KUALA LUMPUR: The federal and Selangor state governments have agreed to move ahead with the long-planned Port Klang’s Terminal 3 on Carey Island, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim insisting that development must proceed “as soon as possible” while safeguarding the rights of the orang asli, local residents, coastal fishermen and the surrounding ecosystem.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Friday, Anwar said the project — envisioned as a major expansion of Port Klang’s capacity — had been pending for years and should “not be postponed any longer.”
He said both federal and state leaders had reached a consensus to push the project forward as a strategic investment that could strengthen Malaysia’s economic competitiveness and create new opportunities for nearby communities.
“All related agencies have been instructed to move quickly and ensure that this project becomes a new model for efficient, coordinated and high-integrity development,” Anwar said.
He added that rapid economic expansion must not come at the expense of vulnerable groups or environmental protection.
“The interests of the Orang Asli, local communities, fishermen, and the sustainability of the ecosystem will continue to be protected,” he said.
“National development must go hand in hand with social justice and responsibility towards nature, because that is where true and lasting progress lies.”
The proposed terminal — often referred to as Terminal 3 — is part of a wider plan to expand Port Klang, already one of the busiest container ports in the region.
The development centres on Carey Island, south of Port Klang, and has been discussed for nearly a decade as a long-term solution to capacity constraints at Westports and Northport.
Under various preliminary studies, Carey Island has been earmarked for new deep-water berths, logistics zones and industrial support facilities.
The Selangor government has previously identified nearly 1,700ha of coastal and offshore land to anchor the project.
No timeline has been publicly announced, but officials have hinted that groundwork could begin under the upcoming Malaysia Plan cycle, pending final technical studies and Cabinet approval.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
