He said the tariff review had gone through various stages, including stakeholder consultations and discussions by the port-level consultative committee.

“Rather than a single jump, the tariff will go up in phases – the first phase will see a 15% hike, followed by 10%, and then another 5% in the subsequent phases,” he told a press conference after the ministry’s monthly assembly here today.

However, Loke stressed that the proposal was still under review and had not been finalised. “I haven’t signed anything yet,” he added.

He pointed out that port tariffs had not been reviewed for several years.

“In 2015, the minister at the time approved a two-phase increase of 30% – 15% that year, followed by another 15% in 2018. That was the last revision,” he said.

Loke also said the ministry planned to introduce a more structured and transparent mechanism for reviewing tariffs on an annual basis.

“Perhaps using a more moderate formula – factoring in the consumer price index (CPI) and the annual inflation rate. If inflation is 2%, for instance, then the increase can be gradual rather than abrupt as it is today,” he said.

He said such a measure was crucial to ensure balance in the nation’s growth needs.

“This way, all parties can accept the changes, while ports remain competitive,” he said.

On March 8, Bernama reported that the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) had urged the government to postpone the proposed 30% hike in port tariffs.

FMM president Soh Thian Lai had said the increase would significantly impact the cost of doing business for manufacturers and transport companies.