IN the maritime industry, the need for a proper policy is real and urgent to assist the maritime industry in remaining pertinent and competitive in both local and international markets. To make the shipping sector a pillar of the national economy, Malaysia must establish a welcoming atmosphere in the face of increasing competition for global trade and 

The Malaysia Shipping Master Plan (MSMP) for the period 2017-2022 aspires to make the shipping industry a pillar of the national economy with its strategies and action plans to address difficulties in the shipping sector ranging from the ship itself to the recruitment and training of Malaysian seafarers and marine human capital, ship finance, commercial prospects, regulation, and auxiliary services.

Nonetheless, the debate of how extensively MSMP has been implemented persists. The finding reveals that MSMP’s plan execution has fallen short of the mark in terms of addressing the sector’s core environmental, security, safety, and economic issues, indicating a multifaceted failure areas to be enhanced.

As MSMP officially ended last year, Malaysia needs a new holistic and strategic shipping blueprint in the coming year to ensure that its maritime industry remains comprehensive in the future. Undoubtedly, maritime governance has evolved over centuries based on sophisticated legal processes and precedents. 

The governing structure is rarely accessible or transparent, and with so many complex regulations, various divisions, and multilevel authorities, it is difficult for anyone affiliated with the sector to become engaged. For shipping to remain safe and sustainable, effective, well-managed, and accountable governance structures must be in place. Bureaucracy should be reduced to minimum in staying relevant and maintaining competitive edge with the neighbouring competing countries. It is a great loss to lose a lucrative business as a result of administration weaknesses. 

The maritime industry is worldwide in scope, including a wide range of entities, persons, and interests, including individuals, businesses, governments, and authorities. Each individual, institution, and industry, including shipping, has a role to play.

Thus, a close partnership is essential for developing efficient maritime governance that may help us progress towards a more sustainable future, from governments to NGOs, the commercial sector, and civil society. 

Malaysia’s future as a maritime nation is heavily reliant on the strategic plan’s rapid and consistent execution. The need to strengthen legal and regulatory framework includes integrated policies, actions, and related matters. This is significant since the industry is essential to the development of the nation and is the major component of its commercial and economic structure. 

Shipping stewardship is dependent on the recruitment of skilled professionals in management and operations in the sectors. Maritime universities and training academies, in turn, translate those criteria into curriculum as they play critical roles in providing relevant courses for education, training, and accreditation. The training institution not only should reflect the current needs of the industry, but also able to forecast the future path of the industry in creating a high quality and resilient students.

Besides from that, the sector needs substantial financial investment as well as a favourable climate to support the growth of local capacity and allow local companies to prosper. This can be accomplished by legislative action or government support, both of which a master plan can help to articulate and spell out.

Obviously, the Transport Ministry (MOT) is the primary decision-making agency for adopting regulations and standards, allowing it to take the lead in Malaysian maritime administration. Moving forward, it is prudent for MOT to allocate a significant budget for a research and development in the maritime industry so that Malaysia is set to tackle the current issue in this industry such as greenhouse gas emission from vessels, the future of autonomous shipping and contributing towards the future fuel which is sustainable inside maritime ecosystem.

The MOT must also consider its interaction with other intergovernmental organisations concerned with shipping governance, not only because its obligation overlaps with those of other organisations, but also because the MOT is an integral constituent in dealing with the International Maritime Organization. Dedicated, competent personnel specialising in fields within the organisation will elevate Malaysia’s position as a maritime player.

Thorough analysis inside marine scape which consider the lesson learnt and relationship between marine industry, marine environment and marine governance are required. A response mechanism reflected in a resilient policy will bring Malaysia in a high-level maritime entity. Empowering current facilities such as the safety of navigation in the Strait of Malacca and continuous adaptation in the current economic stage must be captured in the blueprint.

Proficient maritime governance is required if the global shipping sector is to flourish. The actors in the sector must shed light on how the broader shipping blueprint may evolve in the next decades, kicking off a debate on how the whole shipping value chain will adapt. 

The blueprint will serve as a resource for stakeholders throughout the shipping value chain, providing clear guidelines to businesses and institutions as they develop their strategic approaches through a holistic view and establishing milestones to address current and future sustainability challenges in the industry. – February 27, 2023.

* Dr Izyan Munirah Mohd Zaideen is a senior lecturer at the faculty of maritime studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Captain Mohd Faizal Ramli is an EHS marine specialist in the oil and gas sector. 

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.