Tech giants Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Amazon are trying to persuade the Malaysian government to allow foreign vessels to work in its waters.
The group is seeking to meet Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a bid to boost the fleet capable of repairing vital undersea cables, a Google spokesperson told Reuters.
The company sent a letter earlier in September to the prime minister about the country's cabotage policy.
They want an exemption for foreign ships reinstated by the new government. This was revoked last year by the previous administration.
Malaysia's national internet exchange body, Malaysia Internet Exchange, is taking the lead on engaging with the government and representing the companies.
Company chairman Chiew Kok Hin said: "Where's the harm in allowing tech giants to continue using foreign vessels for repair works while facilitating the transfer of knowledge so the local industry can develop?"
He added that only one Malaysian owner had the necessary ships, but it lacked capacity.
Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon have not commented, and nor has the government.
2019 waiver scrapped
The exemption for overseas vessels was introduced in 2019, but overturned in November 2020.
The group of tech companies had pressured the previous government to reinstate the policy.
They said they were "very concerned" about last year's decision.
"This exemption had ensured that submarine cable repair works could be conducted efficiently within a short time frame, thus minimising the duration and economic impact of cable disruptions," the group added.
Sabri took over as prime minister two weeks ago.
Nearly all of Malaysia's internet traffic runs through subsea cables.
