PORT KLANG, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Despite some improvements achieved in the operations of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) last year, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said today that those involved should not to rest on their laurels but work towards making an aggressive turnaround.

The PKFZ is owned by the Port Klang Authority (PKA), an agency of the ministry, while its operations are handled by PKA's wholly-owned subsidiary, Port Klang Free Zone Sdn Bhd (PKFZSB).

"We want this year to see more aggressive outreach and branding while we implement the recommended initiatives put forward by the committee," Ong said at a media conference after launching the Whistle Blowing Programme for PKA and PKFZSB here today.

Following the recommendation made by the PKA ad hoc committee headed by Transparency International Malaysia president Datuk Paul Low, PKA now has three independent board of directors to monitor its performance, he said.

On the PKFZ performance, Ong said container throughput improved last year and it handled 43,032 TEUs (twenty-foot-equivalent units) in 2009, up from 9,112 TEUs in 2008.

Cargo handling in the PKFZ rose to 1.28 million tonnes last year from 397,11 tonnes in 2008, he said.

In terms of occupancy rate, Ong said the occupancy rate of the light industrial units rose to 31.6 percent last year from 16.6 percent in 2008.

The PKFZ also registered a surplus of RM5.11 million after achieving a revenue of RM15 million and spending RM9.89 million in its financial year ended Dec 31, 2009, he said.

"We must admit we need to work hard in other areas like the usage of open land (in the PKFZ) which currently stands at 15.5 percent. Likewise, the office buildings's occupancy rate has increased but is still relatively low at 1.8 percent in terms of floor area," the minister said.

PKFZSB general manager Chia Kon Leong told reporters that the free port zone's performance was expected to be better in 2010 as the cargo and container handling operations had been showing an uptrend since last year.

Chia said the PKFZ had also expanded its operations to become a regional distribution centre for cotton cargo and non-ferrous metals.

Efforts to find new investors for the PKFZ will continue with PKFZSB working closely with the International Trade and Industry Ministry and its agencies to fulfil this objective, he said.

PKFZ is located on a 405-hectare site in Pulau Indah near Port Klang. It comprises 256 hectares of open space for factories and warehouses, 512 light industrial units and 500,000 square feet of office space for rent, 135 hotel rooms and an exhibition centre.