FSM dares shipping firms: Prove Cabotage Policy benefited Sabah
FSM also welcomed the statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to review the Cabotage Policy that has been blamed for the high cost of goods in Sabah.
He said the PM's statement was timely to the organisation's request for the policy to be liberalised because it did not benefit the domestic shipping lines. Najib on Sunday said the Federal Government is willing to look into the problems faced by the business community in Sabah.
He said that it makes sense to export directly from Sabah but added he would have to study the implications.
Wong, on the other hand, said the Cabotage Policy was long-standing issue.
"But we hope for the best (that it would be liberalised or scrapped)," he said.
He pointed out that Sabah's contribution to the country has been quite significant and that if the Cabotage Policy issue was not settled, it would dampen efforts to attract investors to Sabah.
He said despite the policy has been partially liberalised, it has not brought about the benefit the FSM has envisioned.
Wong also clarified the Malaysian Shipping Association (Masa) statement accusing the FSM that a study on the high cost of shipping in Sabah as being sanctioned by the Malaysia Investment Development Authority (Mida).
He said Masa was putting words into FSM's mouth and that the statement was totally irresponsible.
He said Masa blaming the FSM as irrational and sensationalising the issues was unacceptable because the FSM was merely telling the truth and was done in the interests of Sabahans.
He challenged the national body to ask anyone in Sabah whether they have benefited from the Cabotage Policy.
Wong said the FSM had nothing against the Cabotage Policy just as long as it is was only applied within the peninsula states. "What we want is only for the policy to be fully liberalised," he said.
Wong said by scrapping the Cabotage Policy, it would enable shipping lines in Sabah to compete in a fair environment.
"Presently, the shipping industry in Sabah could not progress because it could not compete."
The manufacturing industry in Sabah, he said, was also not exempted from income tax unlike shipping lines in the peninsula.
And yet, he said the peninsula shipping lines still receive full support from the Government.
"A few companies in Sabah have gone bankrupt because of the Cabotage Policy.
We do not want to make things difficult for anyone but just want the government to look into it."
The FSM is responding to the Cabotage Policy Wong said for the sake of its members and also to ensure the Sabah industry survives.
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FSM backs 'hire illegals' move
"We welcome the suggestion especially so in Sabah ... (The move) would be good as so many illegals are here already ... But of course we must make sure they are legalised first before being employed into our workforce,"
Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) President Datuk Wong Khen Thau
Datuk Wong knows best on this issue. And i believe in every words he said, all are for the good. I am aware that he doing the research from the beginning until today, the findings - cabotage policy should be abolished-
BalasPadammajority Sabahan is against this policy because it does not bring any benefits to the state instead of making the industries in Sabah even worse.
BalasPadamCabotage policy is also a form of "protection" to shipping industry, & sometimes protectionism is not a good way to make the economy & industry grows. Instead of competing with foreign shipping company, Malaysian Shipping company only compete among themselves, or maybe not competing at all.
BalasPadamSome quarters said that the Malaysia Shipping Association is a form cartel, which control the shipping prices for their own gain; directly speaking they dont need to compete over the price because it was already been set & agree by all the company...
Scrapping it & open up the shipping industry to the foreign company will not only going to see the industry expand, it will also going to benefits the consumer because as competition among the company soar, price would go down...
In my opinion, this cabotage policy should be reviewed.
BalasPadamThere is no point to continue the policy if like Datuk Wong have said, causes the few Sabahan companies gone bankrupt. I find there are loopholes in this policy. If without the policy, no doubt the shipping industry can expand and prosper but the way I see it, the policy controlled the shipping industry from further expansion. So, scrapped the policy all together if complains are arising.
BalasPadamCabotage policy - Either review or scrapped it all together to avoid further problems.
BalasPadamHiring illegals - I gotta agree. It's better to legalize them with proper documents and through proper channels. We need legal workers not illegal workers.
Ya betul tu candance. Apapun saya harap hal ni dapat ditanggani dengan baik.
BalasPadam