Latest news with #AdmiraltyBill
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Experts laud move to establish dedicated maritime court
KUALA LUMPUR: The soon-to-be-tabled Admiralty Bill, which seeks to establish a dedicated maritime court, is a timely and necessary step, say maritime law experts. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) maritime policy expert Professor Datuk Dr Saharuddin Abdul Hamid said the initiative marks a significant progression from the current Admiralty Court framework, which operates under the High Court in Kuala Lumpur. "An Admiralty Court is a specialised court to deal with maritime disputes. As Malaysia continues to grow as a strategic maritime nation, the need for a robust legal infrastructure tailored to these issues cannot be overstated," he told the New Straits Times. While the existing Admiralty Court is functional, he said it lacks the depth of specialisation required to effectively resolve the growing number of maritime disputes. "A dedicated maritime court would allow for the appointment of judges and legal personnel with deep expertise in international maritime law. This level of specialisation will ensure more consistent and informed rulings. This brings Malaysia closer in line with global maritime legal hubs such as Singapore and the United Kingdom," he said. He said time is often critical in cases involving vessel arrests, cargo damage, charter party disputes and pollution claims. A court focused solely on maritime matters, he said, would reduce case backlogs and enhance resolution timelines, reinforcing confidence among both domestic and international stakeholders. UMT senior lecturer Wan Mariam Wan Abdullah said location accessibility was a long-standing issue, as the current court only sits in Kuala Lumpur. "Ports in Klang, Tanjung Pelepas, Penang and Johor are underserved. Regional divisions under a new court would bridge that gap," she said. She added a specialised court would also improve coordination with enforcement agencies and port authorities, particularly for enforcement cases involving ship detentions, pollution breaches and port regulations. She added the move would also position Malaysia as a cost-effective alternative to Singapore for maritime dispute resolution and expand maritime arbitration services to attract international cases. Meanwhile, maritime lawyer Srimurugan Alagan welcomed the concurrent effort to review outdated maritime legislation under the Maritime Law Revision and Reform Committee (MLRRC), chaired by Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan. "Many of Malaysia's maritime laws are based on pre-Merdeka laws, such as the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, and they were drafted for the applications of that time. It is not keeping up with modern industry developments," he said. He said the committee's review of six core maritime-related laws was a major step forward as Malaysia is positioning itself as a shipping hub. "We're in competition with countries like Singapore, which are far ahead in this regard. So it's important that our maritime laws are updated and competitive," he added. Yesterday, Loke said the Transport Ministry will table an Admiralty Bill. He said the Bill would be presented during the third session of Parliament this year, scheduled between October and December. Loke added that the MLRRC had been given one year to complete its review, which was aimed at harmonising the outdated laws.
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Admiralty Bill to pave way for dedicated maritime court, says Loke
SUBANG JAYA: The Transport Ministry will table an Admiralty Bill aimed at establishing the legal basis for the creation of a dedicated maritime court. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the bill would be presented during the third session of Parliament this year, scheduled between October and December. "We will table the Admiralty Bill in the year-end parliamentary session. The bill will provide a source of power to establish a special court for maritime matters. "At present, we do not have a dedicated maritime court. What we have is the High Court, with one of its courts specialising in maritime cases. "Our intention is to introduce this bill to provide the source of power so we can establish a more comprehensive judicial system for handling maritime disputes and related issues," he said after officiating Malaysia Maritime Week here today. Meanwhile, Loke said Malaysian ports are doing very well ahead of the high tariffs imposed by the United States that would be in effect on Aug 1. "We are waiting for an announcement by Lloyd's this August, which will confirm that Port Klang is among the top 10 busiest ports in the world. As of June this year, Port Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has recorded almost 10 per cent monthly growth in volume." "So, in terms of volume, PTP is growing strongly due to the consolidation of Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk. They have formed the Gemini Alliance and made PTP their major hub in Southeast Asia "PTP's volume is rising significantly. Port Klang, of course, continues to grow steadily. So as far as that is concerned, our port sector is doing well." He added that although the high tariffs are expected to have a negative impact, the government is leveraging all diplomatic channels to negotiate a better deal, in hopes of mitigating the effects. Earlier in his speech, Loke said Malaysia's transport sector remains a key contributor to the nation's economic activity, demonstrating strong growth in the first quarter of 2025. He said the transportation and storage sub-sector grew by 9.5 per cent in the first quarter. "This performance was mainly supported by high demand for ocean freight, ports and logistics services, emphasising Malaysia's vital role in regional and global supply chains. "However, within the broader context of the country's balance of payments (BOP), the transport account remains a key component of the services deficit, which widened during the same period. "The transport account registered a larger deficit of RM9.3 billion in the first quarter of the year, compared with a deficit of RM8 billion in the previous quarter. This is mainly contributed by the maritime transport service sectors, especially the ocean freight fraction." Loke said for Malaysia, the maritime BOP highlights a core economic paradox where it is a world-leading trading nation with globally ranked ports, yet it has a structural dependency on foreign shipping to carry its trade. "This leads to a persistent and significant deficit in its sea transport account, which is a major contributor to the overall services deficit. "Beginning this year, the ministry has recalibrated the past policy propositions towards developing the Malaysian shipping sector, with the primary objective aimed at reducing reliance on foreign vessels and modernising the domestic shipping industry." He said the key initiative currently underway is the development of the Malaysia Maritime Masterplan 2026–2040, which is a strategy to boost the domestic shipping sector, improve service quality and increase the sector's contribution to gross domestic product.
