Pelepas holds out olive branch

MOHD Sidik Shaik Osman, CEO of Port of Tanjung Pelepas, has called on rival Singapore to co-operate with the emerging container transhipment hub. “I have always said there is a tremendous area for co-operation between PTP and Singapore,” Shaik Osman said during a terminal operators’ conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The new Malaysian port is vying to be a major alternative to Singapore and has already gained giant Maersk Sealand with a 30 per cent equity offer. Another major line, Evergreen, is also attracted by lower charges at Pelepas. But Shaik Osman said Pelepas could help Singapore relieve the pressure on space while Singapore could bring in investment. “We have the advantage of lower cost, we have the advantage of land, and this is an area we can work with,” Shaik Osman said.