PTP set to be next CSI port
New Straits Times
The US-led Container Security Initiative (CSI) programme will see Malaysian Customs officers stationed at US ports, says Royal Malaysian Customs director-general Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abd Mutalib.
“However, details are still being worked out,” he said in his visit to port Klang yesterday.
Four US Customs officers are already stationed at Port Klang to check containers which are intended for the US.
“These officers will do a random check on the containers and make a risk assessment on them. If they feel a further check is needed on some conatainers, we (Malaysian Customs Officers) will be told about it and will then scan the marked containers with X-ray mashines to do a 100 per cent inspection,” said Abdul Halil.
“Through this initiative, these containers will pass through a green lane when entering US ports,” he added.
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) will be next CSI port in the country, following the programme’s successful implementation at Port Klang.
US Homeland Security Department Customs attaché to Malaysia Matthew King, who was also in the Port Klang visit, said the CSI programme is moving smoothly at Port Klang and will be implemented in PTP by the year-end.
CSI is a programme developed by the US Customs in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11 2001.
The programme is designed to prevent the smuggling of terrorist weapons in ocean-going cargo containers.
Under the CSI programme, US officers are deployed to work with the Malaysian Customs to target high-risk cargo containers and ensure that they do not contain weapons of mass destruction or dirty bombs.
Also present in the visit was US Ambassador to Malaysia Marie T. Huhtala.