He said LMT was still conducting feasibility studies to determine if the port can be built on a 46ha site there or elsewhere.

“Facilities at the port will include a vessel pier, mechanical cargo handling at the berth barge and larger storage area.

“With another port, we can handle seven million tonnes of cargo compared with three million tonnes handled now and we can also separate clean cargo such as limestone, fertilisers, sugar, wheat and other grains,” he told Bernama here today.

On the development of the Lumut Port in Kampung Acheh into a modern port, Mubarak Ali said expansion plans, at a cost of RM300 million, was now underway, including the construction of a new berth barge.

Meanwhile, Perak State Development Corporation (PSDC) Chief Executive Officer Aminuddin Md Desa said the PSDC planned to strengthen its position by building two Casuarina Hotels this year, one each in Teluk Intan and Taiping this year.

This is in addition to the phase two of another Casuarina Hotel, now under construction in Kuala Kangsar.

“The two new hotels were necessary to cater for the increased demand in visitors to both towns and we are also looking at setting up a Casuarina Resort each in Pulau Pangkor and Tanjung Malim.

“We will sought feedback from the Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry and we are looking for partners to help us develop the resorts,” he added.

– BERNAMA