Malaysian govt to resume Penang Port dredging

 

THE government will resume work on the multi-million-ringgit project to deepen the north channel of Penang Port, which had been shelved under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) Mid-term review.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said after reviewing the scope of work and budget for the proposed project, a requisition has been forwarded to the Finance Ministry to resume work on the project.

"Our requisition to the Treasury is a comprehensive one and that is for the dredging of all Malaysian ports, including Port Klang and Kuantan Port," he told reporters after opening the annual meeting of the Road Safety Council in Penang yesterday.

Ong said after studying the benefits in dredging Penang Port's channel, his ministry felt that the project should proceed in order to enhance Penang Port's competitiveness.

Operator Penang Port Sdn Bhd is targeting to develop Penang Port into a premier port by 2012 if the deepening of the north channel proceeds.

The government deferred the RM322 million project in its mid-term review of the 9MP.

The north channel dredging of the port, from its current 11.5m depth to 14.5m, was supposed to be carried out between 2010 and 2012 to serve mother vessels calling at the port.

The Penang Port expansion and upgrading are outlined in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) blueprint to promote it as the leading port in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle.