Malaysia Targets 90 Pct ICAO Effective Implementation Score By 2028

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is targeting an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Effective Implementation (EI) score of at least 90 per cent by December 2028 under the Malaysia Aviation Safety Plan 2026-2028 launched today.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the three-year plan also aims to maintain zero fatal accidents in commercial aviation, reduce serious accidents and runway safety events, and strengthen safety reporting.

He said the plan provides Malaysia with a focused national framework for the next three years and is aligned with the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan and Asia-Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Plan.

"Importantly, the plan translates ambition into measurable actions. Its objectives include maintaining zero fatal accidents in commercial aviation, achieving an ICAO Effective Implementation score of at least 90 per cent by December 2028, reducing serious accidents and runway safety events, and strengthening safety reporting," he said.

His speech at the Malaysia Aviation Safety Seminar (MASS) 2026 here today was delivered by Transport Ministry secretary general Datuk Seri Jana Santhiran Muniayan.

Loke said aviation safety remained a national priority as it protects lives, supports public confidence and underpins Malaysia’s tourism, trade, investment and connectivity sectors.

"Safety is not simply a standard that we achieve once. It is a discipline that must be practised every day, on every flight, and across every part of the aviation system. As technology advances and operations become more complex, that discipline must become even stronger," he said.

Loke noted that the government’s commitment to aviation safety rests on three priorities, namely maintaining a capable and effective regulator, ensuring safety performance is measurable and transparent, and ensuring regulations keep pace with innovation.

He said risk-based oversight required qualified technical professionals, reliable systems and sustainable institutional capacity, adding that the Transport Ministry would continue to support the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) in strengthening and retaining these capabilities.

On safety reporting, he said an increase in reporting should not be viewed as evidence of a less safe aviation system as a healthy reporting culture provides better visibility of hazards and enables early intervention.

"More reporting should not be viewed as evidence of a less safe system. A healthy reporting culture provides better visibility of hazards, encourages early intervention, and allows lessons to be shared before an occurrence becomes an accident.

“People must be able to report safety concerns responsibly and with confidence that the information will be used to improve the system," he said.

Loke pointed out that new technologies could improve situational awareness, decision-making and operational efficiency, but could also introduce new dependencies, cybersecurity concerns and human-factor risks.

He added that no government, regulator or operator could deliver aviation safety alone, as it depended on cooperation across borders, responsible sharing of safety information and a common commitment to act on evidence.

He urged participants of MASS 2026 and the 61st Conference of the Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Asia and Pacific Regions (DGCA 61) to challenge established assumptions, exchange practical experience and identify actions that could strengthen safety within their respective organisations.

The Malaysia Aviation Safety Plan 2026-2028 was launched in conjunction with MASS 2026.

-- BERNAMA