In mid-90’s, at the recommendation of JICA (The Japan International Corporation Agency), the Sarawak Government decided to build a port facility at Tanjung Manis which was completed in November,1997. Tanjung Manis Port Terminal became one of the 5 centres of Rajang Port Authority. But the economic downturn in 1997 coupled with other factors such as the absence of road link to Sibu, failed to attract shippers to utilize its berth. Other than leasing its warehouse to a timber company for storage of timber products, the port remained under utilised for more than a decade.