Shipping player: Customs staff shortage at Johor port causes 10-hour wait vs 3 in S'pore

 

A shipping industry player has expressed concern that the absence of permanent Customs Department personnel at the Pengerang Port in Johor will affect Malaysia’s competitiveness against regional ports like Singapore.

Maritime Network Sdn Bhd founder R Jeyendran said the lack of an operational Customs office within the port area, coupled with operating hours that do not align with 24-hour port activities, forces industry players to endure time losses of up to 10 hours for every ship arrival and departure.

“The main problem is that the Customs office for Pengerang Port is located in Sungai Rengit, nearly 20 minutes from here. It makes urgent matters difficult, especially for activities outside office hours.

“This is worsened by Customs operating hours following a normal office routine, while port activities never sleep.

“Customs only works from 8am to 6pm. On weekends, the Sungai Rengit office is closed.

“After those hours, anyone who needs to process ship documents has to go to the Pasir Gudang Customs office, which takes four hours for a round trip, not including the processing time at the Pasir Gudang office.

Sungai Rengit Customs Department office

“This causes critical delays,” he told Malaysiakini.

He also lamented Malaysia’s lengthy documentation process, noting that it takes eight to 10 hours.

“Say the process of unloading a ship’s cargo finishes at 12 midnight, and we receive the bill of lading around 3am.

“Because the Customs office in Sungai Rengit is already closed, the documents must be taken to Pasir Gudang for verification.

“After the customs matter is settled, only then can we appoint a pilot for the ship to sail out. This process takes eight to 10 hours,” he said.

He added that similar procedures at Singapore Port can be completed within three hours.

Pasir Gudang Customs Department office

According to Jeyendran, the delays not only wasted time but also affected the confidence of international shipping companies in the port’s efficiency.

He said delays sometimes force port operators to divert waiting ships to anchorage areas, resulting in disruptions to sailing schedules.

As such, he urged the government to immediately station permanent Customs officers at Pengerang Port and provide 24-hour services.

“Do not let this mega port fall behind the competition just because of officer placement issues,” he stressed.

Maritime Network Sdn Bhd founder R Jeyendran

Human resource shortage at all ports

Meanwhile, a Customs Department source who declined to be named confirmed that facilities for customs are actually available at the port, but no personnel have been stationed there.

“It stems from the human resource shortage faced by the department,” the source said.

This constraint, the source added, has resulted in the Customs Department being unable to meet 24-hour operational needs at all ports, not just Pengerang.

“We understand the impact on the industry. However, with the current number of officers, it is difficult for us to open full-time services at every location.

“We hope the spillover revenue from this port can be used to increase staffing so that services can be improved,” the source added.

Pengerang, located in Kota Tinggi, Johor, is the site of the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC), which has attracted investments worth billions of ringgit and serves as the largest petroleum and petrochemical development hub in the south of the country.

Malaysiakini has contacted the Finance Ministry and the Customs director-general for further comment on this issue. - Mkini