The government is reviewing Malaysia’s maritime legal framework, including the possibility of introducing tougher penalties for marine pollution offences as part of efforts to strengthen protection of the marine environment, Bernama reported.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the Malaysia Maritime Law Review and Reform Committee (MLRRC) is conducting a comprehensive study to assess the effectiveness of existing maritime laws and identify areas that require amendments.
He said the review focuses on several key areas including navigational safety, marine environmental protection and pollution caused by ships.
“The findings of the MLRRC study will serve as the basis for the government to consider amendments to relevant legislation, including measures to strengthen marine pollution prevention, incident preparedness and response, as well as liability and compensation mechanisms, to further enhance protection of the marine environment,” he said.
Hasbi said this during the Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday in response to a question from Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) on the effectiveness of the national marine pollution control action plan and its enforcement.
He said the review is necessary to ensure Malaysia’s maritime laws remain relevant, responsive to current developments and aligned with the country’s obligations under international maritime conventions.
Beyond legal reforms, Hasbi said the government is also strengthening marine pollution management through periodic reviews of the Malaysia Oil Spill Contingency Plan, improved standard operating procedures, stronger coordination between agencies as well as continuous training and simulation exercises.
He added that the government would continue reviewing policies, legislation and implementation mechanisms to ensure Malaysia’s marine pollution management framework remains effective and in line with developments in the maritime sector and international best practices.
