THE Transport Ministry (MOT) will develop the Malaysia maritime single window (MMSW), a unified digital platform to facilitate trade and shipping services, in the fourth quarter (4Q) of this year to raise the nation’s ports’ competitiveness and reduce bureaucracy, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.

He said that port operators currently have to deal with 12 separate agencies, including the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Immigration Department, the Department of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services, and port authorities before a ship is allowed to dock.

“This development is vital to improving Malaysia’s competitiveness, especially in the ports industry,” he said in a press conference after chairing the national logistics task force meeting in Putrajaya today.

Loke said other countries, such as Singapore, have long adopted unified maritime systems.

“This was one of the main factors why the republic has become a cargo hub of choice, which has contributed to its economy,” he said.

The minister said the development of the MMSW was also in line with the mandatory requirements set forth by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) under the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic.

“All countries under the IMO must have a unified maritime system by January 1, 2024, which contains all the data concerning ship movements and the cargo embarked,” he said.

Loke said many foreign companies were interested in making Malaysia their regional logistics centre.

“Among the major companies that made Malaysia their regional distribution hub is Swedish conglomerate Ikea, with its hub in Port Klang. Other companies include Marks and Spencer, Denso and BMW.

“This is why we must raise Malaysia’s competitiveness of ports and logistics, and developing the MMSW is one of the ways to achieve this,” he added. – Bernama, April 11, 2023.