Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Dr Chua Soi Lek lashed out at several DAP leaders for politicising the issue of the privatisation of the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and duty-free port status to gain the people's support in Penang.

Chua, who is also MCA president, said that the two different issues were part of the government efforts to develop Penang and to restore the glory of the port for the benefit of the people in the state.

"I am disappointed with the DAP leaders who tried to criticise the issues for their political mileage.

"In fact, with the duty-free port, it will become a tourist attraction while the privatisation of the PPSB will improve the operational capability of the Penang port to generate Penang's economy," he told reporters at the MCA building in Nibong Tebal today.

DAP leaders disputed the privatisation of the PPSB by the federal government and claimed that it was Chua's conspiracy to insulate the Penang economy and downgraded the Penang Port, for the benefit of Johor as Chua's birthplace.

Port privatisation was PM's decision

Meanwhile, Chua said the decision on the PPSB privatisation was the prime minister's prerogative, and it had been discussed several years ago.

"The prime minister will see the overall impact on the state and the people before making any decision on the privatisation. The government will always give priority to public interest," he said.

It is noted that the total volume of cargo at the Penang Port grew by just 5.8 percent between 1995 and 2009, compared to Klang Port, with 14.2 percent growth, per year.

- Bernama