Transport Ministry to set up aviation, maritime councils

SEPANG: The Transport Ministry will soon set up separate councils for two sectors of the transport industry, to be known as Malaysian Shipping and Maritime Council, and the Malaysian Aviation Council.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the Malaysian Shipping and Maritime Council, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting next month, would involve port operators, ship associations and freight forwarders, while the Malaysian Aviation Council which involves airport operators, airline operators and ground handlers will have its first meeting in November.

“The two councils will discuss any operational issue or policy matters pertaining to their respective sectors. I will personally chair the meetings.

“This way, the ministry will have a better grasp of issues on the ground and all stakeholders in each sector can work together,” he told reporters after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 ( klia2) dedicated processing centre at the airport here yesterday.

Loke said he had learnt that under the previous government, the ministry undertook engagement with different stakeholders at different time and the maximum number of meetings held was only twice a year.

“Now I want to meet all the stakeholders more frequently like every three months or minimum four meetings in a year,” the minister said.

Earlier in his speech, Loke also said that under his tenure, he wanted the Malaysia’s aviation industry to have first world infrastructure as well as first world service. — Bernama