Sarawak Plans to Implement Marine Cadastre System by 2029 to Establish a Complete and Orderly Marine Record

(Kuching, 7th) Sarawak plans to become the first region in Malaysia to implement a marine cadastre system by 2029, aiming to strengthen the management of its waters and promote the development of the state's blue economy.

According to Sarawak Land and Survey Department Director Datuk Awang Zamhari, this new initiative will focus on developing a marine surveying system covering the water bodies (including bodies of water and seabed) in order to establish a complete and orderly marine record.

He stated that the Sarawak government has authorized the Sarawak Land and Survey Department to cooperate with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to implement the project from 2026 to 2028. 

He pointed out that since most of the blue economy's potential lies within the water areas, including offshore development and carbon storage projects, the development of the marine cadastre system is crucial.

"We need a record system as complete as the land surveying and land recording system to ensure that the management of water areas can be carried out in a more systematic and efficient manner."

Awang Zamhari said this during a media interview after attending the 2026 Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) Sarawak Branch Surveyors Conference today.

He further explained that the main content currently being discussed in detail includes legal matters, registration, and marine surveying to ensure smooth system implementation in 2029. 

At the same time, he said Sarawak will be conducting technical visits and benchmarking studies in Perth and Queensland next September to learn about the implementation of Australia's marine cadastre system.

"Australia is regarded as one of the earliest countries to develop the system." 

He also emphasized that Sarawak has its own advantages in leading the implementation of this system, as the state's land management, under the Sarawak Land Code, also covers coastal and marine areas.

"For Sarawak, we can be seen as one of the pioneers in the implementation of marine surveying in Malaysia, because the management of coastal and marine areas is under the state government."