PETALING JAYA: The Transport Ministry and the World Maritime University (WMU) will restart the process of its academic cooperation after the Covid-19 pandemic derailed such plans for the past two years.Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between WMU and the Port Klang Free Zone Sdn Bhd (PKFZ) in 2019 in the field of maritime education, research and development.
The MOU had, among others, also outlined plans to hold short courses in port operations and related modules with the PKFZ.
However, the pandemic had derailed the plans but both parties have pledged to restart this process and would resume discussions to work around Covid-19 travel restrictions, said Dr Wee.
“A renewed framework should be formed next year.
“Malaysia and the WMU are also keen to hold further dialogues for deeper cooperation to enable more Malaysians to study at the prestigious institution for maritime professionals,” said Dr Wee in a statement yesterday following a virtual meeting with WMU president Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry at campus in Malmo, Sweden.
Also with Dr Wee were Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak, Marine Department director-general Datuk Baharin Abdul Hamid, and Transport Ministry maritime undersecretary Capt Mohamad Halim Ahmed.
Dr Wee said that to date, 60 Malaysians had graduated from WMU after completing their postgraduate maritime and ocean education, of which 49 took the masters programme in maritime affairs while the remainder learned via distance learning.
Notably, Dr Wee said Capt Mohamad Halim and Malaysia’s maritime attache to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mohd Fairoz Rozali, were also among the alumni of the renowned postgraduate programmes.
He also said that under the scope of the IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme, the ministry had made a contribution of US$117,400 (RM495,019) for two full scholarships to a masters level programme, one of which will be allocated to a Malaysian.