SINCE time immemorial the Straits of Malacca (SOM) has been a critical artery for international trade and maritime navigation between the Far East and West. Stretching about 800km, it is the longest straits in the world and facilitates not just shipping and the movement of people in the surrounding communities but is a confluence of trade, cultures, ideas, and knowledge between the East and West.
As an international waterway connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans and linking Southeast Asia with major Asian and Western economies, the Straits of Malacca has seen tremendous growth in shipping and in the international trade it facilitates for the Asian economic powerhouses such as Japan, China, India, and Korea and the overall international community.
Twenty-first century geopolitical dynamics increasingly revolve around the maritime domain for various reasons including military use or for shipping and navigation. This has raised the strategic importance of the Strait of Malacca especially with the geographically expanding interests and reach of China and India, and the continued strategic role of the United States, Japan, and Europe.
The global shift in economic power from the West to the East coupled with burgeoning trade, investments, and production in areas spanning the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions has given increasing importance to this region. The almost 85,000 vessels that ply the Straits of Malacca annually pose serious safety and security issues from the high traffic density, accidents, and other natural hazards that could damage navigational aids such as buoys, light houses, beacons, and markers. This is exacerbated by the threat of vessel-based pollution that may have dire implications to the rich biodiversity of the straits.
The Straits is also open to non-traditional security threats like sea piracy, robbery, trafficking of human, contra-band and goods. To counter such threats, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia have launched several initiatives including Malacca Straits Patrol, Eyes-in-the-Sky (EiS) and the MSP Intelligence Exchange Group and which are a set of practical co-operative measures to ensure security in the straits with the first trilateral coordinated patrol conducted on July 20, 2004. The rules of conduct and standard procedures for cross-border operations that were agreed on seek to improve the effectiveness of sea patrols.
As the littoral states of the Straits of Malacca, the three nations have cooperated with the users of the straits to ensure that the straits remains safe and secure as well as environmentally sustainable. A Cooperative Mechanism Forum, established in consultation with the International Maritime Organisation, and The Tripartite Technical Expert Group have been active platforms to discuss and implement projects relating to the wellbeing of the Straits of Malacca.
Malaysia adopts a comprehensive inter-disciplinary approach for addressing the legal, environmental, and economic issue in ensuring effective governance in this critical global scenario. In addition, concerted and coordinated efforts have been undertake by various stakeholders and government agencies towards promoting a maritime domain that benefits the national, regional, and international community.
In continuing to provide a platform for experts around the world to brainstorm on issues relating to the key waterway, the Maritime Institute of Malaysia, with support from the Ministry of Transport, will be conducting the ninth in the series of its biennial Straits of Malacca conferences tomorrow (March 26). It is in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 (LIMA 2019) from tomorrow until March 30.
A bi-annual expo co-organised by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Transport, LIMA 2019 endeavours to showcase the extensive and latest range of technology in defence, civil and commercial products in the maritime and aerospace domains.
The International Conference on Straits of Malacca will address wide-ranging issues relating to the management of the Straits.
The conference has attracted approximately 200 participants representing their government agencies, maritime authorities, port operators from various countries including Malaysia, Asean Plus Three countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Cook Island.
International experts from the United States, Japan and Indian Ocean Rim Association nations will analyse current geopolitical trends in the Indo Pacific in relation to Southeast Asia. This will allow for an open exchange of ideas on the new geo-politics in the Indo Pacific and its bearing on sea-lane security in the Straits of Malacca.
In addition, shipping and industry players will address emerging trends in the shipping industry such as carrier consolidation and alliances, overcapacity of large vessels, evolving port technology and issues concerning seafarer protection. In this regard, the LIMA 2019 International conference will provide the latest updates and recommendation on promoting economic sustainability, enhancing safety and security of navigation, ensuring marine environmental protection as well as offer policy and management proposals to foster sustainable socio–economic and strategic development of the straits.
Sumathy Permal is a Fellow with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia