Alan Peat THE DRAFT National Ports Authority (NPA) Bill has been delayed. According to Government Gazette No 23454, and under Government Notice 1063, Minister of Transport Dullah Omar stated: "Public consultations on the Draft NPA Bill published in the Government Gazette No 23633, dated July 16, are postponed. "The Draft Bill is in the meanwhile withdrawn. "There will be a follow-up shortly." Although no reasons have been given for the delay, interested parties contacted by FTW suggested that it could be fairly surmised that some internal conflict on certain points in the bill could be behind it. "Of course there is also labour pressure surrounding the bill," said one, "with the unions having serious objections to the principle of privatisation, termed "concessioning" in the government-speak of the moment."
