
Selangor Freight Forwarders & Logistics Association president Tan Ah Beng said PKFZ is an example of a mega-project into which a lot of money – but not enough thought – was put.
For example, said Tan, there seems to be no overriding policy to streamline the myriad regulations from those of the customs department to the ministries of finance, health, agriculture, and international trade and industry.
These have been imposed on companies seeking to store, manufacture, or assemble their products in PKFZ.
“Without an over-arching policy and with the overlap of so many regulations, they’ve scared away companies which may otherwise have been interested. In this industry especially, time is money,” Tan said.
He also said the dimensions of the warehouse units (each measuring 5,487 sq ft) are at odds with what many logistics companies want when storing cargo during transhipment.
“They don’t seem to know what companies are looking for in warehouse units,” he said.
“Even before they’ve ensured this project is up and running well, they’re looking at another huge project in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor. What’s going to happen to this project? What’s going to happen to IDR in five years?”
‘Insufficient studies’
Echoing Tan, a senior manager of a multinational shipping corporation that does business with PKFZ said “there is too much red tape, too much bureaucracy, and too many procedures” for his company to consider relocating to the zone.
“Businessmen don’t want to deal with those things,” he said, declining to be identified.
A Klang-based freight forwarding player, whose company toured PKFZ last week, said the warehouse measurements are “all right”, but that there are simply not enough incentives to prompt a move to the site.
“There’s ample space for a company like mine to either assemble or store our goods in these warehouse units. But for what is offered, the price is not competitive. It’s expensive compared to other facilities that offer the same or better,” said the logistics consultant.
He too felt that PKA has over-extended itself on the PKFZ.
“There doesn’t seem to have been enough consultation and market studies to ensure they have some clients in hand, at least, before embarking on such a huge project,” he said.
DAP leader Ronnie Liu questioned why a public authority such as PKA – although it was privatised in 1986 – has risked so much of its financial strength by venturing into the billion-ringgit project when its mandate revolves around regulating Klang Port operators Westports and Northport.
“It’s understandable for private businesses to do so, but what does PKA have to do with risking billions of ringgit on a project that is so full of risks?” asked Liu, who had in 2004 lodged a police report over the authority’s purchase of the land.
When contacted, PKFZ managing director OC Phang, who is also PKA general manager, refused to entertain questions.
巴生港口自由區計劃
前主席:不知情 SINCHEW JIT POH |
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updated:2007-06-12 20:16:38 MYT
(巴生訊)前巴生港務局主席拿督葉炳漢表示,有關巴生港口自由區的一切發展事項,都是在他任職前,由敦林良實所決定通過,因此詳情他確實一概不知。
他今日(週二,12日)受詢時指出,此項計劃是於2002年落實,並在2004年開始施工;可是他本身卻在2004年4月14日,才擔任港務局主席一職,況且現在他也已卸任。
因此,詢及有關巴生港口自由區的一切發展事項時,他不方便多做評論。
(星洲日報•2007.06.12)
Besides Sinchew Daily, Oriental Daily, China Press and Nanyang also carried the news. Watch this blog for further details.
June 12, 2007 at 7:27 pm |
PKFZ managing director OC Phang should not refrain from answering questions when questions were put to his company openly by the media.
We are still waiting for all the implicated personalities to give their sides of the story now that we have raised so many questions openly.
And Chor Chee Heong in particular should quickly decide whether he should continue to hold the chairmanship of PKA.
June 12, 2007 at 7:32 pm |
In recent years, the chairmanship of PKA has been passed on from Ting Chew Peh to Yap Pian Hon and then now to Chor Chee Heong. The position is more like a ‘dumping ground’ ( some call it consolation prize) for out-going MCA taikohs. What have these MCA taikohs done for Port Klang during their tenure?
June 13, 2007 at 12:04 am |
According to SinChew Daily today, Yap Pian Hon again said that the entire deal was inked by Tun Ling and the project started in 2004 (before he was appointed as the PKA chairman on 14 April 2004). So, he said he really has nothing to say about the multi-billion ringgit PKFZ project.
So, Tun Ling, since you are the one who knows everthing, when are you going to come clean?
June 13, 2007 at 3:54 pm |
A developer friend of mine told me, RM3 billion is almost sufficient to build another North-South Highway. Imagine that kind of leakage and wastage we were talking about as far as PKFZ / westports is concerned.
June 14, 2007 at 12:13 pm |
Ronnie said:-
So, Tun Ling, since you are the one who knows everthing, when are you going to come clean?
KSTAN’s response:-
I would like to echo Ronnie’s past 1999 GE slogan when he was campaigning in PJ, “Ling Leong Sik BULLSHIT!” hahaha ….. Ling will only come clean when pigs fly.
March 14, 2013 at 11:54 pm |
Are you like most people today and don’t use a great deal of time and energy to head over to the health and fitness center or aren’t having benefits
from these tedious just one hour marathon session exercise routines?