The Malaysian Insight

THE Transport Ministry (MOT) will table a paper on cabotage policy to cabinet next month after missing its deadline by more than six months, Dr Wee Ka Siong said. 

“This will be discussed and the ministry will table a paper on the policy in early October after receiving feedback from all the other agencies,” said the Ayer Hitam MP in Dewan Rakyat today.

Back in April, former science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin said he and five other ministers would table their recommendations to cabinet by April 26. 

The other ministries were International Trade and Industry, Finance, Transport, Communications and Multimedia, and Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development. 

Wee, who reversed the cabotage exemption for foreign vessels undertaking undersea cable repairs in Malaysia last year, did not explain the reasons for the delay.

Instead, the MCA president defended his policy and said that foreign vessels were still allowed to carry out undersea cable repairs in Malaysian waters. 

“The only difference is they have to apply for a domestic shipping licence (DSL) before coming instead of applying after they are here. 

“MOT has to balance the need to build local capacity, reduce dependence on foreign vessels, and defend the integrity of Malaysian data,” said Wee.

According to Wee, 10 DSLs had already been given to foreign vessels Asian Explorer and Asian Restorer from December last year till August 2021. 

“But after we enhanced the system by using E-DSL, the approval process is only three days instead of five to seven.” 

When reminded he had contradicted himself by his predecessor Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH) that the policy was reversed as there were existing Malaysian vessels that could do the work, Wee said that the Malaysian company undertaking undersea repair vessels were perhaps “too busy” to handle local jobs. 

“They may have been doing work elsewhere and could not divert their vessels here,” said Wee. – September 22, 2021.