The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will urge the federal government to undertake the deepening of the area around the Penang Port at the soonest.

PAC chairman Azmi Khalid said, work to deepen its channel from 11 metres to 14.5 metres, is to enable Penang Port to enhance its activities as an export route and be on par with other ports in the region.

He told reporters this after visiting Penang Port today.

He also said that although Penang Port's performance was satisfactory, it must be further enhanced to make it one of the most important in the region.

The operator of the port, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) had previously equested an allocation from the federal government to undertake work to deepen ts channel, to attract more trading vessels to dock and operate there.

Azmi said the PPSB was also asked to overcome the problems associated with he ferry service, which is reportedly losing RM15 million annually.

- Bernama