Malaysia’s port operators should increase efficiency to remain competitive in the face of challenges including developments in other countries, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said Malaysia should leverage on its strategic location along one of the busiest maritime routes in the world.
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The Transport Minister said Malaysia should leverage on its strategic location along one of the busiest maritime routes in the world.
Read more at https://shorturl.at/jtrN0
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
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NewsTranscript
00:00I came to Jawa Baru to launch the ASEAN Port and Logistics Exhibition and Conference.
00:09This is a meeting of stakeholders in the maritime sector,
00:15especially companies that come to show off their technology and services.
00:26We see a lot of feedback and interest from these technology companies,
00:35including from foreign countries, especially European companies and so on.
00:40There are several companies from the Netherlands, from Germany, from American companies, China and so on.
00:47This shows that our investment sector is increasingly competitive.
00:52They come because we have several large ports,
00:57especially in Johor, such as PTP, Pasigudang and Tanjong Langsat.
01:03This shows that our ports are growing rapidly.
01:08They are companies that can help in terms of automation, technology, blockchain, AI and so on.
01:21I am proud to host this event,
01:26because first of all, we can promote Malaysia, especially Johor, to the world,
01:33and we can attract companies to show off their technology.
01:41We encourage our port operators to invest in technology,
01:48especially in AI, automation and so on.
01:51This can boost the performance of our port,
01:55make our port more efficient,
01:57and this is important for the development of the country's economy.
02:01I would like to ask,
02:03will the construction of land in Sekatingkraw, Thailand,
02:07destroy our ports?
02:09I have said this many times,
02:11first of all, it is the plan of Thailand, the neighbouring country.
02:16For us, we focus on our ports.
02:19What is important is to increase the efficiency of our ports.
02:23Other countries have their own rights to build their own ports.
02:29So, every country wants to build their own infrastructure.
02:35So, we cannot restrict or block any country.
02:39Our neighbouring countries are all competing to build their own infrastructure.
02:46But, as I have said, we do not need to worry,
02:50because first of all, we have an advantage in terms of geographical location.
02:55We are located in the middle of the Lake Selat and the South China Sea.
03:00So, we are in the middle of the busiest waters in the world.
03:06We have many ports in the Lake Selat,
03:09from Johor to Penang.
03:12There are three main ports,
03:15PTP, Poklang and Penang.
03:18And there are also several ports that are being planned by the private sector.
03:23So, we do not need to worry too much about the competition of other countries.
03:28Of course, there will be competition,
03:30but we have to be confident in our own advantages.
03:33So, for us, what is important is to increase our efficiency.
03:37We already have a geographical location that gives us an advantage.
03:41This is a recurring advantage.
03:43No one can replace this advantage,
03:48because the geography cannot be changed.
03:50So, this is a natural advantage that we already have.
03:55So, what is important is that our operators must be able to compete.
03:59And we need to have an open free trade base.
04:04And of course, we have this advantage.
04:07Our trade base is free.
04:09We have a good external base.
04:12And we also have a strong industrial sector.
04:16Because these ports are not only for trade,
04:20and also for transshipment.
04:25But what is important is that there is also an industrial sector for export and import.
04:30If there is a strong industrial sector,
04:33of course, more ships will be ported to our ports.
04:37And in Johor, as I said,
04:41it is a trading hub.
04:43Many industrialists are coming to trade in Johor.
04:47So, of course, our port plays a more important role.
04:52Can you mention MSSW?
04:55MSSW is being implemented.
04:57The first phase has already started,
04:59especially for the port of Kelang and the port of PTP.
05:03We are building the second phase now
05:07to expand to other ports.
05:11So, this platform really encourages all the ports in our country to use MSSW.
05:17Thank you very much.