Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi criticised the US and the European Union (EU) for failing to consult the shipping community when introducing new regulations to enhance maritime security.

"Of late, there have been a number of unilateral decisions and legislative actions taken by countries in the name of increasing global maritime security and introducing better shipping standards," Abdullah said.

Malaysia is hosting a two-day international maritime and logistic conference attended by a few hundred delegates from the shipping industry, World Bank, the International Maritime Organisation and the World Customs Organisation.

Abdullah said when the US Customs mandated that shippers notify contents of their shipments 24 hours before loading, neither the global shipping nor governments were consulted.

"Overnight, such new rules have changed shipping business, documents and practices that have existed for a century.

"The global shipping industry was left with no role in determining the entry of the rules nor any effort was made to discuss with other countries," he said.

Abdullah's speech was read out by transport minister Chan Kong Choy.

Threat of pollution

The US introduced the new regulation as part of comprehensive measures to enhance national security following the Sept 11 terror attack.

Abdullah said unilaterism also reared its head when the EU enforced new rules in July to ban certain vessels from the waters of its member countries to prevent the threat of pollution.

"The move was strongly opposed by the Asian shipping fraternity not for its content or intent, but for the speed and haste of its implementation," he said.

Abdullah said "Asia should not become a dumping pool for the tonnage (ship) that another part of the world finds unfit to sail in its waters."

Asia, he said, which handles 47 percent of the global trade in containers, should vent out its views on global matters affecting the maritime industry.

"We all have a collective role to play in shaping the global maritime industry," Abdullah said. - AFP