Awang Bemee (front row, third left) in a group photo with retirees and staff of KPA after the appreciation and certificate presentation ceremony. — Photos by Muhd Rais Sanusi

Awang Bemee presenting a token to a long serving staff who retired in March this year. Also seen are (from left) Janang, Lau, Asem and Rahmatullah (right).

KUCHING: Kuching Port Authority (KPA) expects to see a slight drop in productivity this year due to the global economic slowdown.

Its chairman Datuk Awang Bemee Pengiran Ali Basah revealed that the port is expected to handle 8.65 million tonnes of cargo this year.

“A decrease of about 5.6 per cent from last year mainly from general cargo while the container throughput decreased only slightly by 0.85 per cent, estimated to register 221,800 TEUs by the end of 2017,” he said.

“However, I am optimistic that we will be in a better position next year following the commencement of the capital dredging of the Sarawak River which funding has been allocated as well as with the setting up of the Digital Free Trade Zone and the normalisation of border trade at the Tebedu-Entikong Post,” he added.

Awang Bemee highlighted this in his address during the End of Year Appreciation and Certificate Presentation Ceremony held at the port office in Pending here yesterday.

Hence, he called for greater support and cooperation in order to achieve better throughput in 2018.

“Let us strive for higher productivity and operation efficiency to make up for the decrease in throughput,” he urged.

On the ceremony, Awang Bemee pointed out that it was organised annually to show appreciation and acknowledge the long serving employees of KPA who have and will retire this year.

“This year, there are 21 retired employees. We wish all of you a happy retirement,” he said.

For staff receiving certificates of achievement and successful attendance of courses, he urged them to continue enhancing their knowledge and skills from time to time as it was crucial not only for their career development but that of KPA as well.

“We recognise that human capital development is fundamental to bring about better productivity and services to our customers. I want this (training courses) to be ongoing to benefit our staff and port,” he said.

Given today’s fast changing, challenging and competitive economy, he added, productivity and operation efficiency are essential to achieve competitive advantage.

“Towards this end, KPA has provided 21 internal and 69 external training programmes which comprised courses, seminars, talks, workshops and others throughout the year for all the staff,” he shared.

Moving forward, Awang Bemee noted that collective efforts from all stakeholders were required to enhance its contribution to facilitate Sarawak’s economic growth and development within Malaysia.

“We will continue to enhance our IT capabilities to complement the state government’s drive towards digital economy,” he assured.

He congratulated the KPA team for their outstanding achievements this year, notably for winning the Sayembara Dekon Public Service Chief Minister Award 2017, participating in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) and the Head of State’s 81st birthday celebration parade, as well as organising the Integrity Day and Customers’ Day.

KPA Board members Rahmatullah Morshidi, Asem Linkin and Ir Janang Bungsu as well as general manager Robert Lau were among those present.