PUTRAJAYA: The government, through the Transport Ministry, has officially established the Malaysia Maritime Law Revision and Reform Committee (MLRRC).
In a statement on Thursday (July 10), the ministry said the committee is chaired by Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, while High Court of Malaya (Admiralty) judge Ong Chee Kwan serves as deputy chairperson.
The presentation ceremony of appointment letters to the MLRRC members was officiated by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, 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," read the statement.
The ministry announced that the establishment of this committee 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.
"Malaysia, as a trading nation that heavily relies on the shipping and port sectors where 94.6% of the country's trade is conducted via sea, the country requires maritime laws that are efficient, relevant, and aligned with international best practices," said the statement.
The MLRRC Committee will conduct a phased review process, reforming and drafting maritime laws, taking into account the magnitude and complexity of the work for each legislative instrument involved.
At the same time, this committee is also mandated to review and recommend improvements to maritime laws under the jurisdiction of the ministry and other agencies, considering that the country's maritime legal system is polycentric.
The first phase of the MLRRC Committee's assignment will focus on six main legislative instruments, namely the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1960 (Sabah) and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1960 (Sarawak).
Other instruments include the Penang Port Commission Act 1955, the Port Authorities Act 1963 and the Port (Privatisation) Act 1990.
Meanwhile, the ministry said that the MLRRC membership consists of 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 ministry 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
