A SHIPPING agent is urging Transport Minister Anthony Loke to intervene and help resolve various problems that are afflicting commercial players in Port Klang and impacting on the logistics industry.
Maritime Network Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Seri R Jeyenderan pointed to the alleged failure of the Port Klang Authority (PKA) to handle the issues, contributing to a situation detrimental to operators.
The contentions include matters such as restrictive standard operating procedures (SOPs) imposed by PKA, as well as marine conditions around the port that are unsuitable for certain vessels, he claimed.
He said PKA as an authoritative body at South Port should be aggressive and aware of all such issues that arise.
For example, he pointed to SOPs related to the size of ships and anchorage of cargo ships during daylight.
"PKA reasons that permission to anchor is given only between 8am and 5pm because there is no light or sufficient lighting (beyond that time),” he was quoted a saying by Getaran, the Malay-language sister portal of The Vibes.
"Doesn't this excuse sound so funny? How can an international-standard port become dark?" he quipped.
He also claimed that the depth of the sea is also decreasing all the time, thus making it prohibitive for large vessels to come in.
Jeyenderan attributed this problem to improperly conducted works such as in dredging and cleaning.
"Since a year ago, the depth at the Kurap wharf has been only about 6.5 meters, while the actual limit is 7.5 meters.
"This causes large ships to be unable to dock, thus contributing to losses for the local shipping industry," he said.
Jeyenderan stressed that it is time for minister Loke to come down and meet with industry players to understand their complaints.
"Don't just leave it to PKA to manage. The minister himself needs to come down and meet us. See and hear our grievances for yourself.
"I am sure that YB Loke as a leader who often goes to the ground can tackle these problems fairly. We do not want to discredit any party, but give us the justice we deserve," he said.
Jeyenderan added that he has been trying to get PKA’s attention to resolve the issues. He claimed that he was instead vilified.
He stressed that he does not want all the problems to linger on, as the losses incurred would heavy if there continues to be no solution. – The Vibes, January 13, 2024
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