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Mr. Chair,

 

1.     Malaysia lauds Japan for the engagement and extensive outreach in presenting the draft resolution L.59 entitled “Joint Courses of Action and Future-Oriented Dialogue towards a World without Nuclear Weapons.” 

 

2.     The resolution encompasses many important issues pertaining to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. 

 

3.     Malaysia’s principled position on this matter is very clear. That the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the assurance that they will never be produced again, is the only absolute guarantee against the catastrophic humanitarian consequences arising from their use.

 

4.     The NPT has been the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regime. This universal understanding needs to be better reflected in PP2 of the draft resolution.

 

5.     We acknowledge the improvement made to PP4 by inserting the term “implementing” to honor past commitments reached at previous NPT Review Conferences. 

 

6.     OP1 suggests the element of conditionality and that the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons is predicated on the easing of international tensions and the strengthening of trust between States. This misconception goes against the letter and spirit of the NPT. 

 

7.     On OP3 (b), we believe that there are only two categories of states recognized by the NPT, namely Nuclear-Weapon-States and Non-NuclearWeapon-States. And states not parties to the NPT are urged to urgently join the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon states.

 

8.     It is unfortunate that OP3 (d) of the resolution shies away from definitively calling on the Annex 2 states to sign and ratify the CTBT as soon as possible and without further delay. 

 

9.     For the reasons already highlighted, Malaysia will abstain on PP2, OP1, OP3 (b) and OP3 (d) of the draft resolution. And Malaysia will retain its position from last year by abstaining on the draft resolution as a whole.

 

10.     However, the divergent views among Member States should not discourage us from continuing to engage in dialogues to better understand one another and develop areas of convergence.

 

11.     It is our hope that Japan will continue to facilitate the discussion with all UN Member States on this matter by taking into consideration the various points raised.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

12.     My delegation would like to refer to the draft decision L.57 under Agenda Item 100(y) entitled Treaty on the Southeast Asia NuclearWeapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty or the Bangkok Treaty).

 

13.     Malaysia strongly reaffirms the paramount importance of the SEANWFZ Treaty as the disarmament and non-proliferation instrument in the ASEAN region.

 

14.     Although the Treaty has been in force for over two decades, its Protocol has yet to be signed by any of the Nuclear Weapon States.

 

15.     Therefore, we need to urgently resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty, pertaining to the signing and ratifying the Protocol of the Treaty at the earliest. This is in line with the aspirations of the ASEAN Leaders as enshrined in the ASEAN Political Security Community Blueprint 2025.

 

16.     To this end and as a way forward, ASEAN Member States should begin open and constructive dialogues with the Nuclear-Weapon-States to bridge their concerns and reservations, as annually agreed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers.

 

17.     While the draft decision L.57 on the SEANWFZ Treaty will soon be adopted by the First Committee, it is vital that ASEAN Member States collectively make progress and reach an agreement on a submission of the biennial SEANWFZ Resolution to the 78^th session of the First Committee in 2023, following the last substantive submission six (6) years ago in 2015.

 

I thank you Mr. Chair.