Sabah deputy chief minister Ewon Benedick will present interim proposals to ease congestion at Sepanggar port to the state cabinet, reported Kuala Lumpur's Free Malaysia Today.

Mr Benedick, who is also state minister for industrial development, entrepreneurship and transport, said congestion at the port has been designated his ministry's top priority as the facility is vital to Sabah's industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He said immediate measures were needed as long-term projects, including port expansion, would take time. Congestion directly affects supply chains, logistics costs and the competitiveness of industries and entrepreneurs in the state, he said.

Mr Benedick said he travelled with a prime mover to observe conditions while it collected a container from a depot in the Kota Kinabalu industrial area to Sepanggar port. The inspection confirmed industry concerns were valid, with operational efficiency issues requiring urgent attention.

He said discussions will be held before the Cabinet paper is tabled. Sepanggar port, located about 20km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, is undergoing expansion to raise capacity from 500,000 to 1.2 million TEU annually, although the project has faced delays.