Joint Governance of Malacca Strait: Malaysian Think Tank Analyzes Key to Security and Stability

Rear Admiral Yusne Mokhtar of the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS) stated that while the Malacca Strait is often compared to the Strait of Hormuz, their governance models differ. The Malacca Strait has a mature maritime security cooperation model, maintaining long-term openness and stability. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, the Malacca Strait, a key energy transport route in Southeast Asia, has gained attention due to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. The New Straits Times published a commentary by Yusne yesterday titled 'Regional Cooperation Governance is Key to Malacca Strait Security and Stability.' Located between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, the 900km-long strait is vital for global trade. Yusne noted that its resilience lies in its governance model. Unlike the Strait of Hormuz, which is often affected by geopolitical confrontations, the Malacca Strait operates under a rule-based system founded on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), where the principle of 'transit passage' ensures non-discriminatory access. Regarding management, Yusne highlighted that Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand have established a mature cooperation model through the 'Malacca Straits Patrol,' involving joint patrols and intelligence sharing, which has significantly reduced traditional threats like armed robbery. He believes the possibility of a disruption similar to the Hormuz Strait is low, as the governance model is inherently multilateral. Furthermore, the littoral states are deeply integrated into global supply chains, making any disruption economically costly for them. However, he warned that emerging risks, such as increased shipping density, cybersecurity vulnerabilities in port infrastructure, and grey-zone activities, cannot be ignored. Malaysia is currently enhancing its maritime domain awareness and upgrading port infrastructure with a focus on resilience and cybersecurity.