Malaysia may fall behind if port capacity not expanded, says Loke

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook (right) viewing an exhibit at the Asean Ports and Logistics Exhibition and Conference 2026 in Kuala Lumpur today. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia risks losing its competitive edge in the port sector over the next 20 to 30 years if it fails to increase capacity and develop new infrastructure, said transport minister Loke Siew Fook.

Loke said the government was focussing on several strategic projects, including the expansion of Port Klang and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), as well as the development of Carey Island port, to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a key maritime hub in the region.

“If we do not plan (for the future), Malaysia will fall behind in terms of capacity and infrastructure in the next 20 to 30 years.

“This is a very important long-term plan that must begin now. Otherwise, by 2050, we will be far behind neighbouring countries,” he said after officiating the Asean Ports and Logistics Exhibition and Conference 2026 here.

Loke said the development of Carey Island port would be carried out in phases over nearly 20 years and is currently awaiting the resolution of land issues with the Selangor government before physical work can begin.

He said a mega project of this scale could not be completed at once but must be implemented gradually to match future needs.

Loke said the project would complement existing developments at Port Klang and help transform the area into a “mega port” capable of competing with other major ports in Southeast Asia.

He said Malaysia’s ambition was to establish itself as Southeast Asia’s leading maritime hub, with Singapore’s Tuas Port being its main competitor.

Loke noted that Tuas Port had the capacity to handle 60 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, compared with Port Klang’s current capacity of about 20 million TEUs.

He said while geopolitical tensions in West Asia posed challenges to global trade, Malaysia’s port operations had not been significantly affected, with cargo volumes at Port Klang and PTP continuing to record growth.

“Although the geopolitical uncertainty poses challenges to global trade, it also creates opportunities for Malaysia as the country is seen as a safe location for ship-to-ship cargo transfer activities,” he said.