"The port is specially designed to handle 80 per cent transhipment cargo," he said in reply to a question from Johor state assemblyman for Bukit Serampang, Mr Ahmad Omar.

Datuk Zainalabidin said this meant that by next year, Johor would have two international standard ports with state-of-the-art equipment to handle international trade for the southern region.

The first would see the completion of six berths by early 2001.

"Overall, 38.6 per cent of Phase One has been completed," he noted, adding that is included the construction of six berths, port buildings, a container-freight station, cranes and an integrated computer system.