Latest news with #RaikanKasihMadani2025
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Loke: Regional rail connectivity can enhance supply chain
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia-Thailand rail connectivity to the Asian continent, including China, is important in terms of supply chain security and safety, says Anthony Loke (pic). The Transport Minister said the development of rail infrastructure is important from a regional perspective with the aim of connecting Asean member countries through a more strategic railway network. 'When we can connect via rail between these countries, it is regional connectivity. 'It is also very important in terms of supply chain security because the world today is experiencing various uncertainties and disruptions,' he told reporters after the ministry's monthly assembly and the Raikan Kasih Madani 2025 event yesterday, Bernama reported. Loke said Malaysia, which is located in the middle of the strategic route of the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, has the advantage of being a link between Western and Eastern countries. He said the region should make full use of existing railways to improve connectivity. 'At the Asean level, we hope there is a consensus so that we can improve this connectivity. 'When we have improved the connectivity, other countries will also be interested, especially landlocked countries,' he said. To realise the Pan-Asian Railway network, Loke said Malaysia is committed to achieving a policy with Thailand that is more supportive of the development of the rail sector. Loke will meet Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit on May 2 to resolve several issues, including Malaysia's rail cargo services being able to cross borders and become a major mode in the future. He said for example, among the existing obstacles were certain restrictions on the movement of goods by rail between Malaysia and Thailand where there were categories of goods that were not allowed to be transported by rail. Malaysia is the host of the Asean summit next month and the main agenda is to steer the region in facing current challenges. 'The increase in tariffs by the United States has made the global economy increasingly tense. 'What is important for Asean is to ensure that availability or the level of competitiveness remains high and to ensure that trade within Asean can be improved to reduce trade dependence on only one market,' he said. Loke also said cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand was established through Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd and State Railway of Thailand but what is important is government-to-government cooperation. The Pan-Asian Railway network is also known as the Kunming-Singapore Railway network, connecting the city of Kunming in China with Singapore, via several South-East Asian countries. It is a mega project that connects South-East Asia with China and then to the European continent. Malaysia plays a key role in the Pan-Asian Railway network, particularly through the East Coast Rail Link project which connects the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Transport Ministry looking at a more transparent mechanism on port charges, says Loke
PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry is studying a more structured mechanism for port charges to ensure the sustainability of the country's ports as well as a balance between market needs and capacity development. Minister Anthony Loke (pic) said the current charge review is reportedly inconsistent and not transparent enough. "So we want to create a more transparent and structured system where there is a periodic review ... of the charges annually, perhaps according to a lower formula. "For example, if there is an increase in the CPI (consumer price index) (and) let's say the annual inflation rate is 2%, then the charge increase may be gradual and not sudden like (it is at present)," he told reporters after the ministry's monthly assembly and the Raikan Kasih Madani 2025 event here on Tuesday (April 22). Loke said this was to ensure that all parties receive fairer charges and the country's ports remain competitive. "If we do not look at the increase or reassessment of these charges, the revenue of port operators will decrease, (so) of course they will not invest to increase capacity. "We have to balance the needs of the market with the need (to build capacity)," he added. On a call by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) for the government to delay the implementation of the proposed 30% increase in port tariffs, especially for container handling and storage, Loke said the Port Klang Authority (PKA) and the Johor Port Authority (JPA) had not submitted any documents for final approval or gazette. Loke explained that the relevant port authority would assess these charges from time to time when there is a request from operators and not according to a specific schedule. "The increase in port charges is a tariff that is strictly controlled by the port authority, not imposed at will," he said. According to Loke, the last review was carried out 10 years ago through two phases, 15% in 2015 and another 15% in 2018. "Last year we had a process to reassess the charge. The charge went through various consultation processes with stakeholders, through a consultative committee at the port level. "The proposal for a 30% increase this time will be implemented in phases over three years, not all at once, but will increase by 15% in the first phase, 10% in the second and 5% in the third," he said. On March 8, Bernama reported that FMM asked the government to postpone the implementation of the proposed 30% increase in port tariffs, especially for container handling and storage. It said the increase would have major implications on the cost of doing business for manufacturers and transport companies. – Bernama
Malay Mail
22-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Transport minister: Asean rail link vital to weather global supply shocks
PUTRAJAYA, April 22 — The Malaysia-Thailand rail connectivity to the Asian continent, including China, is important in terms of supply chain security and safety, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook. He said the development of rail infrastructure is important from a regional perspective, not just domestically, with the aim of connecting Asean member countries through a more strategic railway network. 'When we can connect via rail between these countries, first of all, it is regional connectivity and also very important in terms of supply chain security because the world today is experiencing various uncertainties and disruptions,' he said. He told the media after the monthly assembly of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Raikan Kasih Madani 2025 event, here today. Loke said Malaysia, which is located in the middle of the strategic route of the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, has the advantage of being a link between western and eastern countries. Therefore, he said the region should make full use of existing railways to improve connectivity. 'We hope that at the Asean level there is a consensus so that we can improve this connectivity. When we have improved this connectivity, of course other countries will also be interested, especially landlocked countries,' he said. To realise the Pan-Asian Railway Network, Loke said Malaysia is committed to achieving a policy with Thailand that is more supportive of the development of the rail sector. Loke said he would meet with Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit on May 2 to resolve several issues, including Malaysia's rail cargo services being able to cross borders and become a major mode in the future. He said, for example, among the existing obstacles were certain restrictions on the movement of goods by rail between Malaysia and Thailand, where there were categories of goods that were not allowed to be transported by rail across borders. 'Things like this must be resolved so that we can reduce these barriers to enhance trade in Asean.' Loke said Malaysia is the host of the Asean summit next month and the main agenda is to steer the region in facing the current challenges. 'The most important challenge at this time is that the increase in tariffs by the United States has made the global economy increasingly tense. 'What is important for Asean is to ensure that availability or the level of competitiveness remains high and to ensure that trade within Asean can be improved so that we can reduce trade dependence on only one market,' he said. Therefore, Loke said MOT plays a major role in ensuring that trade between Asean can be improved through the implementation of policy instruments so that democratic red tape and restrictions within Asean can be reduced. Loke said cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand is established through Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) but what is important is government-to-government (G2G) cooperation. The Pan-Asian Railway Network is also known as the Kunming-Singapore Railway Network, connecting the city of Kunming in China with Singapore, via several South-east Asian countries. It is a mega project that connects South-east Asia with China and then to the European continent. Malaysia plays a key role in the Pan-Asian Railway Network, particularly through the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Project which connects the East and West Coasts of Peninsular Malaysia. — Bernama
New Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Loke: Xi Jinping souvenir was personal, not govt gift
PUTRAJAYA: The issue surrounding the presentation of a souvenir to Chinese President Xi Jinping should not be exaggerated or overly scrutinised. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the souvenir was made in Malaysia, with the engraving crafted by Royal Selangor. "The souvenir was a personal gift, and I did not say that it was a gift from the government," he said after the Transport Ministry's Monthly Assembly and Raikan Kasih Madani 2025 event at his ministry today. He was responding to a question from the media regarding the souvenir, which sparked debate on social media following claims that it had been presented "through the back door" without official protocol. A short video clip of the incident went viral and drew widespread attention after being uploaded by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching on her Facebook page. In her post, she wrote: "Anthony Loke, on behalf of DAP, presents a commemorative plaque to the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)." The Royal Selangor plaque, featuring an engraved dragon motif, was presented to Xi on April 17 prior to his departure for Cambodia, following a three-day visit to Malaysia as part of his Southeast Asia tour. Recently, Loke, who is also Seremban member of parliament, issued a clarification via Facebook, saying that the souvenir was presented near the back entrance for security reasons. Commenting on the dragon motif, he said that the plaque was "100 per cent made in Malaysia" and that the dragon symbolises strength, wisdom, and friendship in Chinese culture.
