Malaysia re-elected to council of IMO

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been re-elected to the council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the Category C elections for the period 2018-2019.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the election for the seventh consecutive terms was held in conjunction with the 30th Regular Session of the IMO General Assembly at its headquarters in London on Friday.

“Malaysia garnered 131 votes from among 24 countries contesting in category C,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said the success was a recognition of IMO member nations for Malaysia’s contributions and it signified Malaysia’s importance not only to the IMO but also in the international maritime sector.

He said the success would also provide confidence to foreign investors in the country’s maritime sector to invest in the country’s growing shipping and port industry.

A specialised agency of the United Nations, IMO is the standard setting authority for the safety, security and environment sustainability of international shipping.

Liow said the success was also due to the co-operation and support from every agency under the Transport Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry in ensuring Malaysia retained its position as an IMO council member.

Liow, who headed Malaysia’s delegation in the conference, was also accompanied by the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kassim and officials.

As a member of the IMO council, Liow said Malaysia stressed on human resource development among developing nations to ensure all IMO member nations could carry out their obligations and apply the adopted IMO conventions.

The IMO General Assembly is held every two years and the elections of IMO council members are also held during the event. — Bernama