Along the breadth of the mighty Rajang snaking its course through Malaysia as the country’s longest river, you will find the principal port of the region, Rajang Port Authority (RPA), strategically positioned as the distribution centre to the vast hinterlands of Sarawak.

RPA is a feeder port situated in the central region of Sarawak and is based  within the major administrative district of Sibu, located 60 kilometres from the South China Sea.

RPA operates as a statutory body of the state of Sarawak under the purview of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development. The major exports include sawn timber and timber products while its primary trading partners include ports of the Peninsula Malaysia, and regional ports in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Europe, China Japan and Hong Kong.

Over the years since its establishment, RPA had witnessed significant periods of changes guided by aggressive stages of investment, such as between 1974 and 2014 when the total cost of development amounted to RM250 million, involving port expansion, building and upgrading wharfs, and the construction of the corporate building alongside other ancillary facilities.

Additionally, in keeping pace with the requirement of the day, the port had also invested in the purchase of the most technologically advanced fleet of machinery and port equipment. Between 1991 and 2015, this investment amounted to RM81 million.

RPA has also long established a sound and modern information Technology platform with its customised Integrated Information system providing one push button linkage to the world. This long running history keeping pace with the industry evolution has allowed RPA to establish a robust network in which to thrive as an integral component of the holistic supply chain, covering maritime transport port handling and hinterland transport.

The key to success rests on the integration and complimenting and supporting roles played by all components in the supply chain.  Our strategic alliances and partners and the suppliers provide the backbone of adequate supply to meet the demand of users, directly and indirectly.

Indeed, the company’s strengths in this area have been officially recognised as in 2019 RPA was awarded the Lang international Corporate Titan Award of ‘The Best Managed Riverine Port’.

“ In providing the vital link between the suppliers and their customers, between the global supply chain and the local and regional trade and consumption, the ultimate end users of goods and services,  it is crucial for the port to maintain our own sound and solid system, structure and processes internally to carry out what a port should in the holistic logistics chain.”  Lim comments.

Fulfilling a crucial role in the state of Sarawak infrastructural development, RPA operations compliment nationwide projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway which is set to provide a vital link between the hinterland and the state’ inner core.

EMPOWERING EMPLOYEES

The true links in the chain are the human components behind the company : employees are the backbone of trade as the RPA representatives to physically handle and manage port operations.

For Lim, employee management and retention has occupied great deal of her focus since assuming the role of General Manager.  Indeed, one of the first actions that Lim took was to instil a sense of value and pride amongst RPA employees by implementing a Human Resources department.

“ The first endeavour was the formulation of corporate values and human resource philosophies and principles.

“ Like any other resource, the management and development of our human resource has been based on the philosophy of requirement and optimisation with the associated principle of the right person for the right job.” Lim tells us.

With the human resources philosophies developed in alignment with the corporate principles, RPA successfully established the building blocks for a successful, and resilient system.

FUTURE HORISONS

Looking to the years ahead, RPA’s immediate concern will be recovering from what Lim refers to as, “ the brutality of the pandemic.”

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic’s unprecedented impact on logistical disruption, the port has navigated this turbulent time relatively well.

The port has in fact recorded an even better performance in our operation 2020 than the year before and has continued to improve in 2021.

“Our profitability has been remarkable to register a 200 percent increase in 2020 and as of the end of August 2021, the profitability has achieved a further 20 percent increase.” Lim comments proudly.

Aside from this, Lim remains dedicated to persevering with the port’s resiliency and bolstering operations by continuing to integrate and engage in operations with other major logistics players in the holistic supply chain.

“My key priorities are to ensure that we continue to be resilient and to sustain in our operation and business and to exceed our present performance, to not be complacent on the aspect of safety and health for all whom we deal with and that of our corporate citizens.” Lim concludes.

“We especially hope to engage with those who might have been adversely affected by the pandemic to build toward a stable economic recovery.”