Malaysia's Sabah-Phillipines Transshipment Business To Resume End-Feb, Says BIMP-EAGA

By Haslin Gaffor SANDAKAN (Sabah, Malaysia), Feb 14 (Bernama) -- The transshipment business activities between Sabah and the Philippines are expected to begin at the end of this month, said the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). A member of BIMP-EAGA, Loo Yap Kiong, said the activities in the area were suspended since April last year by a trade ban due to security concerns. Loo said the traders were not able to conduct business as usual despite the state government allowing them to resume from Feb 1, 2017. "The National Security Council (NSC) has been conducting a tight screening of the trading vessels from the Philippines and only allowed 40 daily to conduct the businesses. "Prior to the trade ban, 70 to 80 vessels were allowed to operate prior," he told Bernama here Monday. Loo said to-date, NSC has approved the applications from 20 local firms to do businesses in the area and Sandakan Port would be used for the activities. "When the transshipment business is back in operation, it will generate economic returns to the area especially to traders who were previously affected by the trade ban. "The transshipment business activities will only be permitted in districts of Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau in Eastern Sabah Security Zone (in east Malaysian state Sabah)," he said. --BERNAMA