Centre Head
Sumathy Permal
Position: Fellow (F) Centre Head - Maritime Security and Diplomacy
Email: sumathy@mima.gov.my
Qualifications
- 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
Sumathy Permal is a Fellow and Head of Maritime Security and Diplomacy, with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia. Ms. Permal’s research areas are on geo-politic and geo-strategic in the Asia Pacific and maritime security issues in the Indo Pacific. Sumathy Permal 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 was also the International Expert Panel for National Bureau of Asian Research and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA on Maritime Awareness Program, 2016. She is a Profession Fellow On- Demand Exchange Program by the U.S. Department of State for Think-Tank in Asia and in the East Asian International Relations (EAIR) Caucus, a Network for Researchers Studying Scholarly and Policy Issues in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.
Cheryl Rita Kaur
Position: Fellow (F) Centre Head - Straits of Malacca
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 Pollution
- Marine Protected Areas
- Natural Resources
- Green Shipping and Port Operations
Overview
Cheryl Rita is a Fellow and Head of the Centre for Straits of Malacca. Her research and consultancy focus has been extensive, particularly in ocean governance, natural resources, marine protected areas management, and marine pollution at national, regional, and international platforms. Among her experiences include an attachment to the government Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Lowestoft, UK, for research on spatially managed areas, an Asian Conservation Fellowship award from the Earthwatch Institute of Australia, the JICA Programme for Young Leaders in Japan, Visiting Scientist at the Academia Sinica in Taipei, and country representative under the International Leadership Programme to the US on Coastal and Marine Management for emerging leaders.
She completed an Interdisciplinary Certificate on Ocean Governance focused on Policy, Law, and Management, at the International Ocean Institute, Dalhousie University in Canada in 2015. Subsequently, she gathered a Certificate in Sustainable Environmental Management from the University of California, Berkeley in 2016, and a Certificate in Economics of Climate Change Adaptation at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok in 2018.
She is currently an Associate Fellow at the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS) of University Malaysia Terengganu, and served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia, on integrated coastal zone management.
Huda Mahmoud
Position: Centre Head - Maritime Economics and Industries
Email: huda@mima.gov.my
Qualifications
Master of Public Policy (MPP), University Malaya
BA (Hons.) Journalism, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Research Interest
- International laws and conventions
- Shipping laws
Overview
Huda Mahmoud is the Centre Head and Senior Researcher at MIMA’s Centre for Maritime Economics and Industries. With experience from her Master in Public Policy and Management and Journalism degree, she has delved into various research involving policy interventions. Her research experience includes investigations into shipping laws and draft legislation activities. She is also the editor of several MIMA publications.
Huda Mahmoud
Email: huda@mima.gov.my
Nurul Ashikin Zakaria
Position: Centre Head (Acting) - Coastal and Marine Environment
Email: ashikin@mima.gov.my
Qualifications
- Master of Sustainability Science, University Malaya
- BSc (Hons) Marine Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Research Interest
- Conservation and Responsible Use of Wetlands (RAMSAR)
- Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management
- Harmful Algal Bloom Management
- Fisheries Policies
- Citizen Science
Overview
Ashikin is a Senior Researcher at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia. She has been exposed to marine environment policy research such as conservation and responsible use of wetlands (RAMSAR), harmful algal bloom management, fisheries policies in Malaysia, and fisheries protection at the South China Sea. She was also involved with many community and outreach programs, coordinated and engaged with training workshops to foster marine debris. She participated in the China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance training program in Hainan, China
Researchers
Jalila Abdul Jalil
Position: Senior Researcher - Director of Research Office
Email: jalila@mima.gov.my
Qualifications
- LL.B (Hons.), Glamorgan
- Diploma in Law of the Sea, Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy
Research Interest
- Law of The Sea
- Maritime Boundaries Issues
- Dispute Settlement
- Legal Matters Pertaining to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions
Overview
Jalila Abdul Jalil is a Senior Researcher with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) and has previously served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. She graduated with an LL.B (Hons) Bachelor of Laws from the University of Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom and is an alumni of the Rhodes Oceans Scholar in Law of the Sea, Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy. She is also a Member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Inns of Court, London.
Her research interests include public international law matters, law of the sea, maritime boundaries issues, disputes settlement, and legal matters pertaining to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions.
Cdr. Ang Chin Hup (R)
Position: Senior Researcher - Maritime Security and Diplomacy
Email: angch@mima.gov.my
Qualification
Master of Science in Engineering Business Management, University of Warwick, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Business, RMIT University in Australia
Balanced Scorecard Course, United States
Resource Management Course, Canada
Research Interest
- Maritime economics
- Transportation
- Maritime connectivity
- Geopolitics
Overview
Commander (Cdr) Ang Chin Hup (R) is the Senior Researcher, Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA). Cdr Ang is a former naval officer with the Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN), which included several years with Ministry of Defence and a year’s stint with the United Nations at The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) from 2010 to 2019. As a maritime economist, he spoke in international conferences both in Malaysia and abroad. He presented topics on transportation connectivity for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam – Thailand (CLMV-T) countries organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) in Bangkok, Yangon and Vientiane and regularly invited as a speaker for APEC, IORA.
Egbert Adolf Naintin
Position: Senior Researcher - Ocean Law and Policy
Email: egbert@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Maritime Administration
- Merchant Shipping
- Maritime Technology
- Port Development & Control of Shipping
Nurfatin Wahida Puspa
Position: Researcher - COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Email: nurfatin@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Shipping and ports operation and management
- Technological development (IR 4.0)
- Logistics and supply chain components
Mazlinawati Abdul Majid
Position: Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries
Email: mazlina@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Maritime Economics
- Smart Port & Maritime Ecosystem
- Malaysia & Global Maritime Trade
Zulhilmi Mohd Nizam
Position: Researcher - Ocean Law and Policy
Email: zulhilmi@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Area Beyond National Jurisdiction
- International Law in Managing Refugees at Sea
- Environmental and Marine Resources Law
Jeslyn Tan
Position: Researcher - Maritime Security and Diplomacy
Email: jeslyn@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- ASEAN-Major Power Relations
- Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific
- Regional Multilateralism
- Maritime Security in Southeast Asia
Jeslyn Tan
Email: jeslyn@mima.gov.my
Alif Imran Hidayat
Position: Researcher - Maritime Security and Diplomacy
Email: alif@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Southeast Asian Maritime Security Affairs
- International Organisations and Regional Security Institutions
- ASEAN-Major Power Relations
Nurul ‘Atiqah Rosnan
Position: Researcher - Maritime Economics and Industries
Email: atiqah@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Trading Economics
- Maritime Economics
- Maritime Law
Puteri Arlis Tsharina
Position: Researcher - Coastal and Marine Environment
Email: arlis@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Marine Conservation
Raaga Manjari Annathurai
Position: Researcher - Ocean Law and Policy
Email: raaga@mima.gov.my
Research Interest
- Maritime Labour Convention
- Maritime Insurance
- Maritime Cyber Security
Fatin Anis Azzahra Kamarudin
Position: Researcher - Straits of Malacca
Research Interest
- Maritime Policy and Management
- Marine Coastal Environment
- Marine Sustainability
Muhammad Aslam Adenan
Position: Researcher - Straits of Malacca
Research Interest
- Geo-politics in the South China Sea
- International Law in Maritime Issues and Conflicts
- Maritime Economics in the ASEAN Regional Cooperation