Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the project would also involve a land bridge connecting southern Thailand and Malaysia.
“If it becomes a reality, this project will add value to the economy of Kedah, including increasing the confidence of investors in the state and also the northern region in general,” he said when officiating the integrated development project on Pulau Bunting here today.
Also present were Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Md Nor, MMC Group chairman Tajudin Atan, MMC Corp Bhd group managing director Che Khalib Mohamad Noh and several Cabinet ministers.
Earlier in his speech, Sanusi said the Kedah government hoped to get the support of the federal government to realise the proposal to develop a deep sea port in Sanglang.
He said the project was seen as very strategic and had the potential to become an iconic project that would have a major impact on the national economy.
Sanusi said the proposal to develop the port was submitted to the state government by Kumpulan Albukhary which also proposed a “land-bridge” project to Songkhla, Thailand, which would shorten the travel time between the Straits of Malacca and the Gulf of Thailand.
“Looking at the prospects and potential developments that are taking place especially in Pulau Bunting, Yan and the proposed deep sea port in Sanglang, the state government requests the special attention of the federal government to approve the establishment of the Kedah Port Authority.
“This board will act as an authority that will be responsible for the operation of the ports in this state,” he said.
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