Kota Kinabalu: The Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) is appealing to the Federal Government to inject additional funds to help finance future planning of the Sapangar Bay Container Terminal (SBCT).

"If we aspire to create another hub port (SBCT), we appeal for more funds for future planning," FSI President Datuk Mohd Basri Abd Gafar said.

He said the realisation of the SBCT as a hub port must be given top priority by the Federal Government in order to speed up foreign vessels calling on Sabah ports and to address trade imbalance issue.

"We feel that the RM1.1 billion allocation for Sapangar Bay Container Terminal, is nowhere close to the government allocation for development of Port Klan as the hub," he ascertained when commenting on the Cabotage Policy issue.

He said the Federation welcomes the Cabotage Policy Exemption announcement by Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abduk Razak.

At the same time, he also thanked Sabah Chief Minister Tan Seri Musa Haji Aman and Minister of Transport Dato Sri Liow Tiong Lai for taking the initiative to further liberalise the policy.

Basri said FSI strongly believe that the liberalisation as announce by the Prime Minister in May will be realised more effectively if the government will consider to endeavour to generate enough publicity and constantly promote the latest liberalisation move to the global business communities and attract foreign liners to call on Sabah ports.

He said it is also vital the licensing authority plays an important role in its effectiveness in Implementation, above all, by adopting business-friendliness and reducing bureaucracy in issuing licence to foreign vessel owners keen to serve in this region.