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The
Port Klang Shipping Agents
Association has taken the
initiative to form a national body
of shipping agents.
Disclosing
this, its president, V Muthiah
said the ship agency in the
country is at the moment somewhat
fragmented and dispersed according
to geographical spread of ports in
the country.
“Aside
from PKSA we have similar
associations in Penang, Kuantan,
Johor and as well as in the East
Malaysian states of Sarawak and
Sabah. In addition of course we
have the International Shipowners’
Association which is a body
shipping agents representing only
foreign lines calling at local
ports,” he said.
He
said respective associations have
served their purpose well “but
under the changing circumstances
where we are beginning to face
problems and issues common to us,
there is certainly a need to look
at a common platform to discuss
and respond collectively.”
“It
has always been my belief that we
would be able to draw better
strength and serve a more useful
purpose if we shipping agents
could speak with one voice,” he
noted.
Muthiah
said as an umbrella like body for
the shipping agents in the country
would be no more than what the
forwarding agents already have.
“So
PKSA’s thoughts on this is not
something drastic and unusual,”
he added.
He
pointed out that a national body
for shipping agents would be able
to harness the strengths in all of
us and carry out far more projects
and offer more benefits to members
than it would be possible under
the present parochial structure.
“An
important aspect of this is
perhaps, training – we could
focus better in carrying out
suitable training courses or
modules in line with the growing
demand for greater professionalism
in the industry,” he said.
Muthiah
said PKSA was happy to note that
the proposal has received wide
support and endorsement from
sister associations from other
ports.
“Needless
to say, the emergence of a
national body of shipping agents
could seek to better represented
and heard, including the regular
dialogues with the Ministry of
Finance and the Ministry of
International Trade on issues and
matters affecting national
interest and national
objectives,” he said.
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