KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs to modernise its shipping laws to keep its legal framework in step with the strong performance and potential of the maritime sector, said Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan.
The former Federal Court judge, who chairs the Malaysia Maritime Law Revision and Reform Committee under the Ministry of Transport, said the committee is working to modernise Malaysia's shipping laws, including reviewing several key pieces of legislation.
“We are now looking at the Admiralty Act, as well as the Bills of Lading Act. Also, we are currently working on the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, as well as all the Ports Acts,” she said when met during the opening ceremony of the Malaysia Maritime Week 2026 here today.
She said the modernisation of the legal framework would help bring Malaysia on par with some of the best shipping nations in the world.
Nallini added that Malaysia’s strong operational performance was evident from the rankings achieved by Port Klang and Port of Johor, which placed 10th and 11th respectively in the Lloyd’s List One Hundred Container Ports 2026.
“We could see from the awards today that for both Port Klang and Johor to be at number 10 and 11 means that on an operational level, we’re doing extremely well,” she said.
According to Nallini, modernising the country's relatively outdated legal framework would spur further economic growth, create employment opportunities and generate income for the country.
“It’s essential that our laws match the performance and potential performance of the country,” she said.
Earlier, Nallini was honoured with the Ministry of Transport Award for her services and expertise in maritime law.
Meanwhile, Westports Holdings Bhd founder, the late Tan Sri Datuk Gnanalingam Gunanath, was posthumously awarded the Maritime Legacy Icon Award, while Fleet Management Limited chief executive officer Capt Dr Rajalingam Subramaniam won the Maritime Leadership Icon and Datuk Zahid Osman received the Maritime Innovation and Excellence Award.
Malaysia Maritime Week 2026, running from today until Oct 2 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), aims to strengthen Malaysia's role as a maritime nation and advance its plan to become a competitive maritime and logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific region.
-- BERNAMA