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PETALING JAYA: The application process to allow foreign vessels to carry out certain activities has been reduced from 30 days to just five under the electronic domestic shipping license (eDSL) system, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (Photo).
The transport minister said the ministry established the system in November last year to simplify the license application process and improve the public service delivery system.
“It is the responsibility of the Ministry to ensure that these vessels are allowed in the areas where they are needed as soon as possible so that they do not have any impact on Internet connectivity in Malaysia, which is now among the country’s priorities.”
“Currently, the process is much faster with the proper documentation,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (November 25).
Dr. Wee said that prior to November 1 of last year, the DSL / eDSL process could take up to a month.
“This will surely delay the necessary repair work. However, after the eDSL system was upgraded, the eDSL application procedure has been shortened from 30 days to just five business days, as long as there is no lock on the app, including undersea cable repairs, “he added.
Dr. Wee also said that the ministry had also explained in detail the decision to revoke the cabotage exemption for foreign vessels that repair submarine cables.
The cabotage exemption previously allowed foreign vessels to carry out underwater communications cable repair work without the need to apply for the national shipping license exemption.
He said the decision was based, among others, on the development of national shipping capacity and capacity, while increasing technical expertise through human resource development among locals.
“There are local vessels capable of undersea cable repair work. His experience has also been used in other countries such as Indonesia, Taiwan, and Japan.
“It is questionable whether they are allowed to do those jobs overseas but not given the same opportunities in Malaysian waters,” he added.
Stating that the decision did not mean restricting or rejecting foreign companies or vessels from entering the country, Dr. Wee said that foreign vessels could only do the job if locals couldn’t.
The minister previously attended a dialogue session with the main companies Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Malaysia Internet Exchange (MyIX) to give a clearer picture of the National Cabotage Policy.
The dialogue highlighted three main issues: cabotage policy, eDSL, and the ability of local vessels to repair submarine cables.
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