1 -1. Citation.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Continental Shelf Act 1966 .

(2) (Omitted).

2 -2. Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

  "continental shelf"  means the sea-bed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond the territorial sea-

(a) throughout the natural prolongation of the land territory of Malaysia to the outer edge of the continental margin as determined in accordance with section 2B; or

(b) to a distance of two hundred nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured in accordance with the Baselines of Maritime Zones Act 2006 [Act 660] where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance, but shall not affect the territory of the States or the limits of the territorial waters of the States and the rights and powers of the State Authorities therein.

[Subs. by Act A1351]

2A -2A. The delimitation of the continental shelf between Malaysia and a country with opposite or adjacent coasts.

Where there is an agreement in force relating to the delimitation of the continental shelf between Malaysia and a country with an opposite or adjacent coast, any question relating to the delimitation of the continental shelf shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of that agreement.

[Ins. by Act A1351]

2B -2B. Continental shelf limit and continental margin.

(1) The continental shelf of Malaysia shall not extend beyond the limits provided for in subsections (3), (4), (5) and (6).

(2) The continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the land mass of Malaysia and consists of the sea-bed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise but does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.

(3) Wherever the continental margin extends beyond two hundred nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, the outer edge of the continental margin shall be established by either-

(a) a line delineated in accordance with subsection (7) by reference to the outermost fixed points at each of which the thickness of sedimentary rocks is at least one percent of the shortest distance from such point to the foot of the continental slope; or

(b) a line delineated in accordan

3 -3. Rights with respect to continental shelf.

(1) All rights with respect to the exploration of the continental shelf and the exploitation of its natural resources are hereby vested in Malaysia and shall be exercisable by the Federal Government.

(2) If Malaysia does not undertake to exercise the rights with respect to the exploration of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources, no one or no other country may exercise such rights except with the express consent of Malaysia.

[Ins. by Act A1351]

4 -4. Mining within the continental shelf.

(1) No person shall explore, prospect or bore for or carry on any operations for the getting of petroleum in the sea-bed or subsoil of the continental shelf except under and in accordance with the Petroleum Mining Act 1966 [Act 95] .

(2) For the purposes of the following subsections, the expression "minerals" shall be construed to mean minerals other than petroleum.

(3) No person shall explore, prospect or bore for or carry on any operations for the getting of minerals in the sea-bed or subsoil of the continental shelf except in pursuance of a licence issued under the following subsections.

(4) The Minister may from time to time, on an application made in that behalf, grant to any person a licence authorising the person to explore, prospect, bore and mine for and to carry on operations for the getting of minerals of any specified kind in any specified area of the continental shelf.

(5) Every application for a lic

4A -4A. Financial obligation.

Any financial obligation for purposes of the exploitation of the non-living resources of the continental shelf beyond two hundred nautical miles will be in accordance with Part VI of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

[Ins. by Act A1351]

5 -5. Application of criminal and civil law.

(1) Subject to this Act, for the purposes of this Act and of every other written law (whether enacted before or after the passing of this Act) for the time being in force in Malaysia-

(a) every act or omission which takes place on or under or above, or in any waters within five hundred metres of, any installation or device (whether temporary or permanent) constructed, erected, placed, or used in, on, or above the continental shelf in connection with the exploration of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources shall be deemed to take place in Malaysia;

(b) every installation or device and any waters within five hundred metres of an installation or device as aforesaid shall be deemed to be situated in Malaysia, and for the purposes of jurisdiction shall be deemed to be situated in that part of Malaysia above highwater mark at ordinary spring tides which is nearest to that installatio

6 -6. Regulations.

(1) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may make regulations for-

(a) regulating the construction, erection, or use of installations or devices in, on, or above the continental shelf, or any specified part thereof, in connection with the exploration of the continental shelf or that part thereof or the exploitation of its natural resources;

(b) prohibiting the construction, erection, placing, or use of installations or devices in, on, or above the continental shelf in places where they could cause interference with the use of recognised sea lanes essential to coastwise or international navigation;

(c) establishing safety zones, extending to a distance not exceeding five hundred metres measured from each point of the outer edge of the installation or device, around any such installations or devices in, on, or above the continental shelf;

(d) prescribing such measures as he considers n

7 -7. Saving.

(1) Any prospecting licence, mining lease or agreement issued or made under any written law in force in Sabah and Sarawak immediately before 8 November 1969, for the exploration, prospecting or mining for minerals other than petroleum on the continental shelf shall continue to be in force subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4).

(2) All rights accrued or due to and all liabilities and obligations imposed on or borne by the Governments of Sabah and Sarawak under or by virtue of any prospecting licence, mining lease or agreement referred to in subsection (1) shall accrue and be due to and shall be imposed on and borne by the Federal Government.

(3) The prospecting licence, mining lease or agreement referred to in subsection (1) shall be construed subject to this Act.

(4) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may at any time before 31 December 1972, by order make such further transitional or saving provision as he may consider necessary or exp