MARITIME INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA

OFFICIAL PORTAL

Researchers

Centre Head

Dr. Sumathy Permal

Position: Senior Fellow - Maritime Security and Diplomacy (MSD)
Email: sumathy@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
  • M.A. (Strategic and International Relations), University of Malaya
  • B. A. (International Relations) (Hons), University of Malaya

Research Interest

  • Strategic and Defense
  • Governance in Straits of Malacca
  • Maritime Security

Overview

Dr. Sumathy Permal is an Acting Director of Research and Senior Fellow with the Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy. Her research areas includes maritime security governance, SLOC security, geopolitics, energy, and resource protection in the South China Sea.She is on the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs Australia and Associate Member of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies.She is the Head of Secretariat for the Malaysia Maritime Law Revision and Reform Committee (MLRRC), Ministry of Transport, Malaysia. Sumathy Permal is also is in the Technical Committee for the Study on Malaysia Maritime Masterplan 2026-2040, Ministry of Transport Malaysia. Sumathy Permal is the Member of Curriculum Committee, Faculty of Arts and Social Science,University Malaya July 2022 -July 2024. She was also aappointed to (Board of Studies) Institute Asia-Europe, University of Malaya (JKP AEI) 2020 – 2022. She was an International Expert Panel for National Bureau of Asian Research and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA on Maritime Awareness Program, 2016 and a Profession Fellow On- Demand Exchange Program by the U.S. Department of State for Think-Tank in Asia.
Senior Fellow - Maritime Security and Diplomacy (MSD)

Dr. Sumathy Permal

Email: sumathy@mima.gov.my

Cheryl Rita Kaur

Position: Fellow, Centre Head of Coastal and Marine Environment
Email: cheryl_rk@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • MSc (with Merit) in Marine Science, Policy and Law National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, United Kingdom
  • BSc (Hons.) Marine Biology, University Malaysia Terengganu
  • Diploma in Multilateral Environmental Agreements, University of Eastern Finland

Research Interest

  • Marine Environmental and Resources Management
  • Marine Protected Areas
  • Marine Pollution and Control
  • Green Shipping and Port Operations
  • Blue Economy Framework and Assessments

Overview

Cheryl Rita is a Research Fellow and Head of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Environment (CMER). She previously headed the Centre for Straits of Malacca (SOM) at MIMA, focusing on the multiple research opportunities in the Straits as a vital sea-lane of communication with strategic maritime interests between the Indian Ocean Region and the South China Sea. Her research and consultancy work spans a broad range of areas, both locally and abroad. Her professional experiences include a research attachment at the government Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Lowestoft, United Kingdom, focusing on spatially managed areas. She was also awarded the Asian Conservation Fellowship by the Eartwatch Institute of Australia, selected for the JICA Programme for Young Leaders in Japan, served as a Visiting Scientist at Academia Sinica in Taipei, and as country representative in the International Leadership Programme to the United States on Coastal and Marine Management for emerging leaders.

She completed an interdisciplinary Certificate on Ocean Governance, specialising in Policy, Law, and Management, at the International Ocean Institute, Dalhousie University, Canada. She subsequently earned a Certificate in Sustainable Environmental Management from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Certificate in Economics of Climate Change Adaptation from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand. She also held several academic appointments, including Adjunct Professor of Marine Policy at the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, University of Malaysia Terengganu (UMT); Associate Fellow at UMT’s Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS); and Adjunct Lecturer in Integrated Coastal Zone Management at the China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia. She recently served as a Visiting Fellow at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, Japan.

Fellow, Centre Head of Coastal and Marine Environment

Cheryl Rita Kaur

Email: cheryl_rk@mima.gov.my

Mazlinawati Abdul Majid

Position: Senior Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries
Email: mazlina@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • Master of Business Economics

Research Interest

  • Maritime Economics
  • Maritime Ecosystem and Supply Chain
  • Maritime Business and Finance
  • Maritime Industry & Industrial Development
  • Maritime Labour & Human Capital

Overview

Mazlinawati Abdul Majid specialised in Maritime Economics and Industries, with key areas of interest encompassing Maritime Economics; Maritime Ecosystem and Supply Chain; Maritime Business and Finance; Maritime Industry and Industrial Development; and Maritime Labour and Human Capital. Her work adopts an evidence-based and analytical approach, examining the interrelationships between maritime activities, economic performance, business investment, industrial development, supply-chain connectivity and human capital. Through this multidisciplinary perspective, she seeks to contribute to the strategic development of a more competitive, resilient and sustainable maritime sector, with particular emphasis on strengthening economic value creation, industrial capacity, investment potential and the long-term development of the maritime ecosystem.
Senior Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries

Mazlinawati Abdul Majid

Email: mazlina@mima.gov.my

Dr. Muhammad Nur Arif Othman

Position: Senior Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment (CMER)
Email: arif@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • PhD in Aquatic Science, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
  • MSc in Aquatic Science, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
  • BSc (Hons) in Aquatic Resource Science and Management, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)

Research Interest

  • Nature based Solution (NbS)
  • Marine Pollution
  • Decarbonisation

Overview

Dr. Muhammad Nur Arif bin Othman is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Coastal and Marine Environment (CMER), Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA). His current work focuses on the integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in port development, study on GHG emissions from fishing vessels as well as waste management in the shipping and port sectors. He is also a committee member for the establishment of a Same Risk Area (SRA) in the Straits of Malacca and an Expert Member of the Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (WGMCE) under the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA).

Senior Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment (CMER)

Dr. Muhammad Nur Arif Othman

Email: arif@mima.gov.my

Researchers

Raaga Manjari Annathurai

Position: Senior Researcher - Ocean Law and Policy
Email: raaga@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • LL.B. (Hons.), Multimedia University (MMU)
  • LL.M Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya (Non-Practicing), University of Malaya (UM)

Research Interest

  • Submarine Cables
  • Ocean Governance
  • Maritime Legislation
  • IMO Conventions
  • Regulatory Compliance

Overview

Raaga Manjari Annathurai is a legal professional, researcher, and an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya (non-practicing). She currently serves as a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Ocean Law & Policy (OLAP), Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA). She is part of the Secretariat for the Malaysia Maritime Law Review and Reform Committee (MLRRC) under the Ministry of Transport. Raaga holds an LL.B. (Hons.) from Multimedia University and an LL.M. in Commercial Law from Universiti Malaya, specializing in submarine cable protection and international ocean governance. With a career spanning civil litigation, real estate conveyancing, and regulatory compliance, she has contributed to over 25 national maritime legislative drafts aligned with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. An active speaker and widely published scholar, she regularly represents national interests at international maritime summits.

Senior Researcher - Ocean Law and Policy

Raaga Manjari Annathurai

Email: raaga@mima.gov.my

Fatin Anis Azzahra Kamarudin

Position: Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries
Email: anis@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • Master of Science (Science, Technology & Sustainability)

Research Interest

  • Green & Sustainable Maritime Economy
  • Decarbonisation
  • Alternative marine fuels
  • Green shipping corridors
  • Carbon pricing
  • Energy transition financing

Overview

Fatin Anis Azzahra Kamarudin is a Researcher at the Centre for Maritime Economics and Industries (MEI), with a specialization in the Green and Sustainable Maritime Economy. Her research focuses on key areas including maritime decarbonisation, alternative marine fuels, green shipping corridors, carbon pricing, energy transition financing, and the blue economy, particularly marine and coastal tourism.Her work supports the development of evidence-based policies, industry strategies, and sustainable maritime practices that contribute to the transition towards a low-carbon and resilient maritime sector. Through policy research and analysis, she contributes to strengthening national policy agendas on sustainable development, climate action, energy transition, and maritime competitiveness, while promoting long-term economic growth and environmental stewardship within the maritime industry. Her research aims to advance sustainable maritime development in alignment with national priorities and international sustainability commitments, fostering a greener, more resilient, and globally competitive maritime economy.
Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries

Fatin Anis Azzahra Kamarudin

Email: anis@mima.gov.my

Thaarshini Paramasivan

Position: Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment
Email: thaarshini@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Marine Biology
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Marine Biology
  • Diploma in Fisheries

Research Interest

  • Marine Pollution and Litter
  • Plastic Waste Management
  • Microplastics
  • Climate Change and Marine and Coastal Environments

Overview

Thaarshini Paramasivan is a marine and maritime researcher with academic qualifications in Marine Biology and Fisheries. She holds a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, as well as a Diploma in Fisheries. Her research and professional work focus on marine litter and marine waste management, including projects involving coastal clean-up initiatives, marine litter assessment, and Port Reception Facilities (PRFs). She has also conducted research on microplastics in marine and estuarine environments, particularly their occurrence and interaction with zooplankton. Her broader research interests include marine pollution, plastic waste management, fisheries, and climate change impacts on marine and coastal environments.
Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment

Thaarshini Paramasivan

Email: thaarshini@mima.gov.my

Siti Maisarah Zainurin

Position: Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries
Email: maisarah@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • Bachelor Degree in International Affairs Management (Hons.), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)

Research Interests

  • Maritime Economics, Trade and Logistics
  • Port and Maritime Infrastructure
  • Maritime Technology & Innovation
  • Regional Economic Cooperation & Connectivity

Overview

Maisarah is a Researcher at the Centre for Maritime Economics and Industries in Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA). She has been involved in policy research and consultancy projects related to freight and logistics data, ports and maritime development, and marine spatial planning. Her research concentrates on port infrastructure, trade and logistics, maritime governance, and regional economic cooperation. Maisarah holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs Management from Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries

Siti Maisarah Zainurin

Email: maisarah@mima.gov.my

Muhammad Haikal Amran

Position: Researcher - Maritime Security and Diplomacy
Email: haikal@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • B.A. (Hons) International and Strategic Studies, Universiti Malaya (UM)

Research Interest

  • Traditional and non-traditional security in the South China Sea
  • International law of the sea and the maritime rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific
  • Joint development prospects in areas of overlapping claims
  • Critical maritime infrastructure resilience

Overview

Haikal Amran is a Researcher at the Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy. His research examines the intersection of maritime security, international law of the sea, and regional diplomacy in the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific, with particular attention to how legal and institutional frameworks, such as UNCLOS 1982 and ASEAN as a regional bloc, hold up under geopolitical pressure.His work spans regional maritime economic resilience and the durability of the maritime rules-based order; non-traditional maritime security issues such as the governance of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; the protection of critical underwater infrastructure; and the prospects for joint development of maritime resources in areas of overlapping maritime claims against the backdrop of today’s geopolitical volatility in the Indo-Pacific. He also contributes policy inputs to Malaysian ministries and agencies on various ASEAN dialogue partnerships and relevant bilateral maritime engagement. He holds a BA in International and Strategic Studies from Universiti Malaya and is an alumnus of the Law of the Sea Summer Academy 2025 at Kadir Has University, Istanbul, under a scholarship by the Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore.
Researcher - Maritime Security and Diplomacy

Muhammad Haikal Amran

Email: haikal@mima.gov.my

Aiman Hisyam Azmi

Position: Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment
Email: aiman@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Technology (Honours)

Research Interest

  • Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)
  • Climate Change Impacts and Coastal Adaption
  • Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
  • Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing
  • Seabed Governance and Deep-Seabed Mining

Overview

Aiman Hisyam Azmi is a Researcher at the Centre for Coastal and Marine Environment, Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA). His work focuses on marine environmental policy and marine spatial planning. His research examines the interactions between human activities, marine ecosystems, and evolving policy and regulatory frameworks, particularly within the Malaysian and Southeast Asian context. His areas of interest include climate change and coastal adaptation, marine biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, maritime decarbonisation and offshore CCUS, seabed governance, and biofouling and marine invasive species.
Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment

Aiman Hisyam Azmi

Email: aiman@mima.gov.my

Muhd Nazmi Zuhairi Azmen

Position: Researcher - Maritime Security and Diplomacy
Email: nazmi@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • B.A (Southeast Asian Studies), University of Malaya (UM)

Research Interest

  • Maritime Security & Maritime Domain Awareness
  • Straits of Malacca & Regional Maritime Governance
  • Asean Regional Studies
  • Ocean Governance & Blue Economy
  • Maritime Diplomacy & Strategic Affairs

Overview

Nazmi is a maritime researcher specialising in ASEAN regional studies, maritime security, maritime governance, shipping, ports and strategic maritime affairs. As a former Researcher at MIMA’s Centre for Straits of Malacca and currently a Researcher at the Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy, his research focuses on the intersection between maritime security, regional geopolitics, maritime trade and ocean governance. His areas of interest include dark fleet activities, maritime domain awareness, safety and security of navigation, shipping and port development, maritime decarbonisation, marine spatial planning, blue economy and maritime diplomacy. His work adopts a policy-oriented approach, with particular attention to Malaysia’s maritime interests, the Straits of Malacca and wider developments in the Indo-Pacific.

Researcher - Maritime Security and Diplomacy

Muhd Nazmi Zuhairi Azmen

Email: nazmi@mima.gov.my

Nurismarina Smail@Ismail

Position: Researcher - Ocean Law and Policy
Email: ismarina@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • B.A in Southeast Asian Studies, Universiti Malaya

Research Interest

  • Maritime Military Blockades
  • ASEAN Maritime Cooperation

Overview

Nurismarina binti Smail @ Ismail is a researcher working at the intersection of maritime security, strategic affairs, and ocean law and policy. Her research focuses on emerging maritime security challenges, with particular interests in military blockades, maritime coercion, strategic chokepoints, freedom of navigation, and the evolving security dynamics of the South China Sea, the Indo-Pacific, and the wider maritime domain. Particularly interested in the role of Southeast Asian states and regional institutions in navigating maritime security challenges and managing strategic competition in contested waters. Building on her background in Southeast Asian Studies and maritime security research, her current work increasingly explores the intersection between maritime security and ocean law and policy, including maritime governance, the law of the sea, maritime jurisdiction, and policy responses to emerging challenges in the maritime domain.
Researcher - Ocean Law and Policy

Nurismarina Smail@Ismail

Email: ismarina@mima.gov.my

Puteri Arlis Tsharina binti Jazlan ‘Arif

Position: Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment
Email: arlis@mima.gov.my

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) with Honours

Research Interest

  • Marine Litter & Circular Economy
  • Sustainable Fisheries & Marine Biodiversity, with a focus on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM)
  • Green Shipping & Maritime Decarbonisation

Overview

As a researcher at CMER, Puteri Arlis holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, with her research work focusing on ocean governance and marine environmental policy. She has actively participated in platforms such as International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings on the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG). Her engagement spans initiatives under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), where she serves as a speaker and delegate at national and regional forums, sharing insights on marine litter management and coastal ecosystem restoration. Additionally, her work also involves, amongst others, coordinating national capacity-building initiatives, as well as focus group discussions on ocean governance, marine spatial planning, and marine litter management, such as the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) and training workshops under COBSEA.
Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment

Puteri Arlis Tsharina binti Jazlan ‘Arif

Email: arlis@mima.gov.my

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