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STATEMENT BY
H.E. MR. AHMAD FAISAL MUHAMAD
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

ON AGENDA ITEM 60 - USE OF THE VETO

AT THE 68^TH PLENARY MEETING OF THE 77^TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSSEMBLY

26 APRIL 2023

 

 

 

Mr. President,

Today marks the first anniversary of Resolution 76/262. During its adoption back in 2022, Member States were hopeful for a renewed multilateralism. With growing criticism on the effectiveness of the Security Council- tainted by deadlocks on proliferated conflicts, expanded division and mounting tensions, Resolution 76/262 provided hope for enhanced accountability, especially on new emerging threats of international peace and security.

2.       Yet until today, we witness the continuation of some of the most serious violations of the UN Charter and international law, further emboldened by the ‘immunity’ of veto power. The use of the veto has disparagingly fragmented the Council, and further resulted the paralysis of the Council to act upon conflicts and injustice perpetrated in Myanmar, Palestine, Syria and Ukraine.

Mr. President,

3.       Malaysia views the resolution as an endeavour to counterbalance the privilege in the form of veto power. This veto power, ‘accorded’ to some major powers in 1945 has been repeatedly abused, to cater to the interest of specific countries and their allies, over the collective interest of the international community.

4.       Malaysia holds the position that the exercise of the veto by permanent members of the Security Council should be regulated to prohibit it from being used unjustly or abused by permanent members, against the wishes of the majority. It should not be used in situations involving mass atrocity crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. Malaysia is also of the view that the veto power should not be exercised by just one permanent member but by at least two members and supported by three non-permanent members of the Security Council. The General Assembly should then back the decision with a simple majority. Nonetheless, in the long run, we believe that the veto has no role in the modern democratic multilateral architecture. Malaysia wishes to reiterate our call for the veto abolishment.

Mr. President,

5.       The world is looking at us. At a time when the Council’s legitimacy and credibility continue to be scrutinized, the Security Council, as guardian of international peace and security, should not allow the pejorative will of the major powers to overrule the wishes of the majority with a single vote. The undemocratic principle of veto at the very core runs against the very principle that the UN was built upon. Against the backdrop of today’s geopolitics dynamic, the veto has no place in international arrangements. Malaysia in this regard will continue to work together with other Member States through the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Security Council reform, towards reforming the United Nations to make it more efficient, open, transparent and inclusive.

I thank you.