Sunday, Aug 26, 2012
GEORGE TOWN - Penang Port is not ready for free port status, said an expert.
Associate professor Dr Lean Hooi Hooi of Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Social Sciences said several factors such as the "hardware and software" had to be considered before the status could be reinstated.
"The hardware part is the uploading, downloading and transportation of goods to trucks which needs a proper mechanism.
"Now, the port is still okay as it is only handling a small volume of goods.
"If we have a free port and it attracts a large volume of goods for import and export, we will need more such facilities.
"I don't think we are ready now. We are not ready in terms of procedure either," she said after a presentation at a forum on "Free Port and Its Effect on Penang Tourism and the Service Sector" here yesterday.
For the software, which was human capital, Dr Lean said Penang appeared to be lacking.
"Are we trained enough? Do we know the procedures? How to deal with the people involved as well as the technology-related aspects? I don't think we are.
"But we need to keep on preparing ourselves if we really wish for the free port status to be restored. If not, it will be a chaotic situation," she said.
Penang's free port status was revoked in 1969.
Penang Hoteliers Association chairman Datuk Lim Mee Lee said it supported the free port status as this would be good for the tourism industry.
"It will bring in lots of tourists. People here can enjoy cheaper luxury items such as bags and clothes. They don't have to fly to Hong Kong and Paris as they can buy them in Penang.
"With Langkawi's free port status, there will be two free ports in the northern region, which can compete in offering better services and this will be good for the public and tourists," he said.
Source: asiaone
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