The state government has received positive feedback from the Federal government on its proposal to set up a port authority to monitor ports and jetties in the state.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the feedback was on certain procedures and legal aspects relating to the establishment of the body.
“We hope it will be given favourable consideration by the Federal government.
“We have received information that besides the Federal government’s approval, the matter needs to be brought up to the Cabinet and needs the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“So the approval process will take time,” he told reporters after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting here Wednesday.
He said Perak needs its own port authority with the increase in ports and ship movements as well as to plan for the state’s increasingly important role as a maritime area.
Perak’s main port is Lumut, with smaller ones in Kampung Acheh and Bagan Datoh.
On the highway project in Perak’s west coast, he said the state is waiting for the Works Minister’s decision on the commencement date.
“We hope it can be expedited although we know the Federal government has its own commitments. We don’t know how soon, but we know the Federal government also wants it expedited,” he said.
On June 27, Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said the cabinet had approved, under the third rolling plan of the 10th Malaysia Plan, the construction of two new highways — the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) and the West Coast Expressway linking Taiping to Banting.
In another development, Zambry said the state Barisan Nasional, of which he is chairman, will send a team led by Perak Umno information chief Datuk Saarani Mohamad to assist the BN candidate for the Kuala Besut by-election, Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abd Rahman. BERNAMA
