KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1: Klang, which houses Port Klang, a major port in the country facilitating billions of ringgit in trade yearly, is a growing city with high economic prospects as well as increasing infrastructure and transportation needs.
Highlighting this during the debate at the committee stage on Budget 2025 last Wednesday, Nov 27, Member of Parliament for Klang, Ganabatirau Veraman said the city has been also facing issues that come with such growth including rising traffic congestion and poor roads leading to the port.
The country’s busiest port is also a high revenue earner and hence it is very important for the Transport Ministry to ensure that the city’s infrastructure needs are taken care.
Considering that an allocation of RM143 million has been given to the Transport Ministry for sea transportation, Ganabati said questions have been raised by the people on whether a part of the allocation would also cover the development needs of Port Klang.
He wanted to also know how the development will raise the economy of the people living in areas around the port.
“One of the major problems faced by the people in the area is congestion. We do not want the congestion to become an obstacle and prevent smoother operations in the area whether in the transportation of goods for export or imported goods.
Having improved logistics infrastructures will help attract more investors as having the best network of logistics is a major factor for industries, he said.
This will raise the productivity of the port while the increased revenue will only translate into taxes for the government and more jobs and businesses in the logistics industry will be created, he said.
The improvements will also push up Malaysia as a regional logistics hub and attract investors in the areas like manufacturing, logistics business and trade. he said.
Ganabati hoped that the Transport Ministry next year would look into improving some critical areas like easing congestion, better management of traffic systems, road maintenance.
He said industries in the area were also looking for wider, well-lit roads, and the assurance of security features like traffic cameras.
The MP also wanted to know if the upcoming LRT 3 will ease congestion in the area, and called for more work opportunities in these public infrastructures to be given to the locals.
— WE