KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 – Starting June 1, cable-laying ships involved in the installation, maintenance, and repair of submarine telecommunication cables at any landing centre in Malaysian waters will be exempt from the cabotage policy, the Transport Ministry announced. This exemption, enacted under Section 65U of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, aims to enhance investments in Malaysia’s internet technology infrastructure.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who signed the gazette for this policy change, highlighted that tech companies had advocated for a more progressive regulatory framework since 2020 to foster sector investment. In contrast, the government has revoked the cabotage policy exemption for cargo ships traveling between ports in Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, Labuan, and Sabah, following a request from the Sarawak government.
