The investment of more than US$325 million to upgrade Penang Port will come to naught if the port’s north channel is not deepened, Penang Port managing director Ahmad ibni Hajar told the Edge Financial Daily.
He said the federal government had shelved the $104.95 million channel dredging project indefinitely and it could spell disaster for the port. Allocation for the project came under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
“The next three years are vital to carry out the dredging,” Ahmad said.
The port had earlier briefed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and several state executive councillors on the port’s operations.
The $325 million investment from 2008 to 2011 includes upgrading works and land reclamation at the North Butterworth Container terminal, Butterworth Wharves, vegetable oil tanker pier, Prai bulk cargo terminal, Swettenham Pier and Tanjung City Marina.
Lim echoed Ahmad’s sentiments and urged the federal government to reinstate the capital dredging project soon.
“This project is vital for Penang, as both the port and Penang International Airport operations are crucial for the Northern Corridor Economic Region, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) and also in tandem with the state government’s aspirations to turn Penang into an international city,” Lim said.
“The port is a crucial element in Penang’s future economic development and we need the dredging project to be carried out to allow larger vessels to come in. Spending the money would also be meaningless if this project does not come into play,” he added.
He said the federal government had shelved the $104.95 million channel dredging project indefinitely and it could spell disaster for the port. Allocation for the project came under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
“The next three years are vital to carry out the dredging,” Ahmad said.
The port had earlier briefed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and several state executive councillors on the port’s operations.
The $325 million investment from 2008 to 2011 includes upgrading works and land reclamation at the North Butterworth Container terminal, Butterworth Wharves, vegetable oil tanker pier, Prai bulk cargo terminal, Swettenham Pier and Tanjung City Marina.
Lim echoed Ahmad’s sentiments and urged the federal government to reinstate the capital dredging project soon.
“This project is vital for Penang, as both the port and Penang International Airport operations are crucial for the Northern Corridor Economic Region, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) and also in tandem with the state government’s aspirations to turn Penang into an international city,” Lim said.
“The port is a crucial element in Penang’s future economic development and we need the dredging project to be carried out to allow larger vessels to come in. Spending the money would also be meaningless if this project does not come into play,” he added.