PUTRAJAYA, July 10: The Ministry of Transport has established the Malaysia Maritime Law Revision and Reform Committee (MLRRC) to strengthen the legal framework of the country’s maritime sector.
Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan will chair the committee while High Court of Malaya (Admiralty) judge Ong Chee Kwan will serve as deputy chairperson, a statement from the ministry said today.
Appointment letters to MLRRC members were presented by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, today, marking the official commencement of collective and phased efforts to review and reform the country’s maritime laws.
“The establishment of the MLRRC committee is a strategic step to strengthen the legal landscape of the country’s maritime sector in line with the Prime Minister’s mandate through the Initiative 10: Legal and Institutional Reforms in the presentation of Budget 2025,” the ministry said.
It also reflects the government’s commitment to building a modern, progressive, and responsive national maritime legal system to keep pace with the increasingly complex maritime landscape of global maritime trade, the ministry said.
Malaysia, as a trading nation that heavily relies on the shipping and port sectors where 94.6 per cent of the country’s trade is conducted via sea, the country requires maritime laws that are efficient, relevant, and aligned with international best practices, it added.
The committee will carry out the various plans in phases, including the reviews, reforms and drafting of maritime laws. The committee has been also mandated to review and recommend improvements to maritime laws under the jurisdiction of the ministry and other agencies.
The first phase of the MLRRC Committee’s assignment will focus on six main legislative instruments, namely the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 [Ord. 70/1952], Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1960 (Sabah) [Ord. No. 11/1960] and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1960 (Sarawak) [Ord. No. 2/1960].
Other instruments include the Penang Port Commission Act 1955 [Act 140], the Port Authorities Act 1963 [Act 488], and the Port (Privatization) Act 1990 [Act 422].
The committee’s members comprise 23 permanent members comprising representatives from ministries or departments, the Sabah and Sarawak state governments, legal practitioners, academics, enforcement agencies, industry representatives as well as former senior government officials.
To strengthen technical expertise, eight ad hoc experts have also been appointed, covering the fields of shipping, port operations, maritime training and international shipping law.
“The implementation of this legal review and renewal will be carried out in stages until next year, in line with the National Transport Policy and supporting the National Maritime Legal Reform agenda towards a more sustainable, inclusive and dynamic system.
“The MOT remains committed to continuously strengthening governance and the maritime legal framework to ensure the competitiveness of the national shipping industry at the regional and global levels,” added the statement.
— BERNAMA