PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is committed to providing a safe, efficient and sustainable development of civil aviation, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       In his address at the XXIV Ordinary Assembly of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC) in Montevideo, Uruguay, the Transport Minister reaffirmed this commitment as part of efforts to see Malaysia re-elected under Part III of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council during the council’s 41st Assembly later this year.

       “This commitment will further benefit the global aviation scene along with related industries, whereby we will also give our fullest support to initiatives by ICAO along with LACAC.

       Member states of LACAC are Argentina, Aruba, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

       “Similarly, I would also like to thank LACAC for its support and assistance during the 40th edition of the assembly which saw Malaysia being successfully re-elected as a council member for a fifth consecutive term,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

       In 2019, Malaysia was re-elected to the ICAO council, under category III, for the 2019-2022 term, its fifth consecutive term since 2007.

       Dr Wee also noted that a total of 47 participants from LACAC were successfully trained under the Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme at the Malaysian Aviation Academy since Feb 25, 2011.

       “In July 2022, Malaysia will also be offering a fellowship programme called ‘Fatigue Risk Management System for Air Navigation Service Provider Course’ to officials of LACAC Member States,” he said.

       He added that the LACAC Ordinary Assembly was also a positive signal, with most member states progressing towards reopening their economies, including Malaysia, set to reopen its borders beginning April 1.