MOT Announces Phased Review And Modernisation Of Malaysian Maritime Laws

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Ministry of Transport (MOT) has announced a phased review and modernisation of the nation's maritime legislation, with the entire process scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

In a statement today, the MOT reiterated its commitment to strengthening maritime governance and legal frameworks to enhance the global and domestic competitiveness of Malaysia's shipping and port sectors.

The Ministry confirmed that the inaugural session of the newly formed Malaysian Maritime Law Revision and Reform Committee (MLRRC) was held yesterday.

The high-level committee is chaired by Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, with Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Ong Chee Kwan serving as deputy chair.

The government established the MLRRC to update and reform national maritime laws, aligning them with international standards and facilitating smoother trade and transport, the statement explained.

According to the MOT, the first meeting signalled the start of a strategic initiative to comprehensively review, modernise, and reform the legal corpus, ensuring it remains relevant and effective in supporting national economic competitiveness.

The meeting centred on a preliminary Inception Report prepared by a specialist consultancy firm appointed to support the committee's work.

The discussions focused on defining the project's scope, methodology and conducting a gap analysis of the existing legislation, which includes reviewing current areas of overlapping jurisdiction. 

-- BERNAMA