About the Journal

 The journal, titled Jurnal Maritim Asia Tenggara or Journal of Southeast Asia Maritime and abbreviated as JMAT, is named as such for the following reasons:

1.     The term maritime refers to all human activities on or related to the sea that give rise to fields of research such as navigation, trade, ports and shipping, fishing, piracy, maritime culture, and other related areas. These fields are particularly significant as Malaysia progresses toward achieving the status of a maritime nation. Furthermore. the term maritime aligns with the agenda of the Blue Economy and Maritime Security Research Centre.    

2.     The term Asia Tenggara (Southeast Asia) was chosen to reflect the geographical scope and focus of this journal. This region encompasses a vast maritime area including the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea, the Sulawesi Sea, the Java Sea, the Malacca Strait, the Sunda Strait and others. These areas serve as the primary focus of this journal which engages both domestic and international academics from countries such as Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, and Japan.   

3      To date, there has not been a single periodical officially established under the specfic designation of “Maritime Southeast Asia” in Malaysia or abroad.     

The JMAT focuses on the field of maritime studies in Southeast Asia, with the following key sub-fields:

  • Ocean dynamics
  • Maritime-territorial security and sovereignty
  • Stateless people
  • Unauthorized Immigrants (PTI) and citizenship
  • Sustainability of coastal and marine communities
  • Cross-border crime at sea
  • Socio-economic status of the seafaring community
  • Maritime economy
  • Art and culture of seafaring tribes
  • Maritime history and civilization
  • Underwater archaeology
  • Mapping and land-sea demarcation
  • Other areas or thrusts that are appropriate according to time.

Manuscripts or articles in the Journal of Southeast Asia Maritime can be written in either Malay or English. Each volume of the journal is published online through the JURCON UMS system twice a year, in June and December. Each issue features ten (10) refereed articles, managed under the publication administration of Universiti Malaysia Sabah.