LETTER | 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.
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 addressing 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 about how extensively MSMP has been implemented persists. The findings demonstrate that MSMP's plan execution has fallen short of addressing the sector's core environmental, security, safety and economic issues - indicating the potential for enhancement.
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.
To stay viable and remain competitive with regional competitors, bureaucracy should be reduced to a bare minimum. It is a great loss to lose a lucrative maritime business as a result of administrative 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 the 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 a 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.
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Maritime universities and training academies, in turn, translate those criteria into the curriculum as they play critical roles in providing relevant courses for education, training and accreditation.
The training institution should not only reflect the industry's current needs but also be able to forecast the industry's future path in generating higher and more resilient students.
Besides 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, Transport Ministry 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 the ministry to allocate a significant budget for maritime research and development so that Malaysia is prepared to address current industry issues such as emissions of greenhouse gases from vessels, the prospect of autonomous shipping and bringing attention to the potential fuel that is sustainable within the maritime ecosystem.
The ministry 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 Transport Ministry is an integral constituent in dealing with the International Maritime Organization.
Malaysia's standing among maritime players will be bolstered by the agency's committed and professional workforce with specialised knowledge in the appropriate segment.
A comprehensive analysis of the maritime setting is needed, taking into account the lessons learned and the relationship between the maritime industry, marine environment and ocean governance.
A response mechanism that is reflected in a resilient policy will make Malaysia a maritime major player. The blueprint must include provisions for enhancing current facilities, such as the safety of navigation in the Strait of Melaka, and for continuous adaptation to the current economic stage.
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.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
