Most of the workers come from villages around the Gelang Petah, Tebrau and Pasir Gudang areas. PTP chief executive officer Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said the port was working with prospective customers who would be able to offer more jobs for residents from surrounding areas.

He said the majority of local staff were undergoing training in informationtechnology, crane operation and technology development.

“In time to come, we believe that locals employed by us will be highly skilled and marketable to any of the world’s top ports or logistics companies,” Sidik said in a statement.

He added that PTP, as a good corporate citizen, looked upon opportunities for locals as essential and fruitful.
The statement was released following recent newspaper reports that the country’s newest port was employing foreigners and locals from other parts of the country.

Tanjung Kupang assemblyman Baharom Ghani had said that PTP did not give priority to locals in the Galang Patah area when it came to job vacancies and business opportunities in the port area.

Sidik said the port was on the lookout for experienced port personnel from other parts of the country able to contribute significantly to terminal operations.

By having experienced personnel, he said that new staff recruited from local areas would enjoy transfer of expertise and technology from experienced counterparts.

Sidik said that efforts to ensure locals in surrounding areas were aware of opportunities were made through distribution of forms through penghulus or village heads.