KL to seek new term on ICAO council
KEY ROLE: Government aims to continue to play active part in global aviation body
MALAYSIA is ready to submit its candidacy as a council member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Malaysia was keen and determined to continue playing an active part in achieving ICAO’s aspirations for safer skies and excellent standards of civil aviation.
“On this note, the government will submit its candidacy to the Council of ICAO for the next election at the 39th Session of the ICAO Assembly.
“We hope our esteemed peers will endorse and support our continued membership on the Council of ICAO,” said Liow at the opening ceremony of the ICAO–World Customs Organisation (WCO) conference on enhancing air cargo security and facilitation, here, yesterday.
Three hundred participants from government agencies, airlines and air cargo security companies worldwide attended the conference, themed “The Path to Effective Implementation”.
Discussions and presentations focused on strengthening air cargo security
and facilitating international flow of goods.
ICAO’s council is made up of 36 member states that are elected every three years. The only two Southeast Asian countries sitting in the current council are Malaysia and Singapore, whose terms are due to expire this year. The next council election is scheduled in September in Montreal, Canada.
On another note, Liow also said the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was making steady progress towards shifting to a fully autonomous and self-sustaining Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The CAA will be responsible for overseeing Malaysia’s aviation safety and security standards as well as ensuring that they are in line with ICAO’s strategic objectives.
“This is also well aligned with our commitment to uphold ICAO’s international standards and recommended practices… the government and my ministry are focused on the effective implementation of enhanced global aviation standards,” said Liow.
He said the air cargo security sector was also an important part of Malaysia’s plans to boost its aviation and logistics industry.
The country’s aviation security division, under the purview of the DCA, is responsible for the application of all regulatory oversight activities on air cargo security.
Under Malaysian regulations, cargoes on both passenger and cargo aircraft flying into, out of, or through Malaysian airspace are required to undergo 100 per cent screening.