Dr Wee: Freight forwarders, hauliers given another four days to move goods

PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry has agreed to allow freight forwarders and hauliers another four days to speed up the movement of cargo from congested ports nationwide starting Saturday (April 4), says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).

The Transport Minister said this decision was made after consultation with the National Security Council.

Dr Wee said companies whose goods are stored in Port Klang, ports in Johor, Penang, Kuantan, Melaka, Bintulu and Padang Besar are advised to move their goods out of those ports from Saturday until April 7.

He said this follows an earlier decision which had proven effective in reducing nearly 100% congestion at major ports nationwide.

“However, to ensure the smooth and continued flow of much-needed daily essentials for households, it has been proven necessary to conduct these port clearing exercises from time to time to allow companies to expedite the movement of their cargo.

“This exercise ensures that essential goods are delivered unhampered to the communities that need them in the second phase of the movement control order, ” he said in a statement on Friday (April 3).

Dr Wee said the ministry’s allowance to the ports had allowed companies to expedite movement of their goods out of the ports, adding this resulted in reduced congestion and ensured that essential goods reach their intended destination.

The Ministry has shared its standard operating procedures with ports and those in foreign countries that had requested it, he said.

This latest port clearing exercise is in line with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 which takes effect during the MCO from April 1 to 14.

Pursuant to the amendments made to Regulations No. 2, port, dock and airport services and undertakings, and transportation by land, water, or air constitute essential services.

“This means that any activity and process in the supply chain of port, dock and airport services and undertaking and transportation by land, water or air are also deemed as essential services, ” explained Dr Wee.

Queries can be directed to [e-mail], 019-290 7723 (WhatsApp), 1-800-88-7723 HOTLINE (8am-8pm), or log on to cccovid19.mot.gov.my or call the National Operations Management Centre of the National Security Council at 03- 8888 2010.