(AFP) Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced the government plans to expand all its ports to make the country a regional trade and shipping hub.

"We want to expand all our ports, not just PTP (Port of Tanjung Pelepas). We are as strategic as Singapore ... There is no reason why we cannot be a hub for trade and shipping in the region," Mahathir said at a press conference after a function, AFP financial news subsidiary AFX reported.

Asked to comment on Evergreen Marine's decision to shift its regional transshipment centre to Malaysia from Singapore, Mahathir said he hopes Singapore sees the Taiwan shipping giant's move as "fair competition".

He also confirmed earlier reports that Pulau Tioman would be made a duty free island.

Lower cost

Evergreen Marine Corp earlier today announced it would move its Southeastern Asian transit hub to Malaysia from Singapore.

"Evergreen group chairman has made the decision ... because the cost in Malaysia is lower," said an official from Evergreen's public relations department.

Evergreen's transit hub in Singapore, which handles 1.2 million 20-foot equivalent units of the group's cargo, would be moved to the Port of Tanjung Pelepas but details of the deal have to be finalised, the official added.

It will be the second loss for Singapore after Danish global container line Maersk Sealand moved to Malaysia last year.