KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng today praised the Anwar Cabinet’s decision to reinstate the cabotage exemption for non-Malaysian vessels conducting undersea cable repairs, asserting that it will help recover and attract substantial digital investments. Lim highlighted that Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s progressive regulatory framework is key to promoting tech sector investments and accelerating Malaysia’s digital infrastructure development, citing Google’s recent $2 billion investment in Selangor as a prime example.
Lim criticized the previous revocation of the cabotage exemption by former Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, viewing it as a deterrent to digital investments. The reinstatement, effective June 1 under Section 65U of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, allows specialized cable-laying ships to operate in Malaysian waters without restriction, a move Lim believes will significantly enhance the country’s appeal to major internet and digital companies.
