KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry is hoping that the government will allocate funding for its railway spur line project.
Speaking on the ministry’s wish list for the 2020 budget, minister Anthony Loke said he hoped that the existing railways would be maximised, and believed that such projects would help to develop the logistics industry.
Such projects, he said, would boost the country’s economy, while the spur line would shorten the distance and provide time efficiency for logistics (cargo).
“We want the Finance Ministry to look into our next project, which is the development of the spur line.
“It is one of our wishes for the coming budget.
“Our logistics industry is very strategic and we hope this will further boost the country’s economy.
“To ensure the growth of this industry, we should connect existing railways to ports and industrial areas.
“We hope we receive a budget to initiate several spur lines along the existing railways,” he said at the launch of the 2019 World Maritime Week celebration at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.
Loke said he would discuss the budget for the project with the Finance Ministry and hoped to see a direct spur line from Serendah to Port Klang for cargo.
“Currently, cargo trains share the railways with passenger trains. “This is inconvenient and a waste of time as they cannot work in the day.
“If there is a spur line along the railways all the way to Port Klang from Serendah, it would be great.
“We hope the government would look into this project.”
Loke said he also hoped that the government would give its full support to programmes implemented by the ministry last year, such as the My50 and My100 travel passes for passengers.
On another development, he said the government was reviewing the processes involved in the bunkering industry.
He said Malaysia had lost potential business opportunities in terms of bunkering to Singapore.
“Over the years, ships that arrived at the port in Singapore, passed the Melaka Straits, but preferred to refuel in Singapore.
“We hope we can utilise our bunkers here because of our strategic location.
“However, we first need to develop our whole eco-system in terms of supplies, regulations and enforcements.
“Shipping lines need to be confident and know Malaysia is safe before they begin bunkering here,” he said, adding that there were numerous reasons why ships did not choose Malaysia as the bunkering port and all these, including supplies and security must be dealt with.
“We are currently looking to streamline our regulations and processes to help boost the bunkering industry,” he said, adding that a task force would be set up to monitor and better coordinate existing regulations.