PORT KLANG: All operations at Northport, here, have returned to normalcy with shipment backlogs caused by technical delays expected to be cleared by tomorrow.
During a working visit to Northport (Malaysia) Berhad by Investment, Industry and Commerce, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Transportation committee chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim on Tuesday, the Northport management assured the state government that the glitches caused by a new computer system implemented on April 22 had been resolved.
Northport commercial division head M. Suresh Kumar said the port had replaced the old processing system last month with a new one to offer more services to its customers.
The update, he said, was mooted by the company three years ago when the management felt it was time to upgrade the old system, which had been used since 1989.
“We have been testing out the system for about six months before we implemented it fully on April 22.
“However, two days after implementation we realised that some core processes were not aligned properly and our IT team worked to resolve these issues,” he said, adding that the company had successfully addressed all the technical issues within five days.
However, the complications during those five days had resulted in shipments being stuck at the port for extended periods with many being untraceable which triggered complaints from the Selangor Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association (SFFLA).
In response to the customers complaints of delays and additional costs incurred, Suresh Kumar said the company will waive all storage and special service request fees that were caused by the delays as a result of the computer system glitches during the period between April 22 and tomorrow (Friday).
“We understand that delays are a major problem for the industry so we will absorb these costs,” he said during a press conference at Northport Tower A, here, on Tuesday.
Investment, Industry and Commerce, Small and Medium Enterperises, and Transportation Committee Chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim (right) listens to the explanation given by Northport Commercial Division Head M. Suresh Kumar over the issue.
Meanwhile, Teng said Northport had to learn from this experience to ensure such incidents do not recur as it would negatively affect Port Klang’s reputation in the region.
By: NST
