Hanafi Hussin

Gastronomy, Tourism, and the Soft Power of Malaysia:

This review article examines the link between tourism and soft power in view of five (four proposed by Ooi) interlinked ways (approaches). It also looks whether Malaysia (as a case study) by using the soft power approaches has achieved the desired outcomes or not. The article found that Ooi’s approach is adequate to analyze a country’s tourism policy, strategies, tourists’ perceptions, and the outcomes of tourism. However, it has ignored the independent role of gastronomy, the business-enabling environment, recognition of the cultural and natural sites as world heritage, and methodological approach to address negative stereotypes against other nationalities. The article also maintains that Malaysia has efficiently used the soft power approach and maximally received benefits from it without the use of coercive powers. This research offers insight into different power tools applied in a variety of contexts which shape the image of the country.

Protecting the Malacca and Singapore Straits from Ships’ Atmospheric Emissions through the Implementation of MARPOL Annex VI

The International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) adopted legally binding regulations for the control of ships’ atmospheric emissions under Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, 1973/78. With Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia being States Parties thereto, consequently, one of the effects in the Malacca and Singapore Straits is that it enables the Straits States, together with the IMO , to designate emission control areas for the approximately 75,000 ships transiting annually. This article examines the robust provisions of Annex VI for the marine environmental protection of the Straits and the contentious debates preceding an otherwise dead-locked technology-transfer resolution for implementing Annex VI . If implemented, Annex VI provisions will represent a unique milestone in the protection of the marine environment of the Straits which is regulated by the restrictive provisions of Part III of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.