Freight forwarders protest against Port Klang's manpower shortage

A severe lack of manpower at Port Klang is crippling its operations and about 100 freight forwarders have protested against the inefficiency, Seatrade-asia reports. Freight forwarders held a protest late last week at the entrance of Port Klang's north port, denouncing the customs department for not having enough manpower to process documents of goods to be brought in or taken out. Port Klang is Malaysia's largest sea port and the country's leading gateway to import and export goods. “Previously, it used to take us barely two hours to complete the documentation for goods but now it is taking two days or more. The reason given to us is that the department lacks manpower,” a freight forwarder was reported saying. Malaysia's anti-corruption authorities have on 28 March arrested 62 customs staff, with nearly 40 of them based at the Port Klang customs office. The freight forwarders argued that the port should have back-up staff following the arrest that resulted in the manpower shortage.