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STATEMENT BY

MR SHIVANAND SIVAMOHAN

SECOND SECRETARY

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

EIGHTH BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES TO CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION TO  PREVENT, COMBAT AND ERADICATE

THE ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS

IN ALL ITS ASPECTS

ITEM 6:

CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION TO PREVENT, COMBAT AND ERADICATE THE ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN ALL ITS ASPECTS, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THE REGIONAL LEVEL AND THE GLOBAL LEVEL

NEW YORK, 27 JUNE 2022

 

 

Mr. Chair,

 

Malaysia welcomes the convening of BMS8, and commends you on your able leadership throughout the preparatory process.

 

2.     Malaysia reaffirms its support for the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA), which aims to prevent the misuse and proliferation of small arms. We hope that the PoA will be fully implemented by all States, as it serves as a roadmap for the international community in this field.

 

3.     The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW) poses a serious threat to international peace and security. This issue requires a holistic arms control and disarmament approach, taking into account such aspects as post-conflict peace-building, conflict prevention and socio-economic development.

 

4.     Malaysia calls upon all Member States, through the United Nations framework, to play a larger role in curbing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Although the Programme of Action is not legally binding, it does provide the international community with helpful guidelines and parameters in addressing relevant challenges.

 

5.     Malaysia is deeply concerned over the illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of SALW and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world. At the national level, Malaysia has put in place stringent laws, administrative procedures and regulations to ensure effective control over the production of SALW, as well as the export, import, transit and re-transfer of such weapons.

 

6.    Malaysia has undertaken several initiatives to enhance our collaboration with INTERPOL and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in building capacity in marking, as well as record-keeping and tracing, at national, regional and international fora.

 

7.     Malaysia calls on all States, in particular major arms-producing States, to ensure that the supply of SALW is limited only to governments or to entities duly authorised by governments, and to implement legal restrictions and prohibitions preventing the illicit trade in SALW.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

8.     In closing, my delegation wishes to reiterate Malaysia’s continued support towards our collective efforts in the implementation of the POA.

 

Thank you.