terminal, effective April 1, 2020. This role was previously managed by Megah Port Management Sdn Bhd (MPM).
