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STATEMENT BY

MR. TAN LI LUNG

UNDERSECRETARY MULTILATERAL SECURITY DIVISION

 

AT MAIN COMMITTEE II

OF THE

TENTH REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE

TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

NEW YORK, 8 AUGUST 2022

 

 

Mdm. Chairperson,

 

My delegation congratulates you on your appointment as Chair of Main Committee II and assures you of my delegation’s full support and cooperation in steering the work of this Committee.

 

2.      Malaysia associates itself with the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) States Parties to the NPT.

 

Mdm. Chairperson,

 

3.      Malaysia fully supports the concept of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones. These zones are effective measures that contributes to both non-proliferation and disarmament. They promote greater transparency and dialogue among States thus can potentially reduce risk of regional tensions and conflict. It is imperative that Nuclear Weapons States respect the denuclearisation status of these zones and provide negative security assurances against use and threat of use of nuclear weapons to all States within nuclear weapon free zones.

 

4.      Just as we remain steadfast in our support for the establishment of these zones, we underscore the importance of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East, which was an integral and essential part of the package of decisions that enabled the indefinite extension of the NPT in 1995. We deeply regret that the Middle East Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone has not yet been established. The Middle East continues to be a volatile region with spillover effects that can impact the rest of the world. The establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in the region would contribute greatly to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this regard, Malaysia stresses the importance of its full and timely implementation.

 

5.      As a State Party to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone - SEANWFZ, Malaysia strongly reaffirms its paramount importance as a disarmament and non-proliferation instrument in the ASEAN region. It is regrettable that 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. Malaysia calls upon the Nuclear Weapon States to sign and ratify the SEANWFZ Protocol at the earliest, in line with the ASEAN Political Security Community Blueprint 2025.

 

Mdm. Chairperson,

 

6.      My delegation expresses its fervent hope that the ongoing talks on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)will be able to find a resolution to enable the Agreement to return to full implementation.

 

7.      The developments in our neighbouring region of northeast Asia remain of grave concern to Malaysia. The spike in the number of missiles test by the DPRK has drawn taut the security tension in the region. We call on the DRPK to refrain from further provocative and illegal acts, to abide by its obligations under the relevant UNSC resolutions and to immediately return to the negotiating table toward achieving a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

 

Mdm. Chairperson,

 

8.      On AUKUS, we remain concerned that this may cause a regional arms race. We also question the use of HEU, when for many years the global trend has been to move from HEU to LEU in relation to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The IAEA itself has been central in promoting and advocating the move from HEU to LEU. In any case, we do not see the use of any type of nuclear fuel in military submarines as in line with the NPT or for peaceful uses. We will further comment once the IAEA has provided their report on the issue.

 

I thank you, Mdm. Chairperson.