Set up Law Department at UMS — MAJAPS
KOTA KINABALU: The Council of the Justices of the Peace Sabah (MAJAPS) supports the call to both the Federal Education Ministry and the State authorities to set up a Law Department at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) specialising in International Maritime Law or the Law of The Sea Faculty.
The issue was discussed during the MAJAPS Council full exco meeting chaired by its president, Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence B. Malakun on February 6.
Also present at the meeting were secretary general Datuk Gordon Leong, senior exco members as well as advisors and trustees of the Sabah JP Council.
“MAJAPS will also submit a memorandum to both the Federal and State Governments to request for the setting up of the Law Faculty in UMS,?said Clarence in a statement on Wednesday.
He said that International Maritime Law, commonly referred to as the Law of the Sea, encompasses the rules, conventions and treaties governing international waters.
“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 auspices of the Ministry of Transport, oversees maritime law. It ensures that all maritime business and transport activities within Malaysian territorial waters adhere to established regulations,?he said.
Clarence also said that since 2018, there has been a call for the introduction of a law program at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
“Establishing a Law Department would allow Sabah residents to pursue legal studies within their state, offer legal professionals a platform to share their expertise and generate employment for law educators and create opportunities for graduates,?he said.
Clarence also mentioned that presently, only Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) offer this specialization.
He added that the specialisation prepares graduates to safeguard the sovereignty of Malaysia's islands and maritime territories and that UMS would be pioneering this programme in Borneo, enhancing its educational leadership in the region.
“The programme has the potential to attract students from neighbouring Sarawak, Brunei and Indonesia, promoting regional academic collaboration,?he said.
Malakun stated that the above proposal, if it comes into reality, will not only enrich UMS's academic offerings but also significantly contribute to Malaysia's maritime legal expertise, particularly benefiting Sabah's strategic geographical position.