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STATEMENT

 

AT THE HIGH-LEVEL PLENARY MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

TO COMMEMORATE THE SIXTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE
TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES

 

President,

 

Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

 

2. At the outset, Malaysia thanks the President for convening this historic meeting pursuant to General Assembly resolution 80/106. Sixty-five years ago, this Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

 

3. The Declaration redefined the global political landscape, provided the legal foundation for political liberation and affirmed the inalienable right to self-determination for millions of people.

 

4. Building on this legacy, Malaysia supports the proclamation of 14 December as the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations. The continued existence of colonialism is incompatible with the UN Charter. It obstructs economic, social, and cultural development, limits meaningful participation in international cooperation, and leaves lasting consequences until today.

 

 

 

President,

 

5. Despite notable progress, the work of decolonization remains unfinished. We must therefore remain vigilant against new and emerging forms of colonialism. Practices such as unilateral coercive measures, economic pressures, and political conditionalities violate the principles of sovereign equality and undermine national decision-making. Malaysia calls upon Member States to dismantle structures of domination that disproportionately marginalize the Global South.

 

6. In this regard, Malaysia remains steadfast in supporting international efforts to advance decolonization through peaceful means. We believe that the promotion of justice and human rights is essential to fulfilling the aspirations of colonized peoples. Malaysia stands ready to contribute through capacity-building initiatives under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, which aim to support sustainable development, reconstruction, and long-term nation-building.

 

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7. At the core of these efforts, Malaysia reaffirms that the Question of Palestine remains the longest-standing unresolved colonial issue of our time. Malaysia reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people, whose struggle remains central to the global decolonization agenda.

 

8. While noting the recent development, Malaysia underscores the importance of the New York Declaration. The Declaration reflects the overwhelming support for the two-State solution as the only credible path toward a just and lasting peace. It reaffirms the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign, independent State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

 

 

President,

 

9. In conclusion, Malaysia calls on the international community to renew its collective commitment to the complete eradication of colonialism. Decolonization is not only a historical obligation, but a continuing responsibility to uphold justice, equality, and human dignity for all.

 

Thank you.