SHAH ALAM: A South-East Asian (SEA) Maritime Institute has been launched here as part of a key partnership between Malaysia and Australia.
Located at the University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia Shah Alam campus, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pic) said the institute will train officials from across the region on the Law of the Sea, ocean governance, maritime domain awareness and environmental protections.
“Growing up in Sabah, my hometown Kota Kinabalu was on the edge of the South China Sea and from a young age, I learnt about how navigators and traders connected Borneo and the Malay peninsula.
“This is why Malaysians have a long history as maritime leaders and innovators. The establishment of this new institute is part of that historic tradition,” she said in her speech at the launch yesterday.
The Maritime Institute, set up in collaboration with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, will play a major role in UOW’s maritime graduate certificate programme and its SEA Women in Maritime Security course.
Wong, who is here for the 6th Malaysia-Australia Foreign Ministers Meeting, said deepening relations with Malaysia is important to Australia.
“We have a shared responsibility to care for the region and this is an ongoing contribution to maintaining the rules and norms of maritime security.
“This build-up of respect and trust between us will be key towards tackling ongoing and future maritime issues such as disputes in the South China Sea,” she said.
Wong was joined by Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke, UOW Malaysia chancellor Datuk Seri Michael KC Yam and Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade chairman Howard Lee at the launch.
Earlier, Wong paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya where they discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the economy, defence, cybersecurity and higher education ahead of the 70th anniversary of Malaysia-Australia diplomatic relations next year.
Wong also expressed support for Malaysia as it prepares to take on the significant responsibility of chairing Asean next year.
