JOHOR BARU: Trade and tourism between Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to expand further with the first Roll On Roll Off (RORO) service between the two nations.
The new RORO service will begin operations at the end of this year between Tanjung Bruas, Melaka and Dumai, Sumatera, Indonesia.
This follows the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Johor Port Berhad and PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I (PELINDO I) here today.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said the RORO service will see a new economic dimension between the two Asean nations.
He said the infrastructure groundwork for the project in Dumai, Sumatera is currently being implemented, whereas RM100 million had been allocated to upgrade the Tanjung Beruas port in Melaka, including the construction of the new Qurantine, Immigration and Customs complex.
“With such a service in place, the cost of goods transportation will become cheaper and faster. It will see goods transported by lorries from Sumatera reach traders (in Malaysia) directly through the RORO service.
“If before this, the transportation of goods will have to undergo unloading process at the port, which will take a week, with the RORO their transportation will only take five hours in crossing the Straits of Melaka,” he told reporters after the MoU signing ceremony today.
At the MoU signing ceremony Johor Port Bhd was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Shahrull Allam Shah Abdul Halim, whereas PELINDO I was represented by its Human Resources and Public Affairs director Hamid Wijaya. Also present was Indonesia’s Deputy Ambassador to Malaysia, Andreano Erwin.
Aziz said in addition to trade and goods transportation the RORO service could also be utilised as an alternative route by Malaysian tourists to Sumatera, Indonesia.
“The ministry is currently conducting a detailed study on the implementation of the RORO service between Penang and Aceh,” he said.
A RORO can transport 20 lorries as well as 20 cars at any one time.