Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia

Background

The incorporation of CAAM is in line with requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Under this new agency, CAAM is making great strides to strengthen the nation's aviation standards as well as addressing existing challenges, to advance Malaysia in the aviation sector in line with the country's aspiration to be the leading hub for the industry regionally as well as globally.

The regulatory responsibility of civil aviation technical matters is vested in CAAM. Its main role is to contribute to the development of Malaysia's civil aviation technical sector and mandated to comply with ICAO's standards so as to keep aviation safe, secure and efficient. Malaysia is a proud Council member of ICAO from 2007 and has since maintained its membership in the Council for three consecutive terms while making significant contributions to the development of civil aviation's safety and security.

History

The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was established in 1969 under the Civil Aviation Act 1969 [Act 3] to administer and regulate the civil aviation industry as well as to provide systematic air control services to airplanes. In 1976, the DCA became the self-accounting department under the Ministry of Transport.

In November 1992, the department is separated into two entities, namely the DCA and the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB). The DCA remains the regulatory body for the airports and aviation industry in Malaysia, whilst the newly-established Malaysia Airports to focus on the operation, management, and maintenance of airports.

By 2001, the department moved its corporate headquarters from Wisma Semantan, Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya.

In November 2016, the DCA became a statutory body and was renamed as the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), through the enactment of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia Bill 2016. The transformation into a statutory body and rebranding from DCA to CAAM took effective 19 February 2018, in line with the Government's goal to spur the Malaysian aviation industry to a greater heights.

In October 2022, the authority reinstated as a Category 1 safety and technical regulator by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The reinstatement will strengthen Malaysia's position as an aviation hub and improve its network connectivity.

Merger with MAVCOM

In December 2019, the Ministry of Transport announced that CAAM and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) would merge to create a standalone aviation regulator. The proposed merger was said "to optimise staff and financials, as well as making the civil aviation industry more competitive". Though the merger was supposed to have been completed by the second quarter of 2021, however, the anticipated merger did not materialized as CAAM and MAVCOM remains a separate entities.

In October 2023, Transport Minister, Anthony Loke announced that a bill for proposed merger between CAAM and MAVCOM will be tabled on the Parliament in 2024. On 13 June 2024, it was announced that the two bodies is expected to merge by 2025 with an official merger date yet to be announced. Eleven days later, on 24 June, two new bills for the merger of CAAM and MAVCOM were tabled at the Parliament by the Deputy Transport Minister, Hasbi Habibollah and approved by the Dewan Rakyat two days later. On 11 September, both bills were granted royal assent and were gazetted on 25 September. On 20 December, the tentative date for the merger of CAAM and MAVCOM has been finalized and will be announced later.

On 23 June 2025, Loke announced that the merger of CAAM and MAVCOM is expected to completed by 1 August, with CAAM took over the MAVCOM's economic regulatory functions. The merger will make the CAAM a sole aviation regulator in the country oversaws both economic and technical aspects and transitioned as an independent statutory body with separated remuneration and exempted by the Government. On 21 July, MAVCOM said that CAAM will assumed the technical regulatory functions that the commission had previously carried out and also assumed other functions, including licensing and airport development.

On 1 August, the merger between CAAM and MAVCOM was officially completed. Following the move, Shahril Tarmizi is appointed as the new Chairman of CAAM. To coincide with its merger with MAVCOM, CAAM launched a new logo on 16 September, which reflects its refreshed brand image and a renewed corporate structure. The rebranding of CAAM also comes with its new slogan, "Safer Above. Safer Beyond".

Divisions

• CAAM consists of the following divisions:
  • Quality and Standards
  • Flight Operations
  • Aviation Security
  • Airworthiness
  • Air Navigation Services & Aerodrome
  • Air Navigation Services Operations
  • Air Navigation Services Technical
  • Air Navigation Services Safety
  • Air Navigation Services Training
  • Malaysia Aviation Academy
  • CAAM Regional Office
    • Peninsular
    • Sabah
    • Sarawak
  • Management Services
  • Finance Management
  • Legal Advisor
  • State Safety Program Unit
  • Integrity Unit
  • Internal Audit & Compliance Unit
  • Corporate Communication Unit
  • Transformation Unit

References

References

1. (19 February 2018). "DCA is now known as CAAM". [[Malay Mail]].
2. "History & Milestone". Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia.
3. (22 September 1992). "New role for department". [[New Straits Times]].
4. Khaidir Abd Majid. (31 October 1992). "Corporatisation of DCA to take place tomorrow". [[Business Times (Malaysia).
5. Adrian David. (15 November 1992). "Corporatisation of DCA seen as a positive step". [[New Straits Times.
6. (22 November 2016). "DCA to be known as Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia". [[Astro Awani]].
7. (22 November 2016). "DCA to be known as Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia". [[Malay Mail]].
8. (23 November 2016). "DCA dinaik taraf badan berkanun". [[Berita Harian]].
9. (19 February 2018). "Department of Civil Aviation now known as Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia". [[The Star Online]].
10. Suhaila Shahrul Annuar. (19 February 2018). "DCA dinaik taraf menjadi CAAM". [[Berita Harian]].
11. Fairuz Mohd Shahar. (19 February 2018). "CAAM to regulate safety, security aspects of civil aviation industry". [[New Straits Times]].
12. (1 October 2022). "Malaysia regains Category 1 status in US air safety ranking". [[Free Malaysia Today]].
13. (1 October 2022). "Cat1 reinstatement by FAA to bolster Malaysia's position as aviation hub". [[New Straits Times]].
14. Meng Yew Choong. (2 October 2022). "CAAM reinstated to Cat 1". [[The Star Online]].
15. Kang Siew Li. (1 October 2022). "Malaysia regains US FAA's Category 1 safety rating". The Edge Malaysia.
16. Rahimi Yunus. (13 December 2019). "MoT justifies Mavcom-CAAM merger". The Malaysian Reserve.
17. Joseph Kaos Jr.. (13 December 2019). "Loke: Mavcom and CAAM merger in best interest of aviation industry". [[The Star Online]].
18. Kang Siew Li. (28 July 2021). "Mavcom continues to discharge its duties amid uncertain future". The Edge Malaysia.
19. (23 October 2023). "Bill on merging Mavcom with CAAM to be tabled next year". [[Free Malaysia Today]].
20. (13 June 2024). "Penggabungan MAVCOM-CAAM dilaksana pada 2025". [[Berita RTM]].
21. (13 June 2024). "CAAM to run independently from 2025, says Loke". [[Free Malaysia Today]].
22. (24 June 2024). "Bills tabled to merge Mavcom and CAAM". [[The Star Online]].
23. Choy Nyen Yiau. (26 June 2024). "Dewan Rakyat passes bills paving way for Mavcom-CAAM merger". The Edge.
24. (25 September 2024). "Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (Amendment) Act 2024".
25. (25 September 2024). "Malaysian Aviation Commission (Dissolution) Act 2024".
26. (20 December 2024). "MOT akan umum tarikh penggabungan CAAM-MAVCOM". [[Berita Harian]].
27. Bilqis Bahari. (20 December 2024). "Tentative date of Mavcom-CAAM merger set, to be announced by Transport Ministry". [[New Straits Times]].
28. (23 June 2025). "CAAM to take over functions of Mavcom from Aug 1 to become sole aviation industry regulatory body". [[Sinar Harian.
29. (23 June 2025). "MAVCOM dibubar berkuat kuasa 1 Ogos, CAAM beralih jadi BBDSB". [[Astro Awani]].
30. Minderjeet Kaur. (23 June 2025). "Mavcom to be absorbed by CAAM on Aug 1". [[Free Malaysia Today]].
31. (22 July 2025). "Mavcom to hand over regulatory functions to CAAM from Aug 1". [[The Star Online]].
32. (21 July 2025). "CAAM to take over Mavcom’s aviation regulatory duties from Aug 1". Scoop.
33. (1 August 2025). "CAAM takes over as sole aviation regulator, gets new chairman". [[New Straits Times]].
34. (1 August 2025). "Sharil Tarmizi to lead Malaysia's sole aviation regulator as CAAM-Mavcom merger takes effect". [[Malay Mail]].
35. Benjamin Lee. (18 September 2025). "CAAM to aim higher with new logo". [[The Star Online]].