PUTRAJAYA: The full rationalisation between the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has been officially announced, making CAAM the sole regulatory body for the country's civil aviation, covering technical, safety and economic aspects.
The Transport Ministry said that effective Friday (Aug 1), all Mavcom functions, including economic regulation, are now carried out by CAAM, in line with a strategic move towards a more efficient, responsive regulatory system rooted in improved governance, in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
In line with the implementation, the ministry also announced the appointment of Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi as the new CAAM chairman, effective immediately.
"Sharil, who was appointed as a member of the CAAM Authority since 2021 and later as deputy chairman in 2023, has over 30 years of extensive experience in the legal and corporate sectors, including leading the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as chairman and chief executive officer in 2011.
"His expertise in regulating the telecommunications, Internet, media and postal sectors is expected to strengthen CAAM during this new phase of transformation," the ministry said in a statement on Friday.
It stated that CAAM now operates as a statutory body with separated remuneration and independence, with autonomy in financial strategy planning and human resource management, including offering a more competitive remuneration structure, in line with the Cabinet's decision.
"All CAAM staff will receive improved remuneration packages equivalent to industry standards, as an important step to attract and retain highly skilled talent such as qualified technical personnel," the statement said.
As part of the rationalisation process, all Mavcom staff have been offered positions within CAAM, with 93% accepting the offer as of July 31, 2025.
To support CAAM's expanded mandate, the structure of the CAAM Authority members has also been strengthened with additional appointments, including a representative from the Economy Ministry and two members with expertise in economics, competition policy and consumer rights.
"The ministry is confident that this unification of regulatory functions will not only streamline the country's aviation institutional structure but also enhance operational efficiency, industry competitiveness, and CAAM's capacity as an international-class aviation regulator," it said. – Bernama
