KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given the thumbs-up to Westport's "report card," saying its progress report presented by its executive chairman, Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam was reflective of its sterling success since its inception a decade ago and spoke well of Malaysia's standing in global port operations.
The Prime Minister said Gnanalingam's "unusual way of presenting the report card" nevertheless alluded somewhat to the very points he had raised as his agenda for the nation when he took office as prime minister.
They included the need for Malaysia's first class facilities to go along with first class mentality, a call which Westport had heeded to remarkably having helped Port Klang to emerge as the 12th busiest port in the world last year.
The port's container had also grown every year since its inception from 20,000 container boxes in 1996 to 2.6 million boxes Tuesday.
Abdullah said this in his speech in conjunction with Westport's 10th anniversary celebrations before which Gnanalingam presented Westport "report card" along with a slide presentation. Gnanalingam said Westport had adhered closely to Abdullah's credo, whereby by implementing first class processes, the port at Pulau Indah here was now among the top five in terms of world port productivity.
"Ten years ago, we were a greenfield terminal. Today, we are a world class port generating RM500 million in revenue," he said in his presentation. Gnanalingam said Westport had also fulfilled Abdullah's call for the country to seek new sources of economic growth as Port Klang, "had within 10 years, had grown handling 1.5 million twenty-equivalent-units (TEUs) to 5.2 million TEUs."
"We have established ourselves as a regional hub facilitating world trade via Malaysian corridors and direct trade with our South-east Asian neighbours," he said. Westport contributes one-half of Port Klang's operations, with the other being public-listed North Port.
Gnanalingam, who is also the chairman of the Federation of Malaysian Port Operators, said Westport's container productivity has increased from moving 20 container boxes per hour to 30 boxes per hour. "We have set ourselves a consistent target of 35 boxes per hour for next year," he said.
But he said Westport's achievement was not amid a bed of roses for it was "baptised" at a time when there was one crisis after another, ranging from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which brought trade almost to a standstill, the currency crisis, the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic and the Avian Bird Flu.
Turning to the port's staff strength, he said from 20 in 1994, Westport now employs 2,200 people. "With training and motivation, they are among the best in the world."
This was clearly evident when quay crane operator Azmi Ashaari broke the world record for moving boxes with 72 boxes moved within an hour.
Azmi received an award of commendation from Abdullah after the speech presentation. "We have also demonstrated our prowess in increasing vessel productivity over the years. The last feat was 364 boxes moved with six cranes which is tantamount to 60 moves per hour," Gnanalingam said.
As for Vision 2020, he said: "We believe that we have achieved Vision 2020 in terms of infrastructure, a world class port in terms of productivity and by 2010, we will be paying our staff a minimum wage of RM2,020 from RM1,500 now."
- BERNAMA |
