TRANSPORT Minister Datuk Chan Kong Choy has asked the industry to give him 100 days to become familiar with the sector and its issues before coming out with plans to develop it further.

During a visit to Westport last week, he said he would take this time to gather as much knowledge as he could before deciding on what course of actions to take.

“I would like to hear from all parties involved and get to know the sector first.

“People say it usually takes 100 days,” he said when asked which of the different areas in the transport chain he would focus on.

Since taking-up his ministerial office on July 1, members of the community have been curious to find out which area Chan would concentrate on, whether sea, air, ports, railways, land transport or total logistics as a whole.

His predecessor, Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik, although having a good grasp on the entire industry, had been more inclined towards shipping and ports.

His untiring efforts in promoting local ports, in particular Port Klang, and close relationship with shipping lines and owners had caused Dr Ling to be known among maritime circles as the number one salesman of Malaysian terminals.

An industry observer said Chan would have big shoes to fill into, carrying on the path that had been paved by Dr Ling.

“Many will remember the time when Dr Ling went all out to court local shippers who had been sending their goods via Singapore to use Port Klang.

“His rounds would last an entire day, going from one factory to the other to persuade them about the benefits of using local ports.

“He was also personal friends with the top management of many of the mainline operators such as China Shipping and Evergreen and played a vital part in wooing the Taiwanese giant to call at Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP),” recalled the observer, adding that Dr Ling was equally at home with people from the airline industry and railways.

Last Monday, Chan made his first official visit to Star Cruises and Westport where he was briefed about port operations by Westport executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam.

The briefing, which was also attended by ministry and Port Klang Authority officials, lasted slightly more than an hour, and the minister was given 10 issues, covering terminal handling charges, freight rates, feeder incentives and port charges, among others, to be dealt with.

He later lunched with heads of the various transport-related associations such as the International Shipowners Association (ISOA), Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, Selangor Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association and Port Klang Shipping Agents Association. Also there were representatives from international shipping lines local offices.

Chan later went on a tour of the port, including stopovers at the wharf where he went up one of Westport's quay cranes that was working on a vessel.

He was also taken to the container administration building to see how yard and ship planning was carried out.

At one point, he was heard asking Gnanalingam how many ships the terminal could accommodate at one time.

“He was excited when told about port development and the eight million boxes local terminals handled last year,” said Gnanalingam.

“I told him the war is still not over in regards to Port of Singapore Authority Corp and he asked how we could get the one million over TEUs back.”

ISOA chairman Datuk Abdul Latif Abdullah said the minister showed high level of enthusiasm.

Although it is still too early to tell, I am sure he will be able to stand up to the challenge and get things sufficiently organised in short time.”

In a press conference earlier, Chan said he was happy with the development of Port Klang and its success in handling 4.5 million boxes last year.

“Ports are a competitive business worldwide and although we have done much to make ours competitive, there are still issues to be addressed to make local ports, especially Port Klang attractive to all major lines.

“The issues range from freight rates to feeder incentives and expansion of ports facilities.

“I intend to take up these issues and work closely with the central agencies of governments, Economic Planning Unit and Finance Ministry.””In the meantime, I am also making arrangements to see the other players, including shippers, manufacturers and freight forwarders to work together to resolve the issues.”