Download maritime economic activities planning

Maritime economic activities in Malaysia :
Planning towards sustainable development
Nazery Khalid*
*Fellow, Maritime Institute of Malaysia (www.mima.gov.my)
Unit B-06-08, Megan Avenue II, 12 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : 603-21612960 / Fax : 03-21617045 / E-mail address : [email protected]
Abstract
Malaysia’s vast coastal and oceanic resources are priceless - providing food supply,
transportation, livelihood and employment to many. They are a safeguard to our social and
economic prosperity, and as such they need to be protected from degradation and destruction.
Despite initiatives taken by the government, organizations and individuals towards meeting this
objective, there lacks a comprehensive strategic planning of maritime economic activities towards
achieving sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. This paper attempts to respond to the
challenge emanating from this void by proposing several priorities towards achieving sustainable
development in the planning of maritime economic activities.
The Ocean : A Vital Lifeline
Being a nation surrounded by sea, Malaysia’s dependence on the ocean is pervasive.
This reliance stretches into a wide spectrum of critical areas such as trade, energy
resources, transportation, employment, food source, leisure, tourism and security, among
others. By virtue of an extended Exclusive Economic Zone jurisdiction, Malaysia has a
sea area which is much larger than its land mass. Malaysia’s maritime characteristic is
accentuated by the fact that it is a nation fragmented by intervening waters, with the
South China Sea separating Peninsular Malaysia from Sabah and Sarawak.
Despite being encircled by sea and despite its glorious maritime heritage, which reached
its pinnacle with Malacca port’s fame as the world’s busiest trading center in the 15th
century, Malaysia has climbed up the ranks of the world’s top maritime nations almost
unnoticed [1]. With the transformation of Malaysia’s economy from being agriculturalbased to one fueled by trade, its maritime sector, a crucial facilitator of its trade growth,
has taken center stage. Its ports have grown in leaps and bounds in the past decade, with
Port Klang being the world’s 12th largest container handling port and Port of Tanjung
Pelepas being the fastest growing transshipment port in the world [2]. Maritime
resources contribute substantially to Malaysia's economic prosperity, with petroleum and
gas constituting Malaysia's single largest export commodity. Significantly, all of the
nation’s natural gas and crude oil are found offshore [3]. Further underlining the
maritime sector’s critical role in the nation’s economic prosperity, more than 90% of
Malaysia's export is seaborne while the fishing industry provides jobs for 2% of the labor
force [4]. In addition, the maritime sphere has become increasingly important in
economic and security terms. All these underline the importance of the maritime sector
to the socio-economic well-being of the country.
As Malaysia aspires to become a fully developed nation, the contribution of the maritime
sector towards the growth and dynamism of the Malaysian economy will become more
significant. It is hence crucial that the stewardship of the sector’s activities is undertaken
in an environmentally sound manner that could sustain the use of its assets and resources
for generations to come.
The Challenges of Sustainable Development in the Maritime Sector
The concept of sustainable development has been applied to many sectors, communities
and economies, leading to various definitions and understanding of the phrase. It was an
idea which gained currency with the publication of the Brundtland Report in 1987 [5] and
was further entrenched into public conscience at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. Further
reinforcing the agenda, the World Summit for Sustainable Development held in January
2002 called for the world’s attention to the challenges of sustainable development.
As it stands today, sustainable development [6] now means various things to various
people, industries, governments and organizations. The principle is not only confined to
preservation of natural resources but encompasses the governance of other resources such
as human, financial, physical and environmental development. Over the years, further
discourse on its virtues has introduced an inter-generational dimension to the concept of
sustainable development. While the idea has gained currency in the development of
certain segments of the maritime sector [7], there has been little work applying
sustainable development to the national planning and management of maritime economic
activities in a strategic, holistic manner.
The vast resources in Malaysia’s coastal waters and oceans are more than mere natural
commodities. They are part of the country’s history and a safeguard to economic
prosperity and peaceful co-existence for present and future generations. Unfortunately,
the quality of this natural heritage is in danger of being eroded, as evidenced by
degradation of habitats, depleting fisheries, pollution of coastal waters, invasive alien
species and other telltale signs of biodiversity losses. The rapid development of
Malaysia’s maritime sector and the increasing economic activities related thereto have
given rise to the aforementioned problems that will persist and get worse unless efforts
are made to plan those activities to meet sustainable development demands.
Given the importance of the maritime sector to its well-being, it is therefore imperative
for Malaysia to sustain and enhance its efforts towards balancing the sector’s growth with
ecologically sustainable development of marine resources and the conservation and
protection of marine environment. Environmental considerations should be given greater
emphasis in the developing, coordination, implementation and monitoring of maritime
economic activities in the country. Meticulous, sensitive planning in the fields of coastal
area management, prevention and reduction of pollution, ecosystems and biological
diversity conservation is extremely crucial to protect Malaysia’s maritime resources and
preserve its maritime environment. Maritime economic activities such as fishing,
shipping, port development and operations, and oil and gas drilling can contribute to the
degradation of maritime resources and environment if not properly planned and carried
out in an environmentally sound and responsible manner.
It is beyond the scope of this modest paper to focus on issues in each of the sectors in
maritime economics as they already have their own sectoral policies and special
development programs. Rather, it attempts to broadly outline priority areas focusing on
the correlation between development and environment protection to promote sustainable
development across sectoral boundaries in the maritime sector. The proposed initiatives
strategically focus on the linkages among the maritime economic activities in Malaysia
and the partnerships involved amongst the stakeholders, and take into account the
different regulatory and economic considerations of the various activities.
Marine Environment Management in Malaysia : Current Scenario
Malaysia’s large sea area and its bounty of resources carry immense management
responsibilities. These range from ensuring the integrity of its sovereignty over its
maritime territories to the sustainable development of marine resources. The country’s
considerable, strategic stake in the oceans warrants serious, meticulous attention to the
governance and administration of its oceanic and maritime affairs
In living up to these obligations, Malaysia is committed to many international maritime
management conventions which it has ratified [8]. In addition, Malaysia’s firm
commitment to protect its environment, including marine environment, is entrenched in
several internal policies. One such example is the National Policy on the Environment
(NPE) [9] as drafted in the Seventh Malaysian Plan which advocates a comprehensive
strategy [10] to protect the country’s environment, to conserve its natural resources and to
achieve sustainable consumption and production. Malaysia is also a party to many efforts
taken by the international community towards protecting the maritime environment,
highlighted by its adoption of Agenda 21 [11] at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992.
As articulated in the NPE, Malaysia takes a proactive approach to regional and global
environmental issues by way of honoring the obligations of Agenda 21 at national level
and supports international cooperation with regard to its implementation. Malaysia is
also actively involved in maritime-specific regional initiatives such as being a party to the
Putrajaya Declaration of Regional Cooperation for the Sustainable Development Strategy
for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) [12], a regional commitment to approach the
development and management of marine and coastal resources in a sustainable manner.
It continues to cooperate with neighboring countries on trans-boundary maritime
environmental issues and with relevant organizations on various maritime matters and
environmental concerns. These amplify the government’s commitment in undertaking
the implementation of the management and conservation of its environment within the
context of sustainable development. It is enshrined in Malaysia’s national policies to
make environmental protection and sustainable development a pillar on which economic
and social progress is built upon.
Despite these commitments, Malaysia’s marine environment and ecosystem continue to
face a plethora of threats and challenges [13] which require urgent examination. While
much has been done to manage the country’s marine environment and its resources, there
is a pressing need to take stock of the manner in which they have been undertaken. This
is due to the fact that existing policies and arrangements in maritime management were
designed quite a while ago when marine environment and its resources were in a far
healthier state and the dynamics of the world were far different. New paradigm and
parameters demand for a more proactive, resolute and sensitive plans and policies to
deliver sustainable development in the development and management of maritime
economic activities in the country. There is an urgent requirement to take a look at all the
issues involved in these activities and make decisions for future sustainable development
in the maritime sector. Such decisions must be made based on a sound understanding of
the potential contribution and impacts of these activities to the environment and economy,
and in cognizance of the current developments in maritime and oceanic issues.
Notwithstanding the government’s admirable efforts and commitment in maritime
management and the protection of the country’s seas, a solid framework for the
management of marine environment in Malaysia is still lacking. Underlying this
deficiency is the fundamental question of whether there is a case for a national planning
policy for maritime economic activities anchored on the principle of sustainable
development. The following section will attempt to contribute to this discourse by
promoting a plan of action in the planning of maritime activities development in the
country in favor of sustainable development.
Maritime Economic Activities in Malaysia
In general terms, maritime economic activities cover the production, distribution and
consumption of goods and services involving the sea. The maritime sector is now
recognized as a critical sector which contributes significantly to the Malaysia economy.
Being a littoral state, the economic activity of the country is dependent to a large extent
on its marine resources, supporting industries such as fishing, coastal transportation,
seafood processing and marine leisure [14]. Its port and shipping sectors provide a
backbone to its trade and economic affluence.
Among the main activities in Malaysia’s maritime sector are :
•
•
•
•
Inshore and offshore fishing
Offshore oil and gas
Ocean and coastal shipping
Marine tourism and leisure
•
•
•
•
•
Ship building and repairing
Port services
Shipping services
Naval administration and defense
Maritime auxiliary services i.e. banking, insurance, legal and consultancy services
The above maritime economic activities are among the key catalysts for Malaysia's socioeconomic development and international competitiveness. This is in view of their roles
covering critical and diverse areas – from transportation to tourism, logistics to leisure,
supply of food to strategic interest. Various economic and perspective plans have spelled
out the critical role and further potential of the maritime sector in the long term growth
and development of the country. Hence, effective management of the nation’s maritime
economic activities is fundamental to the nation’s trade growth and economic prosperity.
In the context of being a trade-dependent nation, the planning of maritime economic
activities should complement the nation’s drive towards enhancing its trade
competitiveness. In particular, there is a need to highlight issues on ports and shipping –
two crucial trade facilitators in the maritime sector – in the context of protecting and
enhancing the trade interests of the Malaysian economy. Of significance too are the
development of industries and services that support the efficient functioning of the
maritime sector such as ship building, ship repairing, and ancillary services such as
maritime financing and insurance.
Towards Sustainable Development for Maritime Economic Activities in Malaysia :
A National Strategic Planning Primer
To reiterate, the complex challenges and variety of issues faced by Malaysia in maritime
matters call for policymakers to come up with an integrated approach in managing the
nation’s maritime realm. While the legislative and policy framework for some elements
of the environment such as forestry and land use are well established, similar provisions
for the protection of the marine environment are not comprehensive and are dispersed
over various sets of laws and agencies [15]. It is argued that the absence of a
comprehensive, integrated national ocean policy has become an impediment to the
development of coordinated planning of maritime economic activities and in addressing
issues relating to the protection of marine environment and resources [16]. This void is
underlined by the non-inclusion of marine management as the main component of the
functions of federal agencies related to maritime affairs such as the National Maritime
Council and Cabinet Committee on Maritime Affairs [17]. The initiatives undertaken by
such agencies are done in a fragmented and uncoordinated approach, lacking in a welldefined strategy to develop and manage the nation’s maritime economic activities in a
thorough manner. This situation has resulted in a host of problems in the maritime sector
which includes lack of comprehensive policy remedies, inter-sectoral conflicts within the
marine sector arising from incoherent development patterns, inadequate authority within
sectors to undertake assigned tasks and conflict of jurisdictions between federal and state
authorities [18]. They conspire to prevent the creation of a conducive environment for
the pursuit of sustainable development ideals in the local maritime sector.
With this background, a comprehensive strategy for the development of maritime
economic activities is therefore essential in order to achieve sustainable use of the
maritime environment and its resources. These activities must be carefully planned and
managed in a systematic, integrated manner to protect the coastal and marine environs
from land based pollution, reduce the loss of biodiversity and ensure marine resources are
maintained at levels that can sustainably support present and future generations. Such a
cogent approach should include the following action plans :
•
Setting appropriate policies, regulations and plans to assist in the development of
maritime economic activities in a manner that could address the special needs and
adjust to unique developments in specific sectors.
•
Facilitating the various agencies, organizations and institutions involved in
maritime economic activities to synergize their efforts and share their knowledge
with one another and with other sectors of the economy.
•
Applying effective, transparent and implementable measurement approaches in
assessing the sustainability of resource-based maritime economic activities such
as fishing and oil and gas mining.
•
Enhancing cooperation and partnership amongst the stakeholders of the sea
including individuals, communities, private enterprises, NGOs and government
agencies involved in maritime economic activities.
It would require a considerable amount of boldness to look beyond the quagmire of
bureaucratic dictates and short-term interests in planning Malaysia’s maritime economic
activities. In its pursuit to become a fully developed nation, there is the danger for
Malaysia to ignore the prudent management and protection of its maritime environment
and resources. Given the vulnerability and fragility of the marine environment, it is
paramount that Malaysia moves quickly towards enshrining conservation as the
cornerstone for its maritime economic activities.
Towards this end, a National Level Coordinating Committee could be established to
spearhead the planning and management of maritime economic activities in the country,
in collaboration with other agencies such as Economic Planning Unit, National Maritime
Council and National Development Planning Council. The committee could draft a set of
policies and identify priorities in the management of these activities, in consultation with
regulatory authorities, industry players, NGOs and other stakeholders. These policies
could form the basis for the implementation of a National Maritime Economic Activities
Development Framework that would take a holistic approach towards planning and
executing those activities. The framework will make sustainable development as its tenet,
focusing on environment protection, ecological and resource conservation and pollution
reduction while taking into account the economic and social implications of its initiatives
and decision making. These objectives and considerations would be in alignment with
the economic priorities of the country [19] while focusing on the relationship of maritime
economic activities with the environment under the guiding principles of sustainable
development.
The following set of recommendations outlines several priorities for the country towards
achieving sustainable development in the undertaking of maritime economic activities :
i)
Striking a balance between regulations and the regulated
There is a risk of over-regulation in the planning and governance of maritime
economic activities and development. Too many regulations may hamper
competitiveness, dynamism and responsiveness, and may even give rise to
effects contrary to what the regulations are meant to produce. As such, any
regulation must take into account the need to balance policies to plan and
control a certain maritime economic activity effectively while at the same
time giving ample room for the sector to be dynamic, without being stifled by
the shackles of excessive regulatory imperatives.
ii)
Placing accountability in the course of actions of stakeholders in maritime
economic activities
The stakeholders in the maritime sector should be made responsible,
accountable and responsive of their actions so as not to be detrimental to the
well-being of the maritime environment and its stakeholders. Policies in the
planning of maritime economic activities should be aligned to respond to
citizens’ needs and transparency of the highest standards. Such an
‘accountability agenda’ should involve intimate involvement and robust
questioning by the public. Failure of those involved in maritime economic
activities to comply with this agenda should lead to impartial penalty for
regulatory violations, negligence and ineffective performance that result in the
degradation of maritime resources, pollution of the marine environment and
other such harmful impacts.
For such public-driven initiatives to work, the government must create an
open political and social environment conducive to their success. Citizen-led
initiatives, perhaps through NGOs, could be introduced to promote broadbased deliberations in the actions of stakeholders in maritime economic
activities to ensure adherence to sustainable development best practices.
These practices include respect to the rights of the poor and vulnerable groups,
preservation of the environment, and observance of laws and regulations.
Creating a culture in which rigorous debate and accountability of actions may
lead to more sensitive planning of maritime economic activities in the country
that would fulfill the standards of sustainable development.
iii)
Retaining business viability, competitiveness and profitability of maritime
economic activities
From a purely business perspective, all the maritime economic activities
would have to continue to focus on managing their costs and at the same time
enhancing their operational efficiency to remain viable, competitive,
profitable and attractive for further investment.
Take the example of the port sector, a capital intensive and profit driven
maritime economic activity. Malaysian ports are facing an onslaught of
competition from regional ports to attract shipping lines and cargos. In the
face of this fierce rivalry, ports managed by federal port authorities must not
be too protected by favorable policies and subsidies that could lead to the
blunting of their competitiveness. While it is necessary to provide them with
certain assistance through government policies, the emphasis should be on
putting them on a solid platform to be able to compete with other ports in the
face of globalization and market liberalization. The ability to test their mettle
on a level playing field would take on a more pronounced importance in the
context of requirements by WTO and AFTA for countries to open up their
markets and compete fairly.
Only when a maritime economic endeavor is successful as a business activity
can it be planned and regulated to meet the standards of sustainable
development. When the profitability of the activity is ensured, the chances for
continued investment in its pursuit would be enhanced, hence making
available funds to meet sustainable development-friendly activities. Public
concern about environmental issues such as the health of maritime environ
must be matched by the availability of financing coming from the public and
private sectors to support sustainable development efforts. The private sector,
the largest potential source of financing for such efforts in developing
countries, must find it attractive to put funds into environmentally oriented
endeavors [21]. For this to happen in the maritime sector, its economic
activities must be attractive and profitable enough to warrant investment and
financing to meet sustainable development principles.
iv)
Planning towards long-term commitment in critical maritime economic
activities
The nature of certain capital-intensive and strategic maritime economic
activities such as ports and shipping require sustained investment and longterm commitment. Such economic activities are for the long haul and require
unqualified dedication and meticulous planning. The inherent risks in such
activities must be properly managed, financing raised, competition fought off,
markets understood, trends analyzed and changes anticipated in order to attain
a satisfactory level of profitability to justify reinvestment. As such, a longterm, strategic approach is needed for crucial maritime economic activities
such as fishing, ports, shipping, and oil and gas exploration to justify
continued investment in their development towards fulfilling the ideals of
sustainable development.
v)
Establishing database for the maritime sector to enable analysis of trends
and to facilitate planning and development
As effective planning depends on accessibility to data and the quality and
quantity of the data, the development of a comprehensive maritime database
should also be a priority. The current lack of data on the maritime sector’s
contribution to the economy poses a glaring deficiency in the planning and
development of the sector. Timely, comprehensive and relevant statistical
information should be made available to facilitate efforts to quantify the
performance or contribution of maritime economic activities to the national
economy. Such database could also yield some valuable guidelines and assist
in the policy planning of the country’s maritime economic activities towards
meeting sustainable development aspirations.
vi)
Adopting the use of best practices in the management of maritime economic
activities
Befitting its status as a top maritime nation, Malaysia must identify and share
best practices and learn from the maritime experience of other countries, and
perhaps even from other sectors and industries. It should adopt the latest
technologies, methods, systems and processes, and give priority to research
and development (R&D) investment and initiatives to encourage technical
innovation and competitiveness in key maritime economic activities areas
such as ports, shipping and fishery. Monetary and administrative support
must be given to initiatives promoting a culture of excellence in maritime
economics and environmental sciences. These initiatives, encompassing
technology, training and policy analysis, should be encouraged in the various
sectors in maritime economy, perhaps in collaboration with research institutes
and the academia. Such cooperation would encourage policies and procedures
that would lead to sustainable development-friendly business practices, while
helping to foment innovation and reduce mitigation cost in R&D activities.
vii)
Enhancing public awareness and responsibility towards sustainable
development in the maritime domain
Another key area towards attaining sustainable development in the maritime
sector is public education and information dissemination. The awareness of
the general public about the problems associated with the oceans and their
resources is generally very weak [20]. This drawback needs to be addressed if
the doctrines of sustainable development are to be incorporated successfully in
the planning of maritime economic activities in Malaysia.
Education is one of the foundations of truly sustainable development [22], and
unless Malaysians become more aware of their maritime heritage and how
important the sea is in their daily lives, public apathy towards the maritime
sector’s importance will continue. This will sabotage Malaysia’s ambition to
achieve its rightful status as a major maritime nation and the pursuit for
sustainable development in the planning of its maritime economic activities.
It is thus important to increase public awareness of the significant
contributions of the maritime sector in the national economy, its importance as
the nation's first line of defense, its potential for national integration, and its
place in the nation's heritage. Both the public and private sector should plan,
coordinate and implement programs towards building, sustaining and
enhancing public interest in maritime affairs and issues relating to sustainable
development. Continuous efforts should be maintained in raising the level of
public awareness on issues related to the marine environment. Without public
participation and civic consciousness towards protecting the ocean and its
environs, they will be vulnerable to threats like pollution and degradation.
This could in turn be detrimental to our maritime interests and could even
cause irreversible damages.
Local maritime related institutes and organizations should actively coordinate
programs involving the cross-exchange of ideas with their counterparts
overseas. They should establish extensive networks with specialists in various
fields of maritime economic activities worldwide, besides conducting their
own researches and studies. This would contribute substantially to the body
of thought and literature on maritime affairs in Malaysia, which could then be
made available to the public via mass media and public relations events such
as career fairs, awareness programs, educational talks and exhibitions.
Conclusion
Given the maritime sector’s vital role as a key contributor to the nation’s economy, it is
essential that the stakeholders in maritime economic activities meet the challenges
demanded and exploit the opportunities presented by the concept of sustainable
development. On account of the sector’s growing importance, Malaysia should take a
more comprehensive approach in planning its maritime economic activities towards
achieving the ideals propagated by sustainable development principles. Such a
philosophy would set the platform for various policies governing many maritime
economic activities in the country to be streamlined and harmonized in the interest of
economic growth, social development and environmental conservation.
The trans-boundary nature of the seas demands for the commitment, involvement and
cooperation of all parties connected to maritime economic activities to ensure
sustainability in their development. Adopting an integrated method towards marine
management via the mobilization of all stakeholders – government agencies, private
enterprises, NGOs, scientific and academic communities, and members of the public – in
fulfilling their social responsibilities could go a long way towards contributing to more
effective planning and development of marine economic activities. The planning of
strategies across the various maritime economic activities based on sustainable
development values and their implementation by the stakeholders will ensure the
strengthening of efforts to protect the marine environment in the most optimal manner.
This would complement Malaysia’s commitment and observance of various international
regulations in maritime management.
That said, sustainable development in maritime economic activities is not a goal that can
be accomplished in a vacuum. Many other elements beyond the domain of those
activities must develop in favor of creating an environment conducive to attaining this
noble and critical objective. For example, for local ports to prosper on a sustainable basis,
global economies and trade must grow, which in turn will spur the ports themselves to
improve their efficiency and operate at a standard that could lead towards sustainable
development. A dynamic environment conducive to quick and effective decision making,
accountability of actions, high level of public awareness, and intensive cooperation
among agencies and nations contribute to providing a fertile ground for maritime
economic activities to flourish, and in turn leading to the realization of sustainable
development ethics. A creative and forward-looking maritime economic activities
development strategy based on the above priorities, piloted by competent leadership and
backed by efficient support services, could help the Malaysia realize the ideals of
sustainable development and turn the country into a truly successful, environmentally
responsible maritime nation.
With the growing importance of the maritime sector in the nation's economic
development, it is imperative that stakeholders of the sea continue to undertake the
planning and promotion of activities in support of the Government’s relentless and
admirable efforts in safeguarding the national maritime interests of the country.
Activities in areas such as maritime resource protection policies and strategies, maritime
co-operation initiatives and maritime economics that will promote sustainable
development, protection of resources and good maritime management should be planned
well to ensure their effectiveness. In conclusion, sustainability should be made a
sacrosanct aspiration in the planning of maritime economic activities in Malaysia to
ensure that future generations will inherit a maritime environment and resources that have
been well managed under a stewardship that puts a premium to their continuity, security
and integrity.
REFERENCES
[1]
In 2004, the United Nations Agency for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ranked Malaysia as
the 22nd of 35 of the most important maritime nations in the world, with a fleet of 306 vessels
totaling 6.589 million deadweight tones.
[2]
From the Keynote Address by the Deputy Prime Minister at the 2nd Asia Maritime and Logistics
Conference. Kuala Lumpur, 6 October 2003.
[3]
Abdul Rahman, A.A., Janib, J. and Wong, H.W. 1997. The Maritime Sector and the Malaysian
Economy (MIMA Monograph), p. 16.
[4]
Ibid, p.14.
[5]
The Brundtland Report published in 1987, also known as Our Common Future, was drawn up by
the Brundtland Commission or the World Commission on Environment and Development. The
report alerted the world to the urgency of sustaining economic development without depleting
natural resources or harming the environment. Published by an international group of politicians,
civil servants and experts on the environment and development, the report highlighted three
fundamental components to sustainable development: environmental protection, economic growth
and social equity.
[6]
The Brundtland Report defined sustainability as “the ability to meet today’s global economic,
environmental and social needs without compromising the opportunity for future generations to
meet theirs”. The report propagated the idea of development as being essential to satisfy human
needs and to improve their lives’ quality while placing development on a platform of efficient and
environmentally responsible use of natural, human and economic resources. This principle is used
in this study’s discourse on sustainable development in the context of maritime activities planning.
[7]
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ specialized regulatory
agency for the maritime sector whose mandate is to achieve maritime safety and cleaner oceans,
actively promotes sustainable socio-economic development via improving the safety of maritime
transport, enhancing marine environment protection, and promoting sustainable livelihoods and
poverty eradication.
[8]
Malaysia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1996, a step
which contributed significantly to the improvement in the management of its seas and its resources.
UNCLOS, enshrined in 1982, represents a comprehensive global instrument providing an
overarching policy framework for maritime-related programs and initiatives.
[9]
The management and conservation of the environment in Malaysia is implemented within the
context of sustainable development which embodies economic development, social development
and environmental protection. The NPE, introduced in 2002, was developed to take into account
the incorporation of these three pillars.
[10]
The policy advocated the following principles : (1) stewardship of the environment (2)
conservation of nature’s vitality and diversity (3) continuous improvement in the quality of the
environment (4) sustainable use of natural resources (5) integrated decision making towards
environment protection (6) strengthening the role of the private sector in environmental protection
and management (7) commitment and accountability of all decision makers in implementing their
activities (8) active participation in the international community.
[11]
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by
organizations of the United Nations system, governments and major groups in every area in which
there is human impact on the environment.
[12]
The Putrajaya Declaration was articulated in December 2003 by ministers from 12 coastal states of
the East Asian region. The areas addressed in the declaration are targets for sustainable
development, implementation of integrated ocean and coastal management approaches, and action
programs aimed at solving problems and deficiencies in ocean and coastal governance.
[13]
Basiron, M.N. (1998) outlined the threats and challenges as : (1) Reducing, preventing and
eliminating pollution of the marine environment from land and sea-based activities. (2) Improving
the management of coastal areas. (3) Conserving marine and coastal biological diversity and
habitats. (4) Sustainable managing living marine resources. For a more detailed discussion, see
his paper entitled ‘The Implementation of Chapter 17 and Agenda 21 in Malaysia : Challenges and
Opportunities’ in Ocean & Coastal Management 41(1998) 1-17, pp. 3-5.
[14]
Abdul Rahman, A.A. et al. 1997. p.10.
[15]
Basiron, M.N. 1998. p. 5.
[16]
Miles, E. 1996. Development of an Integrated National Ocean Policy for Malaysia (unpublished),
pp. 1-2.
[17]
Basiron, M.N. 1998. p. 7.
[18]
Keckes, S. 1997. Global Maritime Programmes and Organisations : An Overview. MIMA, Kuala
Lumpur, p. 8.
[19]
The National Economic Action Council (NEAC), an economic consultative body to the Malaysian
government, spelled out three levels of performance priorities for Malaysia’s economy, namely (1)
Public sector performance, as the nation pursues a commitment to fiscal discipline towards better
public service delivery system. (2) Corporate sector performance, in pursuit of improvement and
enhancement of the nation’s global competitiveness and in search of growth engines. (3) Human
resource performance, in pursuit of the development and enlargement of the nation’s talent pool.
[20]
Global Environment Facility. 2002. The Challenge of Sustainability, p. 78.
[21]
Keckes. S. 1997. p. 8.
[22]
Ramphele, M. 2003. The Path to Education : A Multidimensional Approach. Quoted from the
2003 Kneller Lecture delivered at the Annual Conference and International Education Society.
New Orleans, March 2003.