Manila, Philippines, 14 May 2025 - The 7th Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference, a prominent forum for discussing maritime security, convened in Manila on May 13th, 2025, featuring a robust dialogue on the theme "Security at Sea".

Lt Gen Dato' Seri Haji Muhammad Huzaimi bin Sabri, Chief Executive of MiDAS (Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security), delivered a presentation emphasizing Malaysia's perspective on the evolving challenges to maritime security in Southeast Asia. The delegation also included Captain Hazlan bin Hazumi Royal Malaysian Navy, who serves as the Director of Maritime Security at MiDAS, further underscoring Malaysia's commitment to the discussions.

Dato' Seri Huzaimi underscored the critical importance of the international legal order, particularly UNCLOS, for Malaysia as a maritime nation with significant stakes in the region's waters. In his presentation, Dato' Seri Huzaimi highlighted the increasingly complex and contested nature of the maritime environment, pointing to the South China Sea as a key flashpoint. He addressed the rise of "grey-zone operations," the militarization of artificial islands, and the erosion of trust due to unilateral actions and extra-regional power assertion.

Dato' Seri Huzaimi stressed Malaysia's firm commitment to peaceful dispute resolution and the primacy of international law, advocating for a regional response that includes strengthened legal capacity, a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, confidence-building measures, and the protection of undersea infrastructure.

The conference provided a platform for international experts to discuss and analyze legal and security issues impacting the world's oceans.