Shipping firms warn that limited customs hours at Pengerang Port are causing costly delays and hurting Malaysia’s competitiveness.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s shipping industry is calling on the government to deploy permanent Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) officers at Pengerang Port and extend operations to 24 hours a day, warning that the current setup is hampering the port’s competitiveness and driving up costs for operators.
Maritime Network Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri Jeyenderan Ramasamy said the absence of a full-time customs presence at the port, combined with restricted operating hours, has resulted in vessel clearance times of up to 10 hours — far exceeding the under-three-hour benchmark at the Port of Singapore.
The nearest customs office serving Pengerang is located in Sungai Rengit, about 20 minutes away.
Currently, customs services are only available from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, leaving a critical gap given that the port itself operates around the clock.
“Outside these hours, shipping operators are required to travel to the Pasir Gudang Customs Office, which involves a round trip of up to four hours, excluding processing time. This results in critical delays and inefficiencies.” said Jeyenderan.
Jeyenderan cited a specific scenario illustrating the severity of the issue: if cargo unloading is completed at midnight and the Bill of Lading is issued at 3 am, operators cannot process documentation immediately because the Sungai Rengit customs office is closed. The documents must then be taken to Pasir Gudang for endorsement before a pilot can be appointed for vessel departure — significantly extending turnaround time.
In some instances, vessels are forced to anchor temporarily while awaiting clearance, further disrupting sailing schedules and inflating operational costs. He cautioned that persistent inefficiencies of this nature risk undermining the confidence of international shipping companies in Pengerang as a viable hub.
Pengerang Port, located in Johor, is positioned as a strategic mega port with significant regional ambitions. However, industry leaders argue that its potential cannot be realised without support infrastructure — particularly customs services — that is aligned with the demands of modern port operations.
Jeyenderan urged the government to take swift action, stressing that Malaysia’s broader maritime competitiveness is at stake.
“Pengerang is a strategic mega port with significant potential, and it is crucial that essential support services such as customs are aligned with industry needs to sustain Malaysia’s competitiveness,” he added.
The Sun Malaysia
