The Transport Ministry will soon set up separate councils for two sectors of the transport industry, to be known as Malaysian Shipping and Maritime Council and the Malaysian Aviation Council.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the Malaysian Shipping and Maritime Council, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting next month, would involve port operators, ship associations and freight forwarders, while the Malaysian Aviation Council, which involves airport operators, airline operators and ground handlers, would have its first meeting in November.

“The two councils will discuss any operational issue or policy matters pertaining to their respective sectors. I will personally chair the meetings.

“This way, the ministry will have a better grasp of issues on the ground and all stakeholders in each sector can work together,” Loke told reporters after officiating the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) dedicated processing centre at the airport here today.

Loke said he had learnt that under the previous government, the ministry undertook engagement with different stakeholders at different times and the maximum number of meetings held was only twice a year.

“Now I want to meet all the stakeholders more frequently, like every three months or hold a minimum of four meetings in a year,” the minister said.

Earlier in his speech, Loke said he wanted Malaysia's aviation industry to have first world infrastructure as well as first world service under his tenure.

- Bernama