MALAYSIA has unveiled its first duty-free energy freeport, a landmark project that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says will anchor the nation more firmly within global supply chains while generating tens of thousands of new jobs.
Launching Maharani Freeport at Tanjung Emas, Anwar said the development — envisioned as a port built “from the people for the people” — is expected to create at least 45,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, attract supporting industries and open international trade avenues for small and medium enterprises.
“Through Maharani Freeport, we aim to strengthen this pillar by expanding maritime capacity, enhancing logistics competitiveness and increasing Malaysia’s participation in the global supply chain,” he said in his keynote address.
Positioned along the Straits of Malacca, one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors, the freeport is expected to serve as a strategic gateway for logistics and investment, linking East and West, reducing supply-chain vulnerabilities and lowering operational costs.
“Each year, approximately 100,000 vessels pass through these waters, carrying nearly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade and a significant share of global commerce. With its status as a freeport, this latest mega development will offer world-class connectivity to attract global investors seeking efficiency, flexibility and strategic access to Asia’s fastest-growing markets,” Anwar said.
Moments after its inauguration by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, Maharani Freeport commenced full commercial operations, marking Malaysia’s formal entry into the league of global freeports positioned along major energy routes.
Spanning 3,200 acres (1,294.9 hectares), the privately developed deepwater complex aims to draw RM144 billion in global investments. Located along the world’s busiest oil shipping lane—where one in every five barrels is transported—the facility is poised to become a dominant regional node for global energy trade.
A freeport is a sovereign-designated zone where goods may enter, be stored or processed, and re-exported without duties or most taxes unless entering the domestic market, making such hubs magnets for high-velocity trade and capital-intensive industry.
Maharani Freeport, developed by Maharani Energy Gateway Sdn Bhd (MEG), has already begun oil trading and is offering storage, transshipment, blending, bunkering and ship-to-ship transfer services, even as broader infrastructure continues to take shape.
MEG executive chairman Datuk Dr Daing A. Malek Daing A. Rahaman said the hub was operational months ahead of final completion, a signal of strong market demand.
The launch ceremony drew more than 1,500 delegates, including the Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Prime Minister Anwar, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, diplomats from over 30 countries and senior executives from the global energy and logistics sectors.
With a natural depth of 24 metres, the freeport can accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers, offering an alternative anchorage to regional transshipment centres that traditionally dominate bulk crude movements.
Future phases will incorporate petrochemical plants, renewable fuel complexes, energy data centres, AI-blockchain trading platforms and floating storage units to support ship-to-ship operations.
To boost competitiveness, investors registered within the freeport will enjoy zero corporate tax, while oil-related companies may qualify for a three-per-cent tier — among the lowest in the region.
The integrated masterplan spans three reclaimed islands combining an energy hub, deep seaport, industrial zone and financial district, designed to secure Malaysia’s long-term foothold in the global oil and maritime value chain. - November 29, 2025
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