RISING trade volumes in Port Klang has pushed Malaysia to commission a study if Carey Island can be the next port in the area, the Transport Ministry said today.

“The costs for the study, which will take one year, will be borne by PKA. And if the study is positive, the costs will be borne by the concessionaire,” said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said the consultants will be appointed by PKA via RFPs (request for proposal).

Loke said the North and West ports in Klang are reaching full capacity.

“The feasibility study will comprise of 16 separate studies,” said Loke.

The final decision on whether to develop another port on Carey Island will be decided by the cabinet after the study is finalised,” said Loke.

The port is expected to use about 300 hectares of land on the 12,000ha Carey Island.

Carey Island is currently home to the Mah Mehri aboriginal tribe and several oil palm plantations owned by Sime Darby.

The Mah Mehri community of around 1,400 people is famous for its unique wooden statues and masks carved from a rare red swamp hardwood called Nyireh Batu, which belongs to the mahogany family and is found in large quantities on the island.

“This is a long-term project to ensure that Malaysia’s capacity to handle cargo remains at a level that is competitive,” said Loke.

He added that Singapore was also developing another port in Tuas and Malaysia cannot lose out in the maritime business.

Loke said the new government, however, is not bound by some of the valuations placed on the development by the previous government.

He said that the feasibility study is expected to begin in November.

When asked about MMC Corp’s study, Loke said it was just an MoU and the government should not be obliged to any companies.

“We rather have the study done independently and without bias,” he said.

“And if the government decides to go ahead with the project then it will consider again who to give the concession to.”

MMC Corp Bhd’s subsidiary, MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, and Sime Darby Property Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding with India’s largest private port operator, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, to study the feasibility of the developments on Carey Island last year.

Barisan Nasional has planned to develop a massive port city with infrastructure work estimated to cost some RM200 billion but had not conducted any feasibility studies.

Carey Island is located to the south of Port Klang and north of Banting town. It is separated from the Selangor coast by the Langat River, and is connected by bridges from Chodoi and Teluk Panglima Garang.

The island, which is named after English planter Edward Valentine John Carey, is also home to some 2,000 Mah Mehri Orang Asli. – August 29, 2018.