28/05/2026

THURSDAY | MAY 28, 2026

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Selangor ready to fast-track Petaling Jaya Hospital project

Digital overhaul speeds up Penang port processes GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Port Commission’s (PPC) newly enforced e-PDCFZ platform has reduced approval processing time for Free Commercial Zone operations from four hours to 90 minutes through a centralised digital workflow system, said its chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin. He said the platform officially came into effect on May 1 following the termination of the previous PPC.FCZONLINE system on April 30. Under the new system, all Free Commercial Zone declarations and cargo-related applications must now be submitted digitally through the e PDCFZ platform, which automates end-to-end workflows for port and Free Commercial Zone operations, including dangerous cargo management and monitoring processes. “Operational users input information directly into the platform. The system processes and structures the data automatically. Approvers then receive digitally verified workflows for faster review, monitoring and decision-making,”he told theSun. Yeoh said the system eliminates fragmented manual processes by centralising digital workflows and governance oversight under a unified platform. He added that the system was developed locally to support Malaysia’s digital port governance. According to Yeoh, the platform provides real time operational visibility through an Administrator Command Centre, enabling multiple stakeholders to coordinate digitally within a shared operational environment. These include administrators, approvers, cargo agents, dangerous goods operators, bunker suppliers, port operators and enforcement agencies. “This command environment provides real time operational visibility across the entire platform. “It enables operational control, advanced analytics, Key Performance Indicator reporting, audit trail monitoring, Application Programming Interface integration oversight and AI-enabled system support governance capabilities.” Yeoh said faster approvals and integrated monitoring capabilities are expected to improve cargo handling efficiency, operational coordination and compliance oversight across port and Free Commercial Zone activities. He said ports would increasingly compete on digital capability, governance efficiency and regional operational integration. “With the e-PDCFZ system having taken effect on May 1, this initiative marks an important step in PPC’s journey towards smarter, more transparent and future-ready port governance.” The platform forms part of PPC’s broader push towards smarter governance and digital transformation amid evolving global supply chain and maritime operational demands. Yeoh was recently in Nanning, China, where he highlighted the port’s new digital platform during the Dialogue of Jointly Explore Port AI & Digital Transformation, officiated by Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com technological shock. Beyond the economic sector, he said efforts to develop highly skilled human capital are also being introduced at primary school level through collaboration with the Pontian district education office to expose pupils to the AI ecosystem and strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training. He said the move aligns with the nation’s aspiration to produce a future workforce capable of meeting the needs of foreign investors under the special economic zone framework. – Bernama

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is ready to facilitate and expedite land-related matters for the construction of the Petaling Jaya Hospital by the Health Ministry. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the facility is expected to benefit residents in the Petaling district, particularly those in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya and Puchong. He said the ministry, relevant agencies and state government officers, including the State Economic Planning Unit, the Petaling District and Land Office as well as the Petaling Jaya City Council, will conduct an urgent site visit this o Proposed facility expected to ease congestion at public hospitals, says menteri besar

He said the location would allow the 500 bed hospital to be developed using a vertical concept similar to the Ampang Hospital, without requiring excessively large land areas, while also optimising ministry costs. “Efforts to identify a site for the Petaling Jaya Hospital have been actively pursued by the state government since 2018, taking into account the growing population in the Petaling district, which has now reached 2.3 million. “In Petaling Jaya alone, there are more than 800,000 residents. Currently, residents in the Petaling district depend on Sungai Buloh Hospital, Shah Alam Hospital and the University Malaya Medical Centre, which is managed by the Higher Education Ministry,” he said, as reported by Bernama. Amirudin added that the state government is also working closely with the Health Ministry to address access and congestion issues at public hospitals across Selangor.

week for the initiative. “The state government welcomes the announcement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad regarding the agreement on the proposed site location for the construction of the Petaling Jaya Hospital. “This decision follows the latest coordination meeting held on May 14 involving federal and state agencies as well as local authorities,” he said in a statement yesterday. An online portal has reported that a 6ha site in Taman Medan, currently occupied by a modern sports complex, could help address the urgent need for a public hospital serving the densely populated Petaling Jaya-Subang Jaya Puchong corridor. Amirudin said the proposed site identified by the ministry is highly suitable to meet the needs of residents in Petaling Jaya, particularly in terms of accessibility, capacity, land cost and proximity to local communities.

Transport hubs see surge in festive travellers KUALA LUMPUR: Major public transport terminals around the capital are seeing a surge in travellers heading back to their hometowns ahead of the long holiday and Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration. A Bernama survey found increasing crowds at key terminals, including Terminal Bersepadu Gombak, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan and KL Sentral, as passengers began making early travel preparations to avoid last-minute congestion.

A Terminal Bersepadu Gombak representative Mohd Raimi Jusoh said ticket sales for the festive season opened two months ago to give passengers more time to plan their journeys. He said daily ticket sales at the terminal, which usually average about 1,000, have surged to about 7,000 during the long holiday and Aidiladha period. “There has been a sharp increase in ticket sales and bus trips as Aidiladha coincides with the long school holidays. “Terminal Bersepadu Gombak is widely known as a gateway to the East Coast, with 70% to 80% of bus operations serving destinations there, although the terminal also caters to other routes,” he told Bernama. To cope with increased demand, Mohd Raimi said daily bus trips had been raised to between 200 and 210 from about 150 on normal days, following approval from the Land Public Transport Agency. He said the two-week school holidays had also allowed travellers to spread out their journeys and avoid the usual last-minute rush seen during festive periods. Terminal Bersepadu Gombak management has also provided 14 special buses in collaboration with several boarding schools in Pahang, Malacca and Negri Sembilan to facilitate students’ travel. Meanwhile, passenger Muhammad Aiman Nor Hakim, 25, said he purchased his ticket two weeks earlier through a bus booking app to avoid ticket

Crowds were seen increasing at key terminals as passengers began making early travel preparations to avoid last-minute congestion. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

domestic preparations must begin now as several rural and suburban areas in Pontian are already within the impact perimeter of the mega economic corridor. As an example, he said Pekan Nanas, traditionally known as an agricultural area, is now undergoing a rapid transition towards sectors driven by industry, logistics and high-tech services. “The geographical position near rapidly developing hubs such as Iskandar Puteri and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas places this rural area as a shortages and higher fares. “I live in Setapak and will return to Bachok, Kelantan for Aidiladha with my family. Booking early is cheaper because ticket prices usually increase closer to the festive season,” said the first-time bus user at the terminal. Meanwhile, TMAS Sdn Bhd – the operator of Terminal Bersepadu Selatan – said ticket sales at the terminal began rising on May 22 and are expected to remain high until June 7. A company representative, who declined to be named, said about 50 additional buses had been deployed for various destinations based on routes approved by the Land Public Transport Agency.

critical overflow zone. “Therefore, the local market, including rural small and medium enterprises, is being aggressively encouraged to adopt the digital economy through collaboration with Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd,” he said on Bernama Radio during the J ohor Tersohor programme yesterday. Commenting on efforts to modernise the agro food sector, Tan said the automation and agricultural technology agenda is being refined to ensure traditional farmers can integrate with the JS SEZ supply chain standards without experiencing “Overall, ticket sales have increased by about 20% compared with last year’s festive season, driven by Aidiladha and the school holidays,” she said. The company has also carried out system upgrades, scheduled maintenance and increased manpower to ensure smooth operations during the peak travel period. At KL Sentral, many Electric Train Service passengers were also seen booking tickets early for their journeys home. Passenger Zanariyah Awang, 60, hoped transport operators would add more train coaches to accommodate the increase in travellers during the festive season.

Rural Johor eyes digital transformation JOHOR BAHRU: The implementation of the Johor Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is set to transform the state’s rural landscape through the adoption of artificial intelligence technology and a macro-scale digital economy, beginning at the grassroots level.

The strategic move is aimed at ensuring the economic spillover from the international special zone is not concentrated solely in urban areas, but also empowers rural communities as part of a competitive value chain. Pekan Nanas assemblyman Tan Eng Meng said