KUALA LUMPUR: The Nippon Foundation has pledged to contribute US$2.5 million (RM9 million) towards environmental protection and safe navigation of vessels in the Straits of Malacca from next year.

Its chairman, Yohei Sasa-kawa, made the announcement yesterday at the international symposium on safety and protection of marine environment in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore here.

The foundation, set up in 1962, is active in Japan and abroad, focusing on maritime and shipping issues.

The donation will be made under the Straits of Malacca Aids to Navigation Fund, managed by the straits' littoral states of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who opened the meeting, applauded the foundation's generosity, saying Malaysia had long felt that the littoral states should not be the only sponsors of safety and environmental protection in the straits.
"Studies show that traffic in the straits continue to rise, estimated to touch 80,000 vessels by year-end.

"While we accept this as fundamental for growth of the world's economy, we are concerned growth in shipping traffic must not be at the cost of the well-being of the littoral states."

He hoped that with the foundation leading the way, other maritime industry players would also contribute towards sustainable growth of the straits.

Later, when opening the 45th conference of directors-general of civil aviation, Asia-Pacific, he said traffic into and through Malaysia has increased in the aviation sector.

"Airports in Malaysia are expected to handle 47 million passengers this year, an increase of four per cent over the 45.19 million in 2007."

He conceded that forecasts for next year were increasingly pessimistic, because of the global financial crisis.

"The aviation industry, especially in this region, has faced similar challenges before like the Asian financial crisis in 1997, Sept 11, 2001 attacks and the SARS outbreak in 2003. I am confident that the industry will show resilience and recover."