Oleh: Nastura Nasir
Pix: Abd Raai Osman

BANGI, 9 December 2016 – The concept of “Nusantara” should be used for the formulation of a Malaysian maritime policy, said Prof. Emeritus Hans-Dieter Evers, Pok Rafeah Distinguished Professor in International Studies at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS)

Such a geopolitically based policy would have to match and supplement the already existing policies of the Indonesian “Maritime Fulcrum” and the Chinese concept of “Maritime Silk Road”.

In his lecture titled Nusantara: Malaysia and the Geopolitics pf the South China Sea, Prof. Evers, explained that the Nusantara concept, have been used throughout modern history in differing ways, and has been utilised for political and economic reasons.

The “Nusantara model” of sharing of resources, differentiated according the type of resources (fisheries, oil& gas, rites of passage) could be a blueprint for the governance of the South China Sea.

Prof Evers suggested the use of “maritime strata titles” to expand the options during negotiations about conflicting claims.

Maritime Strata Titles (MST) would give claims to different parts of the sea: exploration for oil, gas and minerals at the seabed, sea grass harvesting at elevations, deep-sea fishing, seine fishing at higher levels and sea routs at the top.

The Chinese government’s position on the South China Sea may very well driven by the Chinese conception of space, which is the whole sea is claimed as Chinese maritime sphere of influence far into the South, ignoring the chequered patchwork of claims of the ASEAN states.

For this reason, The “Nusantara model” of sharing of resources, patchwork of claims that are differentiated according the types of resources appears to be a viable solution, which could perhaps also be acceptable to the Chinese government that has emphasized negotiations with individual ASEAN governments.

UKM Board of Directors Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad, 4^th Pok Rafeah Chair Holder Prof. Dr. Anthony Milner and IKMAS Director Prof Dr Rashila Ramli were also present at the talk.