Domestic and international vessels are avoiding Labuan as the port of call, according to the Labuan Economic Sector Coalition.
LABUAN: The Labuan Economic Sector Coalition (LESC) said that the controversial Labuan standard operating procedure (SOP) was produced without thorough stakeholder and industry consultation.
It emphasized that the shipping, sign on/sign off SOP in Labuan should be in tandem with the national SOP used in other ports in Malaysia.
“LESC finds the SOP is unacceptable, inoperable. We conclude that the SOP developed without a deep understanding of the implication and without considering the significant role that Labuan plays in the oil and gas and supply chain industry in this region, forcing the domestic and international vessels to avoid Labuan as the port of call,” said the coalition in a statement on Saturday.
Its members comprise of various associations and business organizations including Labuan Freight Forwarder Association, Sabah Shipping Agent Association, Malaysia Offshore Support Vessels Owners Association (MOSVA), Malaysia Shipowners’ Association (MASA), Petronas, Labuan Shipyard & Engineering, Megah Port Management, Asian Supply Base, Sabah Flour & Feed Mills and Antara Steel.
LESC further pointed out that failing to do an early corrective measure will create an irreversible long-term negative economic impact to Labuan if the decision remains status quo within the next one to two weeks. The repercussion will be much severe the longer we wait.
Knowing the potential risk affecting the Labuan community livelihood and impact on the local economy, the coalition believes that the District Disaster Management Committee of Labuan must be answerable to the public for putting the Labuan economy and the population future at risk if they insist on SOP that does not find the balance between economy and life.
LESC suggests the activation of “contactless protocol” during piloting and port operation.
It also proposes that the Department of Safety and Health play a proactive role and collaborate with the Health Ministry in facilitating coalition members on the implementation of “contactless protocol” as part of the effort to find the balance between economy and life particularly for places that have achieved herd immunity such as Labuan Island.
“We would like to advise the government to reassess their decision and begin an objective dialogue with the Labuan Economic Sector Coalition to understand our challenges and proposed solution for Labuan,” said LESC.
“Since Labuan has achieved its herd immunity up over 90% of its adult population, LESC would like to suggest that the administrator begin to have a different mindset in approaching and managing Labuan in line with the spirit of the National Recovery Plan.
“Transparency, engagement and collaboration are crucial in making Labuan a model that thrives in this pandemic time for the rest of Malaysia,” said the coalition.