ALOR STAR: The maintenance dredging works near the Kuala Perlis ferry terminal is expected to be completed by May 15, in time for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2023.
Northern region marine department of Malaysia director Mohd Hafiz Abdul Majid said the project is behind schedule and the contractor has requested for an extension until May 15.
"They have also proposed to bring in more machines to expedite works, which should be completed earlier than May 15," he told the New Straits Times today.
Early this month, the marine department admitted that the maintenance dredging work at the Kuala Perlis ferry terminal, which was supposed to improve the Kuala Perlis-Langkawi passenger ferry frequency, would be delayed for four months.
The project, which was approved last February, was behind schedule and the contractor had requested for an extension until May 20.
Lima '23 will be held from May 23-27, and is expected to be the largest edition since its 1991 inception.
With over 600 exhibitors from 30 countries, the exhibition will feature 360 companies from the defence industry, making up 60 per cent of the exhibitors, and 240 companies from the commercial sector, representing the remaining 40 per cent.
On Monday, the Transport Ministry announced its plans to improve ferry services in preparation for the event.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said that he has instructed the marine department to investigate the issues surrounding ferry services and reassured that the ministry will work closely with ferry operators to address and resolve the problem.
He had said the ministry wanted to ensure there was good and reliable ferry services between Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Langkawi.
In response to the ministry's directive, Konsortium Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd (Ferry Line) yesterday have pledged to optimise ferry trip frequency to Langkawi ahead of the exhibition in May.
Its human resources and operations manager Captain Dr Baharin Baharom was reported as saying the company was banking on the completion of the maintenance dredging work near the terminal to operate maximum daily trips to and from the resort island.