Port Klang commercial vehicle drivers this week threatened to go for a week-long strike unless the roads linked to the Malaysian prime seaport are repaired by the government immediately.

The threat was given by Port Klang area assemblyman Azmizam Zaman Huri while he was addressing about Selangor state budget at the legislative assembly recently.

Huri reportedly said the transporters will enforce strike if the Federal Government does not allocate required fund to the state government to repair the roads, which lead to the Port Klang.

The threat has created concern among the stakeholders who said it will create a massive disruption to supply chain management in the state as well as across the country.

The stakeholders who manage and provide services for port operations and logistics in Port Klang termed the threat irrational, unreasonable and irresponsible.

"We view very seriously the call (by Azmizam) which is irrational, unreasonable and irresponsible as the move will create other problems such as a break in the logistics supply chain for the supply of raw materials, food, vegetables, fruits and medical supply.

"It can also interrupt commercial and economic sectors nationwide, which are currently recovering from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic," the joint statement read.

“We urge and hope that all parties including commercial vehicle drivers not to engage in this irresponsible act,” they noted.

Instead, they urged all parties to engage in consultation and discussion sessions to highlight the matter and work towards an amicable solution through the right channels especially in ensuring adequate allocation is provided for repair and maintenance of roads in Port Klang as practiced in the past.

Eleven stakeholders who made the call include Port Klang Authority, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Port Klang Free Zone Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian Haulier’s Association, Selangor Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association, Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders, Forwarding Services Association Malaysia, Shipping Association Malaysia, Central Region Shipping Association and Malaysian Ship Owners Association.

Azmizam had said, when debating the Selangor budget at the state legislative assembly recently, that the strike will be held if the Federal Government does not provide allocations to the state to repair roads leading into Port Klang. The Port Klang assemblyman has been taken to task for threatening to instigate the strike. 

Authority expects that the Port Klang, which handled 13.6 million TEU in 2019, will be able to handle 13.8 million TEU this year, in line with the pre-pandemic growth trend.

Reference Links - 
[1] Container News 
[2] The Star