Carey Island port will position Malaysia as the preferred regional investment destination

by NURUL SUHAIDI / pic TMR FILE

THE development of Carey Island’s deep-sea port is significant to meet the shipping supply chain’s growing demands and position Malaysia as a preferred investment destination regionally.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said Carey Island in Port Klang alongside Northport and Westport, aims to match the scale of the port system in Singapore.

“The port area in Selangor will span an area comparable to a country like Singapore. With such a large size, we can offer much better services and ensure we remain premium in port services.

“Otherwise, in any country that seeks to grow or compete with us, we will only become feeders,” he said in the Selangor State Assembly today.

On logistical networking — connecting all three ports, Amirudin said the state government will consider two main rail connectivity routes.

“The options include extending the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Westport to Carey Island because it is within proximity.

“The second option is to maintain the existing alignment, which we have not changed and will continue to maintain, and then to extend southwards from Seremban to Carey Island,” he added.

This project is currently at the initial proposal stage of development, where the feasibility study of Carey Island has been prepared by the Klang Port Authority (PKA) and approved by the Transport Ministry (MoT).

“We have presented in Parliament our interest to develop Carey Island. I hope MoT can expedite the licence approval and proceed with the relevant and holistic plans so that we have accurate guidance,” Amirudin said.

The construction of this cargo port in Carey Island, Klang, is estimated to cost RM28 billion, scheduled to be completed by 2060.

The Selangor state government is said to have played an active role in the development of Carey Island port through the involvement of state government subsidiaries.

It is noted that the development of the port is proposed equity ownership by Selangor which is expected to be finalised by all stakeholders involved in 2025.