Mohamad Rafi b. Abdul Wahab
Assistant Manager, Operations
As Lumut Port celebrates its 30th anniversary, we also honour seven remarkable staff who have each served the organisation for three decades. Their journeys mirror the growth of Lumut Port itself—starting small, facing challenges and steadily growing into something bigger and stronger.
Each story in this series highlights not just years of service, but lives built alongside the port’s development. From the early days of construction to today’s expanding terminals, these individuals remind us that Lumut Port’s strength lies not only in its infrastructure, but in the people who keep it moving.
A Dream Realised – For Mohamad Rafi bin Abdul Wahab, his story with Lumut Port began even before he stepped through its gates. At 17, while preparing for his SPM exams, he came across an article in Berita Harian about the soon-to-be-built Lumut Port. “I told myself then, one day I will work there. I even mentioned it to some friends. It was my niat, my intention.”
True to his word, after college and a short stint at a public listed company, he applied for a post at Lumut Port. In June 1995, at just 20 years old, he was hired as an Operations Clerk, part of the second batch of staff. “Looking back, it feels like fate. My teenage ambition came true.”
Life on Board – Unlike many roles in the port, Rafi’s job took him beyond the yards and into ships. “It’s a unique experience. I go on board vessels, check stowage plans and deal directly with captains—often foreigners from Germany, Russia, China and many more. The smallest ship I’ve boarded was 32 metres. The biggest? Over 240 metres.”
This exposure gave him a global perspective from his own backyard in Perak. It also gave him moments he’ll never forget.
“The night before the official opening in July 1995, the first vessel docked—the Kota Mawar, with 100 containers stacked as high as a five-storey building. I was so excited I climbed to the top of the containers, even though I didn’t have to. My boss told me it wasn’t my job, but I just couldn’t resist. It was history in the making.”
Growing with the Port – Rafi’s career grew alongside Lumut Port. He started as Operations Clerk on 17 June 1995, but his life changed after a road accident on 24 January 1996 that claimed the life of his close colleague, Zuraimi. Rafi was in a coma for four days and sustained permanent injuries to his arm, lungs, and jaw. After 11 months of recovery, he returned to work with lighter duties as an assistant to the Operations Manager, preparing vessel operation statistics.
His career continued to advance: he was promoted to Operations Executive in 2002 and transferred to the Central Control Room at Lekir Bulk Terminal. He later served in other departments, including Public Relations and Human Resources. In 2006, he returned to the Kampung Acheh Operations Office, and in 2008 he was once again assigned to Lekir Bulk Terminal as assistant to the COO.
In 2010, after a minor accident, Rafi was advised by his doctor to use a cane. That same year, following a change in the COO position, he returned to Kampung Acheh. Rafi was promoted to Senior Executive in 2010 and later to Assistant Operations Manager in 2021.
In operations, he emphasises teamwork in coordinating facilities, infrastructure and manpower. Managing three terminals and two berths requires creativity, problem-solving skills and adaptability, as port operations can change at any time.
“The work in a port is different and port operations change daily. You have to troubleshoot, adapt and make sure everything flows.”
From Paper to Digital – When Rafi first started, everything was done manually. “We wrote vessel and cargo details by hand. By 2003, we started using computers, but it was still partly manual. Full digitalisation only came in 2018, and it changed everything.”
Through the Port Management Information System (PMIS) and the government’s Maritime Management Single Window (MMSW), vessel data and documents are now centralised. “Before, it could take hours to process documents. Now, it’s 80–90% faster. Time saved means productivity gained. It frees us to focus on operations, not paperwork.”
Looking ahead, he sees artificial intelligence (AI) as the next leap. “Ports in China and Europe already use AI for efficiency and safety. Lumut Port must be modern and competitive on that level.”
Values that Matter – For Rafi, success isn’t just about technology. “Honesty and sincerity are my guiding values. Most importantly, teamwork. I always remind juniors, we can’t achieve anything alone. If one person doesn’t cooperate, we stumble. But if we work together, we succeed.”
These principles, he says, are what kept him motivated through 30 years of service.
Looking Ahead – “I never imagined I would be here for 30 years. At 17, it was just a dream. Today, it’s reality. My hope is for Lumut Port to be recognised as a modern, prosperous port that stands proudly alongside the best in the world.”
From a boy in Ayer Tawar with a newspaper clipping, to Assistant Manager shaping daily port operations, Rafi’s journey proves that dreams, when paired with determination, can carry you a long way—sometimes all the way to the sea.
His story is a reminder that behind Lumut Port’s growth are people whose dedication and loyalty have shaped its journey. As we celebrate 30 years, we also celebrate the spirit of our long-serving staff—the true anchors of Lumut Port.
Next in this series: another story of a long-serving staff who has walked the journey with Lumut Port.
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