Former transport minister Anthony Loke has questioned why the cabinet has yet to reveal the outcome of the cabotage policy exemption review for submarine cable repairs.
“It took seven weeks and seven ministers to deliberate on a straightforward policy and yet no answer was forthcoming,” Loke said on Facebook today.
In a cabinet meeting on April 14, seven ministries were instructed to review the cabotage policy exemption’s impact on digital and shipping industries.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had, at the time, reported that the seven ministries would report back with recommendations in two weeks - which was April 28.
However, the seven ministries have yet to announce their decision on the matter.
The exemption, set when Loke was transport minister in 2019, enabled foreign vessels to undergo cable repair services without having to apply for a domestic shipping license exemption.
Its objective was to increase the efficiency of cable repair works taking place in Malaysian waters.
It was later revoked by Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong in November 2020, who said that this was done to minimise the country’s dependence on foreign vessels.
Tech giants - such as Microsoft, Google, and Facebook - have repeatedly expressed concern at how the policy may negatively impact the Malaysian economy and its desirability as an investment hub for technology. - Mkini
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