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On behalf of the Malaysian delegation, I wish to extend our warmest congratulations to you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the Bureau on the assumption of office of the First Committee for the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly. At the outset, my delegation associates itself with the statement made by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the statement made by Myanmar on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

2.            As we speak, there remain thousands of nuclear weapons, which possess inherent risks to humanity and all life on Earth. It is also disappointing that the Conference on Disarmament ended its thirteenth consecutive year without any real substantive work. Against such a backdrop, my delegation is compelled to call on all relevant parties to exercise the much needed political will and compromise to enable further efforts to be taken to attain general and complete disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament.

 

3.            In this connection, my delegation looks forward to the discussions on the three pillars of the NPT at the Preparatory Committee Meeting to be held in Vienna next year. We wish to highlight that a balanced implementation between nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation is crucial in ensuring NPT as the cornerstone of global nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

4.            Malaysia calls upon all States to work together towards the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, particularly the Annex 2 States, whose signature and ratification of the CTBT are necessary for the Treaty's entry into force.

 

5.            At the regional level, Malaysia is party to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone. Malaysia welcomes the on-going consultations between ASEAN and the nuclear-weapon States on the Protocol of the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty and looks forward to the timely conclusion of these consultations and subsequently, the signing of this Protocol by the nuclear-weapon States.

 

6.            Establishments of nuclear weapon free zones as well as Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status are positive steps towards the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world. In this regard, Malaysia also supports the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction. We call for the timely implementation of the steps towards the convening of the 2012 Conference, which could provide the necessary impetus to the creation of such zone.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

7.            Article IV of the NPT stipulates that nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop, research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In order to ensure that the underlying principles contained in this Article are adhered to, States must exercise full transparency in their nuclear development programmes, subject those programmes to the full scope of the IAEA safeguards, adhere to the provisions of the NPT, and gain the confidence of the international community over the peaceful nature of their nuclear programmes. We encourage all States to subscribe to these principles which are the necessary foundation for the development and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This would ensure a safe and secure environment for all. 

 

8.            In line with relevant UN resolutions, Malaysia has enacted the Strategic Trade Act 2010 that provides State control over the export, transhipment, transit and brokering of strategic items, including arms and related material, and other activities that will or may facilitate the design, development and production of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, consistent with Malaysia’s national security and international obligations.

Mr. Chairman,

 

9.            Malaysia will again submit its traditional draft resolution on the “Follow-up to the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons”. Malaysia is submitting this draft resolution as a reminder of our obligation to pursue, in good faith, and to bring to a conclusion, negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. Malaysia calls on all States to fulfil this obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to the conclusion of nuclear weapons convention at the earliest possible date.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

10.          Malaysia fully supports the Chemical Weapon Convention, as it is the first multilateral instrument, which is non-discriminatory, and provides for comprehensive and verifiable prohibition of a whole category of chemical weapons. Malaysia also appreciates the support it was afforded by the States Parties to the CWC leading to its election as a member of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for the term 2011 to 2013. Malaysia assures its full cooperation in fortifying the works of the Executive Council.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

11.          Malaysia also supports the efforts by the international community to press for universal adherence to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and compliance with its provisions. To this end, Malaysia believes that effective verification measures should be put in place to further strengthen the BWC.

 

 

12.          In addition, Malaysia undertakes to facilitate and will participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for the use of bacteriological agents and toxins for peaceful purposes as provided under Article X of the Convention.

 

13.          In line with Article IV of the Convention, Malaysia is currently finalising the Biological Weapons Bill which will be part of Malaysia's legislative framework to ensure effective implementation of the BWC. Currently, there is an on-going process of engagement with relevant stakeholders to finalise the Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the Malaysian Parliament next year.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

14.          With regard to conventional arms, Malaysia is supportive of the UN Programme of Action which aims to prevent and reduce the misuse and proliferation of small arms. Malaysia has put in place adequate and stringent laws for effective control over the circulation of conventional arms from being diverted into the illicit market.

 

15.          Malaysia also strongly supports international and humanitarian efforts to ban anti-personnel mines and calls on other States to accede to and ratify the Ottawa Convention.

 

16.          Let me conclude, Mr. Chairman, by reaffirming Malaysia’s commitment for the attainment of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. My delegation remains ready to work with you and other Member States towards achieving a positive and successful outcome of this session of the First Committee.

 

Thank you.