Establish a National Maritime Blueprint for geopolitical resilience and Blue Economy growth

New Straits Times

6 hours ago

The recent India-Pakistan hostilities are another international occurrence that may trigger supply chain setbacks while countries are concurrently struggling with the US reciprocal tariffs.
With the ongoing South China Sea issues ranging from big powers' rivalry and assertive behaviour that may disrupt maritime trade, Malaysia must carefully navigate geopolitical repercussions and dampen the geo-economic shock.
This strategic pressure is amplified by Malaysia's deep maritime dependence. Located between the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca, its economic heartbeat heavily depends on the ocean.
The Academy of Sciences Malaysia estimated that in 2020, Malaysia's blue economy contributed 21.3 per cent of Malaysia's GDP. By 2030, it is forecasted to increase significantly, potentially reaching 31.5 per cent of GDP and totalling around RM1.4 trillion.
Malaysia's maritime interests are substantial, built upon Petronas' offshore oil and gas operations which contribute around 20 per cent of national GDP, alongside a RM16 billion fishing industry, and maritime trade comprising 98 per cent of its international commerce.
These sectors also sustain the livelihoods of countless Malaysian citizens across all states. Any disruption, whether internal or external, threatens both national prosperity and individual well-being.
The risks and threats in the maritime domain remain contentious and, more often than not, loom large, potentially impeding Malaysia's maritime economy.
Concurrently, Malaysia faces challenges on multiple fronts in defending its national interest: internal leakages and corruption, domestic differences including growing calls for greater autonomy in Sabah and Sarawak, evolving transnational threats, persistent maritime disputes, and the intensifying geopolitical rivalry.
In recent decades, the South China Sea has evolved into a critical security flashpoint where Malaysia maintains legitimate claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
An alarming increase in dangerous incidents throughout the region demands our attention.
Though Malaysia has experienced fewer confrontations than our regional neighbours, concerning episodes, including the 2020 West Capella standoff, PLA's aircraft incursions into Malaysian airspace, and persistent harassment of vessels operating within our Exclusive Economic Zone, serve as key reminders that enhanced maritime governance and security are not optional but essential.
Malaysia stepped up efforts in safeguarding its national interests in 2020 by launching the inaugural Defence White Paper (DWP) to strengthen its national defence and lay the foundation for the nation's security strategy.
Crucially, the DWP projected Malaysia as a 'maritime nation,' signalling a strategic vision that places the maritime domain at the core of its national interests. As the DWP undergoes its mid-term review approaching 2025, it's clear that while it provides overarching guidance on protecting sovereignty and sovereign rights, the focus is not on the granularities of maritime governance itself.
Therefore, complementing the DWP with specific, actionable policies is imperative. Malaysia needs dedicated measures to realise the potential of its 2030 blue economy goals, shielded from the contentious maritime environment.
Therefore, a coherent national maritime blueprint is the necessary instrument to achieve this. Encouragingly, under the administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the discourse on maritime governance and security has gained notable traction.
Discussions in parliament and public statements have increasingly touched upon protecting territorial integrity, harnessing the blue economy, and modernising maritime assets. Furthermore, the National Security Council's (NSC) ongoing development of a new national security policy is eminently important and timely.
Yet, discourse and broad policy must translate into coordinated actions. Now is the opportune moment for Malaysia, in its quest as a maritime nation and racing against escalating geopolitical tensions, to formulate a dedicated national maritime blueprint.
The increasing uncertainty in global politics, which directly impacts Malaysia's vast interests in the maritime sphere, especially the South China Sea, makes such preparedness paramount.
A foundation that prescribes more effective coordination between key agencies with maritime interests at the federal and state levels will allow Malaysia to project a united front, and in turn, eliminate any loopholes that render a siloed culture.
This is necessary to allow the country to better navigate global uncertainty that seeks to jeopardise national progress regardless of whether its origin is internal, bilateral, or multilateral.
A national maritime blueprint can provide a guideline for seamless coordination of actions between federal and state agencies in protecting national borders
This blueprint must be a living strategic document that assesses Malaysia's maritime capabilities across defense, economic, and developmental dimensions, crafting a cohesive strategy to navigate geopolitical uncertainties. It must encompass a clear vision and objectives, placing Malaysia's long-term ambition as a maritime nation at the forefront.
Success depends on embracing a "Whole of Government, Whole of Society" (WoGoS) approach that aligns national priorities above all, not driven by any single entity or state, but rather shaped through an engagement of all stakeholders.
The WoGoS approach must form the cornerstone of both planning and implementing Malaysia's maritime blueprint. This framework ensures that all relevant perspectives, from security agencies to economic interests to environmental concerns, formulate a coherent national strategy.
The blueprint can establish foundational governance structures and coordination mechanisms that could eventually evolve into a governing formality.
Such a framework would also drive asset modernisation through transparent processes where non-military stakeholders provide essential oversight, ensuring that procurement decisions serve national interests.
The maritime blueprint must be conceived as a long-term strategic instrument for safeguarding Malaysia's maritime interests against evolving threats.
Its success hinges on meaningful engagement with key constituencies: nurturing maritime awareness among the youth that will inherit far more complex challenges; securing support from MPs who shape policy frameworks; and addressing the specific concerns of coastal communities whose livelihoods depend directly on our waters.
A comprehensive national maritime blueprint represents a historic opportunity for the current administration to establish a long-lasting legacy to contend with contemporary challenges.
By articulating a clear vision for Malaysia as a maritime nation and embedding this identity in key guiding policy documents, the government can ensure that Malaysia's maritime interests remain protected for generations to come, regardless of shifting geopolitical headwinds.