The six-month delay in implementation of the decision to scrap cabotage in Sabah and Sarawak shows that the the announcement is a "farce", said Likas assemblyperson Junz Wong.

Wong, who is Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president, said it also raises the question of whether such implementation is timed to coincide with the 14th general election expected in the second half of this year.

“It’s an election sweetener as cabotage has always been a hot issue during election,” he said in a statement.

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing last week said the decision on whether to fully abolish cabotage will be made in six months.

Masing said this is because lifting the cabotage policy could make local shipping companies vulnerable to competition from international shipping firms who can directly go to Sabah and Sarawak ports.

Under cabotage, all vessels will need to send goods to Sabah and Sarawak via Port Klang or Tanjung Pelepas in Peninsular Malaysia.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the cabotage policy will be lifted starting June 1.

“Why do we need a six-month exemption and then take a wait-and-see approach? Why should Sabahans and Sarawakians pay more for goods?

"To protect some shipping companies? That’s ridiculous. The policy should just be abolished," Wong said.

He added that the government has had 30 years to study the impact of lifting the cabotage policy and should not present half-baked policy promises to win over voters.

While cabotage has long been blamed for higher prices of goods and services in Sabah and Sarawak, a recent study by the World Bank found that the main factor for this, is poor land connectivity in the two states.