: The cabotage policy will be reintroduced in Sarawak at the request of the Sarawak government, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Loke explained that the cabotage policy was exempted in June 2017, and there was a misconception that it disallowed foreign vessels from directly calling at Sabah and Sarawak ports. “The policy is akin to our domestic airline regulations. For example, international airlines are not allowed to operate flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, Sarawak; only Malaysian airlines can provide such services.
“This policy, requested by the Sarawak government, is intended to protect local shipping companies and boost their confidence in investing in new vessels for the local market,” he said.