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A key performance index will
be implemented for all ports in the country as
“soon as possible”.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said
his ministry was drawing up the KPI to make sure
port operators “buck up”.
“Among the things we will look at are profits
and losses, quality of service and volume of
business.
“I want all port operators to buck up and embark
on a comprehensive branding exercise because as
we progress, ports in other countries are also
growing — especially those in China,” he told
reporters at the certificate of completion
handover of the Swettenham Pier expansion
project yesterday.
He also urged the Penang Port Commission and
Penang Port Sdn Bhd to promote Swettenham Pier
as a “Malaysian brand”.
“We must put the people first. At one time,
people thought the Federal Government will not
provide for Penang because of politics but that
is wrong,” he said.
Asked about the state government’s plan for a
monorail test track in Batu Kawan, Ong said he
was not aware of it.
An English daily had earlier reported that
“discussions are ongoing” with the private
sector to build a monorail test track on a
12.1ha site on the mainland.
At another function in Putrajaya, Ong said
Malaysia would be one of the 26 countries vying
for one of 20 seats in category C of the
International Maritime Organisation Council
during the elections on Nov 27.
He said category A was reserved for major
maritime trading nations, category B for major
shipping nations and category C for countries
with maritime interests due to their
geographical spread.
“As such, Malaysia feels that its presence in
the council is warranted given its long
coastline and proximity to the major shipping
route along the Straits of Malacca,” he said at
a press conference after launching the
national-level World Maritime Day celebrations.
On another matter, Ong said the unity plan
between him and former MCA deputy president
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek marked a new starting
point that needed the commitment from all sides
to succeed.
The MCA president said the plan was also not a
sudden occurrence and had been worked on for
some time.
He said not many were aware that the peace
process was in progress and that was why many
were surprised when Dr Chua and he announced it. |
