KUALA LUMPUR – A total of RM15 million has been allocated under the 12th Malaysia Plan to carry out preliminary works for the upgrading of the main and cargo jetties in Pulau Pangkor, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said of the total amount, RM7 million was allocated for next year.
He said this in reply to a question from Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Bersatu-Tambun) who wanted to know the status of the application to upgrade the passenger jetty on the duty-free island.
Pulau Pangkor was gazetted as a duty-free island on January 1 this year.
To another question from the Perak menteri besar on the status of the application to shorten the 48-hour requirement before tourists can enjoy duty-free shopping on the island, Mustapa said the matter was being studied by the Finance Ministry.
“The Finance Ministry previously wrote a letter to the Perak government stating that if the application is approved, the same treatment should be given to three other islands, namely Labuan, Tioman, and Langkawi,” he said.
On the application to make the Sg Pinang Kecil jetty on the island a legal landing place, Mustapa said it was not approved by the Customs Department.
“We understand and are aware of the congestion issue at the current jetty (main jetty). There is a need to review this plan.
“We will discuss with the Perak government how we can review the decision made by the Customs Department. We will refer this matter to the Finance Ministry,” he said. – Bernama, November 23, 2020
