Wee defends cabotage exemption policy for foreign ships to do undersea cable repairs
Vital to protect digital sovereignty, national security when allowing alien vessels to enter country’s waters, says transport minister
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong stressed that the current cabotage exemption policy is not to drive investors away as Malaysia’s neighbouring country Indonesia has more stringent rules. – The Vibes file pic, September 22, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam-BN) has defended the current cabotage exemption policy for foreign vessels to conduct undersea cable repairs as it is important to safeguard digital sovereignty and national security.
During his winding-up speech in Dewan Rakyat today, the MCA lawmaker stressed that the current policy in place is not to drive investors away as Malaysia’s neighbouring country Indonesia, has more stringent rules when it comes to allowing vessels to enter its borders.
“The online application for a domestic shipping licence (eDSL) takes only three days to be approved.
“What happened before this (during the Pakatan Harapan administration), DSL was only applied after the ships had entered.
“To safeguard the sovereignty of our country, we have developed eDSL and it takes only three days to approve 10 applications.
“In Malaysia, we are not saying that foreign ships cannot enter our shores. It’s just that if I have guests paying me a visit at my house, they have to greet me first,” he said.
The MCA lawmaker’s response came after former transport minister Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH) had said that tech giants such as Facebook and Google have appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to reinstate the cabotage exemption policy that governs undersea internet cable repairs.
Previously, The Vibes reported that there were four companies – Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Facebook – and the Malaysia Internet Exchange told Ismail Sabri that all it takes are simple changes to the country’s infrastructure to reap greater economic benefits.
By reinstating the exemption, they said, it would “send a strong message about the government’s commitment to realise the MyDigital agenda.
MyDigital is the national digital economy policy. Among its goals is attracting more international submarine cable landings to Malaysia to expand global connectivity, aiming to have the highest number of such cables in Southeast Asia by 2025.
The reversal of the cabotage exemption policy by the Perikatan Nasional government on November 13 last year was among the negative points for tech stakeholders.
Wee, had undid the policy put in place by Loke, that players said sped up undersea cable repairs.
Wee’s decision drew flak, and he was blamed for the country’s missed opportunities in terms of attracting cable landings by the likes of Facebook because it favoured a single company – the Optic Marine Services group – and the Malaysia Shipowners’ Association.
Elaborating on this matter, Wee today said his ministry will be holding detailed discussions in the cabinet with various ministries so that this policy does not disrupt foreign investment.
“I am confident that we will be able to balance digital sovereignty, safety and the views of different agencies and ministries as well as stakeholders.
“I think we should reach a decision which does not disrupt foreign investment and protect the country’s sovereignty, like Indonesia and our neighbouring countries.” – The Vibes, September 22, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam-BN) has defended the current cabotage exemption policy for foreign vessels to conduct undersea cable repairs as it is important to safeguard digital sovereignty and national security.
During his winding-up speech in Dewan Rakyat today, the MCA lawmaker stressed that the current policy in place is not to drive investors away as Malaysia’s neighbouring country Indonesia, has more stringent rules when it comes to allowing vessels to enter its borders.
“The online application for a domestic shipping licence (eDSL) takes only three days to be approved.
“What happened before this (during the Pakatan Harapan administration), DSL was only applied after the ships had entered.
“To safeguard the sovereignty of our country, we have developed eDSL and it takes only three days to approve 10 applications.
“In Malaysia, we are not saying that foreign ships cannot enter our shores. It’s just that if I have guests paying me a visit at my house, they have to greet me first,” he said.
The MCA lawmaker’s response came after former transport minister Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH) had said that tech giants such as Facebook and Google have appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to reinstate the cabotage exemption policy that governs undersea internet cable repairs.
Previously, The Vibes reported that there were four companies – Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Facebook – and the Malaysia Internet Exchange told Ismail Sabri that all it takes are simple changes to the country’s infrastructure to reap greater economic benefits.
By reinstating the exemption, they said, it would “send a strong message about the government’s commitment to realise the MyDigital agenda.
MyDigital is the national digital economy policy. Among its goals is attracting more international submarine cable landings to Malaysia to expand global connectivity, aiming to have the highest number of such cables in Southeast Asia by 2025.
The reversal of the cabotage exemption policy by the Perikatan Nasional government on November 13 last year was among the negative points for tech stakeholders.
Wee, had undid the policy put in place by Loke, that players said sped up undersea cable repairs.
Wee’s decision drew flak, and he was blamed for the country’s missed opportunities in terms of attracting cable landings by the likes of Facebook because it favoured a single company – the Optic Marine Services group – and the Malaysia Shipowners’ Association.
Elaborating on this matter, Wee today said his ministry will be holding detailed discussions in the cabinet with various ministries so that this policy does not disrupt foreign investment.
“I am confident that we will be able to balance digital sovereignty, safety and the views of different agencies and ministries as well as stakeholders.
“I think we should reach a decision which does not disrupt foreign investment and protect the country’s sovereignty, like Indonesia and our neighbouring countries.” – The Vibes, September 22, 2021
Haven't read such bad bullshit in a while.
ReplyDeleteThree days delay waiting for bureaucratic approval, when faced with a fibre optic cable breakdown , is like 3 months in Internet time.
Malaysia can forget about competing to be a node for international undersea fibre communications cables.
Blur here, blur there. Blur everywhere within the bolihland!
ReplyDeleteMisused of a known international maritime shipping policy sighting national sovereignty!
Wow…… what kind of trained engineer is this mfering minister?
Did Bullyland's Boats Greet Wee KHAT Siong before entering Malay-sia 89 Times in Four Years?
ReplyDeleteQUOTE
“In Malaysia, we are not saying that foreign ships cannot enter our shores. It’s just that if I have guests paying me a visit at my house, they have to greet me first,” he said.
UNQUOTE
QUOTE
JULY 14, 2020
Chinese ships intruded into Malaysian waters 89 times in four years, report says
By Reuters Staff
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Chinese coastguard and navy ships intruded into Malaysian waters in the disputed South China Sea 89 times between 2016 to 2019, and often remained in the area even after being turned away by the Malaysian navy, the government said in a report on Tuesday.
The report comes amid escalating tension between the United States and China over Beijing’s claims to most of the resource-rich South China Sea, which is also a major trade route.
The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have their own claims that overlap in part with China’s and, in some cases, with each other’s....
Malaysia...asserting its claim to the South Luconia Shoals, a fishing ground off the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the National Audit Department said in the report.
Chinese coastguard and navy vessels trespassed in Malaysia’s waters despite being turned away by its navy, it said.
UNQUOTE
poor fella, you show your confused desperation by mixing cabotage with foreign naval military incursions into Malaysia - tokkok as usual, wakakaka
DeleteSo KT admit military naval incursion by Bullyland?
DeleteIt is Wee KHAT Siong who is stupidly mixing cabotage with national security implication on foreign vessels.
DeleteRead his statement carefully.
Its not like these commercial cable repair ships are like armed warships.
cabotage has never been about defence security but plain national commercial interests
Delete“sovereignty and national security” were Wee KHAT Siong’s literal words, not mine.
DeleteOne blurred mouse. Two blurred mice.
DeleteAny difference?