YB Dato Henry Sum Agong, Deputy Minister of Transport arriving at the venue
Kuala Lumpur, 25 November – The Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), with support from the Ministry of Transport Malaysia (MOT), hosted the 10th International Conference on the Straits of Malacca on 25 November 2021. The conference was officiated by YB Dato Henry Sum Agong, Deputy Minister of Transport Malaysia, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The conference was conducted in hybrid mode (physical and virtual) to allow participants from all over the world to attend and benefit from the discussions.
Dato’ Mohamed Suffian Awang delivering the Welcoming Remarks
The International Conference on Straits of Malacca is a biannual event organised by MIMA. It is a continuous discourse to highlight the importance that Malaysia attaches to the strategic position of the Straits of Malacca as the world’s busiest waterway connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The route serves nearly 80,000 ships throughout the year.
Deputy Minister of Transport delivering Keynote Speech and launching the conference
One of the cooperation objectives among the littoral states – Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore is to ensure that the Straits of Malacca is protected and safe for vessels and ships sailing through the narrow passage of the waterway. Therefore, various aspects must be taken into account in ensuring the prosperity of the route so that it continues to be the leading maritime trade route for ships from around the world.
Malaysia is emerging strongly as a maritime country. Therefore, the sustainability of the Straits of Malacca is closely linked to the development of Malaysia. This conference is vital to seek international perspectives to enhance and strengthen the mutual benefits the Straits can provide. The conference serves as a platform for government agencies, maritime experts, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss and share emerging current challenges, maritime safety issues, and environmental protection in the straits, focusing on strategies to ensure safety in the waters of the Straits of Malacca.
The VVIP guests group photo
Recently, Malaysia celebrated its 50th anniversary with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in which Malaysia pledges its commitments to the organisation concerning issues that affect the global maritime community. Globally, challenges have arisen, especially with the pandemic challenges that could impact trade routes. As such, this timely conference can provide discussions for adaptability measures to minimise risk and increase the waterway’s stability and sustainability. The conference is a continuous effort by the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) to support Malaysia’s commitment as a responsible maritime nation.
