PUTRAJAYA – The government is steadfast in its stance of not allowing not only Israeli company ZIM’s ships from entering the nation, but even its containers as well, according to government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil.
He said several attempts were made to bring in the shipping company’s containers by other firms that rented its containers.
“In the (cabinet) meeting today, we received feedback and confirmation from the transport minister that any ship from ZIM was not allowed to enter Malaysian ports,” he told a post-cabinet press conference at his ministry today.
“Containers are also prohibited. However, in some instances, it is not ZIM’s ships bringing in its containers, but they were rented to other firms to be brought on their own ships.”
Nonetheless, Fahmi said close monitoring is done to ensure such incidents from occurring.
“Monitoring is done strictly and (the cabinet) has decided not to allow the containers from being brought into the nation. Whatever happened in Perlis was in line with the government’s policy.”
Previously, the container, which was allegedly at a port in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru, was confirmed to be a transhipment container.
Johor Customs director Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi said transhipment is a process of movement of goods, which is authorised by the Transport Ministry.
He said, as with the normal transhipment process, cargo will move from departure ports to its destination ports through a third port in the schedule.
Yesterday, the Transport Ministry was reportedly instructed to assist in the investigation into the alleged existence of the container located in an Iskandar Puteri port.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying that the investigation was to avoid such incidents from occurring again in the nation, and that the government will not compromise with any company that has direct ties to Israel.
On June 1, it was reported that there was a container from Israel, raising concerns among Iskandar Puteri residents.
Kota Iskandar assemblyman Datuk Pandak Ahmad expressed his surprise after receiving complaints from residents, who claimed the port was still accepting containers from Israel. – June 5, 2024