KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 2): Malaysia has been re-elected to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) council, under category III, for the 2019-2022 term, for the fifth consecutive term since 2007.

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) in a statement said the decision was reached during the polls held on Oct 1 during the 40th ICAO General Assembly, held from Sept 24-Oct 4, at the ICAO Headquarters, Montreal, Canada.

The Malaysian delegation led by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook had undertaken various efforts to ensure Malaysia retains the ICAO Council Member seat.

"The minister had delivered a keynote speech on Sept 28, and held five bilateral discussions with regional groups, the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO), European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS)," the statement said.

Loke also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from 27 ICAO member countries, as well as made a courtesy call on the ICAO President and Secretary, to gain support for the country's nomination.

The statement said that Malaysia received 143 votes (81%) of the total votes cast.

"This is the highest number of votes Malaysia had ever received and is the best achievement since Malaysia became an ICAO Council Member," it said.

Malaysia joins South Korea in the third category to represent the Asia Pacific region. Also in the same category are Costa Rica, Cote dÍvoire, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Paraguay, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Zambia.

ICAO works with the Convention’s 193 Member States and industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector.