Datuk Clarence Bongkos Malakun
KOTA KINABALU: A proposal to establish a Law Department at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) specialising 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 its 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 council’s president Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence B. Malakun said that MAJAPS would also submit a Memorandum to both the Federal and State Governments to request the establishment of the Law Faculty.
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 emphasised 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 Organisations, 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 minimise marine pollution, and The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which establishes rights and protections for maritime workers.
He further emphasised 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. – Talantang
