Malaysia must act now to establish a national maritime data centre

MALAYSIA’S prosperity and, increasingly, its economic security is tied to the ocean. Its strategic location in the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, places the country at the crossroads of East-West commerce, highlighting its economic and geopolitical importance.

In an era of supply chain shocks, geopolitical fragmentation, and intensifying regional competition, maritime governance is no longer a sectoral issue, it is a national security imperative.