KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) – The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has requested that Kemaman Port Consortium update and submit its development proposal for Kemaman Port, in line with the port development plan and concession agreement.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the ministry has taken note of the port expansion proposal and, through the Kemaman Port Authority, has asked for the proposal to be submitted.
“In principle, MOT always encourages private investment in driving maritime activities. Therefore, MOT will facilitate any private sector party to develop ports,” he said during the winding up debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Loke also said that MOT has taken note of the Kedah state government’s announcement regarding a private sector proposal to develop a seaport in the state’s Sanglang area.
“MOT has not received any comprehensive proposal from the private sector for port development in that area. Any proposals for port development there remain at the conceptual stage.
“Therefore, the drafting and alignment of new port limits to develop a port in Sanglang, Kedah and Perlis, does not arise,” he said.
Commenting on the issue of upgrading Sandakan Airport and the commencement of direct international flights to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Singapore, which have yet to begin, Loke said the government has always encouraged both local and foreign airlines to provide direct international flight services into Malaysia.
“MOT has taken steps such as conducting annual bilateral negotiations with foreign countries to establish and enhance traffic rights between Malaysia and those countries.
“We have also included Sandakan as one of the cities to be liberalised under the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services,” he said.
Loke noted that under this agreement, which has been signed and ratified by Malaysia, airlines from ASEAN countries are allowed to operate flights between any ASEAN destinations without limits on frequency, capacity, or aircraft type.
“At the same time, we are offering various incentives to foreign airlines operating into any Malaysian airport, including to major cities in Sabah, through Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s airline incentive programme,” he added.
— BERNAMA
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