RM15 mln allocated for preliminary works of Pangkor Island jetties upgrading project- Mustapa

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23  -- A total of RM15 million has been allocated under the 12th Malaysia Plan to carry out preliminary works for the upgrading of the main and cargo jetties in Pulau Pangkor, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said of the total amount, RM7 million was allocated for next year.

He said this in reply to a question from Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Bersatu-Tambun) who wanted to know about the status of the application to upgrade the passenger jetty on the duty-free island.

Pulau Pangkor was gazetted as a duty-free island on Jan 1 this year.

To another question from Ahmad Faizal who is also the Perak Menteri Besar on the status of the application to shorten the 48-hour requirement before tourists could enjoy duty-free shopping on the island, Mustapa said the matter was being studied by the Fiance Ministry.

“The Finance Ministry has previously written a letter to the Perak government stating that if the application is approved, the same treatment should be given to three other islands, namely Labuan, Tioman and Langkawi,” he said.

On the application to make the Sungai Pinang Kecil jetty on the island a legal landing place, Mustapa said it was not approved by the Customs Department.

“We understand and are aware of the congestion issue at the current jetty (main jetty), therefore, there is a need to review this plan.

“We will discuss with the Perak government on how we can review the decision made by the Customs Department…and we will refer this matter to the Finance Ministry,” he said.

-- BERNAMA