Facebook, Google and Microsoft ask Malaysia PM to reinstate foreign ship cable waiver: Report

Microsoft, Google and Facebook have asked Malaysia’s Prime Minister to reinstate an exemption allowing non-Malaysian ships to carry out repairs to submarine cables in the country’s waters, online news service Malaysiakini reported.

Malaysia’s Transport Ministry this month overturned a so-called cabotage exemption granted in 2019 by the previous government that allowed the use of non-Malaysian vessels.

Without this waiver, foreign vessels must apply for domestic shipping licensing exemption (DSLE), leading to longer repair times, the companies said in a letter to the Malaysian premier, which was cited by Malaysiakini in a report on Monday.