KOTA KINABALU: The proposal to establish a Law Department at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) specializing in International Maritime Law or the Law of The Sea Faculty has been put forward by the Council of the Justices of the Peace Sabah (MAJAPS).
During the Full Exco Meeting on Tuesday, the council discussed and supported the call to both the Federal Ministry of Education and the State Authorities.
In a statement today, the president of MAJAPS, Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence B. Malakun, said that MAJAPS will also submit a Memorandum to both the Federal and State Governments to request the establishment of the Law Faculty in UMS.
He explained that International Maritime Law, also known as the Law of the Sea, encompasses the rules, conventions, and treaties that govern international waters.
Malakun emphasized that this extensive body of legal frameworks addresses nautical issues and oversees maritime organizations, ensuring orderly and regulated maritime activities.
In Malaysia, the Marine Department, under the Ministry of Transport, is responsible for overseeing Maritime Law and ensuring compliance with established regulations for maritime business and transport activities within Malaysian territorial waters.
Malakun highlighted some of the core pillars of International Maritime Organizations, including The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, which focuses on maritime safety, The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which aims to minimize marine pollution, and The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which establishes rights and protections for maritime workers.
He further emphasized the significance of establishing the International Maritime Law or the Law of The Sea Faculty at UMS for Malaysia.
This includes promoting responsible maritime conduct, enhancing national economic interests, clarifying the maritime freedoms of nations, and fostering international cooperation.
Malakun said since 2018, there has been a call for the introduction of a Law program at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), thus allowing Sabah residents to pursue legal studies within their state.
It also offers legal professionals a platform to share their expertise as well as generate employment for law educators and create opportunities for graduates, he added.
