KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia announced on Sunday that it was looking toward boosting its shipbuilding capacity in order to establish itself as a global leader. The country's Defense Minister Ahmed Zahid Hamidi said a proposal has been issued to the National Maritime Council that would see Malaysia begin the steps toward transforming into a “world class player in shipbuilding.” Speaking during the ceremony for hull block joining of DP2 Diesel Electric propulsion platform supply vessel at the Labuan Ship yard and Engineering Sdn Bhd, Zahid said: “The shipbuilding industry has the potential and capability. “It was expected to generate RM6.35b in gross national income in addition to the 55,000 jobs it would provide by 2020 by a growth that is sustainable and inclusive,” he said. The defense minister added that the council would be a reference point for development of the country's capacity and be a coordinator with shipbuilding and its related industries. Similar to the National Aerospace Council which was established in 2001, the Maritime Council would set the “policies, directions and support for the rapid growth of the industry.” He added that “it was possible to become a world player with proper planning.” He referenced South Korea's 20 years of attempts to win contracts from the Royal Malaysian Navy, but even despite those failures, the country was the largest shipbuilder currently. Regarding RMN ships, Zahidi said the Navy preferred using local shipyards for its jobs as this was in accordance to national interest and helped transfer of technology. Zahidi advised LSE “to continue to focus on employee welfare so that these workers stay highly motivated and produce better quality work and productivity.”
