KUALA LUMPUR: Two of Malaysia's ports were rated as being among the busiest in the world last year, despite a slump due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas were ranked 12th and 15th busiest ports, respectively.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said both ports served as gateways and transhipment hubs which frequently handled the largest container vessels of 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.
He also said the country's other major ports in Penang, Pasir Gudang, Kuantan, Bintulu, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu served as important regional hubs that provided direct shipping links to various parts of the country.
"Similarly, ports at Pengerang, Sungai Udang and Kerteh provide facilities for oil and gas cargo and are actively involved in petrochemical industries, refineries and liquefied natural gas storage."
Wee said this in his keynote address at the biennial 13th International Harbour Masters' Association (IHMA) Congress 2022.
Present were Port Klang Authority chairman Datuk Chong Sin Woon, its general manager Captain K. Subramaniam; IHMA president Captain Yoss Leclerc and Transport Ministry Maritime Division deputy under-secretary Norhasliza Mat Salleh.
International Maritime Organisation secretary-general Kitack Lim appeared via a video message.
Wee said the congress underscored Malaysia's strong collaboration with international maritime and logistics bodies such as the IMO.
He added that as a council member of IMO and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, Malaysia played an active role in enacting and implementing international conventions, besides promoting safe and sustainable practices in shipping and port operations.
"Malaysia is also actively involved in regional maritime trade facilitation within Asean and our neighbouring countries."
Wee stressed that the country had to keep its commitment to shape and plan international maritime policies with its international partners, as nearly 4,700km of Malaysia's coastlines were adjacent to the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea - two of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
"As almost 90 per cent of Malaysia's trade is seaborne, it is vital for the country to ensure that shipping lanes are kept safe and functional with ports readily accessible.
"We were able to successfully weather most of the domestic and international Covid-19 restrictions by keeping our economy ticking and goods flowing."
On the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Wee said it had led to increases in oil prices and shortages of commodities, which had dampened global hopes for trade recovery this year.
"It is our hope that a speedy resolution is negotiated with the Russia-Ukraine conflict so the recovery of the global economy, which is still reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, can be expedited," he said.
Malaysia is the first Asian country to host the four-day maritime-related conference and trade exhibition that involved 200 delegates from 30 countries, with over 40 speakers and panellists sharing their knowledge.
The topics include sustainable capacity building, decarbonisation, digitalisation, safe maritime transport and emerging green technologies.