KOTA KINABALU, SABAH, MALAYSIA January 11, 2026 – Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transportation (MINDET), Datuk Ewon Benedick, has announced that a proposal for an interim solution to address congestion at Sepanggar Port will be tabled at the state Cabinet meeting in the near future.
He explained that an interim solution is required because the ongoing long-term port expansion project will take considerable time to complete.
“Today, I joined a prime mover from a depot in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) to Sepanggar Port to collect a container for delivery to a customer, in order to personally investigate the complaints received,” Ewon said after conducting an on-site inspection of the port on Saturday.
The inspection confirmed that the complaints about congestion are valid, with several contributing factors identified, particularly operational efficiency issues that need immediate attention.
“I found the complaints raised are indeed justified. Many factors are contributing to the congestion at Sepanggar Port, but efficiency issues must be addressed and improved urgently,” he stressed.
Ewon emphasised that resolving the congestion at Sepanggar Port is now MINDET’s top priority, as the port serves as the main lifeline for Sabah’s industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“This congestion has a direct impact on the supply chain, logistics costs, and the competitiveness of industries and entrepreneurs in the state. Therefore, it is my number one priority in the ministry to resolve it,” he said.
He added that several discussions with relevant stakeholders will be held before the proposal paper is presented for Cabinet approval.
The Sabah Government, Ewon affirmed, is fully committed to ensuring smooth port operations to support sustainable economic growth in the state.
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