Segamat: Segamat Inland Port (SIP) aims to handle over 6,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers by the end of this year, following the resumption of its operations in late June.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, SIP manager Samuel Oh stated that during its first month of operation, up to July, the inland port - managed by Infinity Logistics and Transport - handled approximately 1,000 TEUs of containerised and bulk cargo. The facility supports industrial needs, especially in northern Johor, southern Pahang, southern Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka.
Oh added that the reactivation of SIP, which had been relatively inactive for more than 10 years, aligns with the government's efforts to strengthen rail transport through the Road to Rail initiative, in collaboration with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd. He emphasized that rail transport is safer than trucks, which face risks of accidents and road congestion delays. Furthermore, rail transport is more efficient in diesel consumption, with one cargo train journey equating to the movement of about 80 container trucks.
Previously, the practicality of using freight trains at SIP was limited by single-track operations that prioritized passenger schedules. However, the completion of the double-tracking project to Johor has allowed for more flexible freight service scheduling from major ports such as Port Klang, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, and Johor Port in Pasir Gudang. SIP can now manage up to four cargo receiving and dispatch trips a week, compared to only about one trip per week under the single-track system.
Oh expressed hopes for SIP to become a catalyst for economic growth, particularly in northern Johor, including districts such as Batu Pahat and Kluang. He also sees SIP as a potential main gateway for rail-based cargo movement, indirectly attracting more investors to develop factories or warehouses in the surrounding industrial areas.
Operating on 20.23 hectares in its first phase alongside the Segamat Railway Station, SIP's development includes three phases. The first phase has already created more than 200 jobs for local residents, with expectations for more job opportunities as further phases are completed. To enhance operational expertise, SIP is collaborating with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) to provide fieldwork exposure and conduct studies.
SIP, established in 1997, received limited response before its reactivation on June 25, 2026, with an official launch by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook. At the ceremony, Loke highlighted SIP's potential to drive economic development in northern Johor, strengthen the logistics network, and improve transport system efficiency. SIP's operations could create more local jobs and increase inland cargo-handling capacity, reducing approximately 18,000 lorry movements on roads monthly and contributing to road safety and congestion reduction.