Malaysian government denies Carey Island port project put on hold

KUALA LUMPUR— Putrajaya has denied the claim that the Carey Island port project has been deferred, saying that it will carry on as planned.

The Star newspaper on Monday (Nov 20) quoted Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai as saying that the mega port project was crucial as it would add another 30 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in container throughput.

“Carey Island has always been in our plans to further expand Port Klang.

“With Northport and Westport, Port Klang can only handle 30 million TEUs of container cargo,” Mr Liow was quoted as saying.

He added that those who had spread such “lies and fake news” might have had an ulterior motive in doing so.

Mr Liow said that the Carey Island project would not just be a port but a port city, which in turn will encourage and promise development for the country.

Singapore daily The Straits Times last week published a report saying that the RM140 billion (S$45.7 billion) project had been deferred due to less demand at Port Klang as shipping operators have moved to Singapore instead.

The planned Carey Island port is under MMC Corp which is owned by businessman Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.

In April, Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama reported that the MMC Port Holdings and India’s Adani Ports and the Special Economic Zone Limited of India are to develop the Carey Island port project.

A US$22.78 billion integrated maritime city under the Carey Island project was also expected to be developed through a joint venture between MMC Port Holdings and Sime Darby Property Bhd with India’s Adani Ports. MALAY MAIL ONLINE