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 STATEMENT BY

COLONEL SHAMSURI NOORDIN

MILITARY ADVISER

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

AT THE SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE (FOURTH COMMITTEE) OF THE 80^th SESSION OF THE

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

AGENDA ITEM 51:

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE WHOLE QUESTION

OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN

ALL THEIR ASPECTS

 

 

 

Mr. Chair,                                   

 

Malaysia aligns itself with the statements delivered by Morocco and Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), respectively.

 

2.     Malaysia has always been a strong supporter of UN peace operations. Since our first involvement in UN peacekeeping in 1960, Malaysia has taken part in over 38 peacekeeping operations and deployed around 40,000 peacekeepers from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP).  Currently, 859 Malaysian peacekeepers are serving in various UN missions.  11 per cent of them are women.

 

3.       In our efforts to ensure peacekeeping operations remain agile and adaptable to confront current and emerging challenges, we must stay focused on our main objective, which is restoring and maintaining peace through political solutions. Moving forward, it is important to ensure that missions can contribute to creating conditions that support a political resolution to armed conflict.

 

4.     In this context, Malaysia welcomes Action 21 of the Pact for the Future, which outlines political commitments for peace operations, to better respond to existing challenges and new realities. It also reaffirms that peace operations are critical tools for maintaining international peace and security.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

5.     We remain deeply concerned about the UN’s liquidity constraints, which could undermine the sustainability and effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. We strongly believe that assessed contributions must be paid in full and on time to ensure the continuity and success of peace operations.  In our endeavour to ensure the sustained relevance and effectiveness of peacekeeping missions, Malaysia wishes to underline four points:

 

i)      First, the safety and security of UN peacekeepers in conflict zones are paramount. Malaysia is deeply concerned about the threats and attacks faced by the peacekeepers. We emphasise that peacekeeping missions must be supported with adequate resources to fulfil their mandates effectively. We must ensure the continued safety and security of UN peacekeepers to allow them to carry out their mandate effectively. This is non-negotiable. All stakeholders, including the Security Council, share responsibility for the morale, safety, and security of peacekeepers, and their well-being must remain an utmost priority. 

 

ii)     Second, Malaysia strongly believes in the critical role of training in strengthening the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping. We place particular emphasis on enhancing interoperability and knowledge sharing, as well as improving the safety and performance of peacekeepers in the field. In support of our international and regional peacekeeping commitments, Malaysia established the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC) in Port Dickson in 1996 to provide comprehensive pre-deployment and specialised training for personnel prior to their deployment to UN missions. Notably, on 1 October 2025, the MPC received Training Recognition Certification from the Integrated Training Service (ITS) of the Department of Peace Operations, affirming that its training programmes are fully aligned with United Nations standards.

 

iii)    Third, enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeepers requires equipping them with technologically advanced equipment and weaponry. The strategic integration of cutting-edge technology into peacekeeping operations serves as a strong deterrent against hostile actors. At the same time, institutional frameworks and policies must evolve in tandem with these technological advancements.

 

iv)    Fourth, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda must continue to be advanced. In line with the Mid-Term Review of the Malaysia Defence White Paper, Malaysia will continue to support the United Nations WPS Agenda by increasing the participation of female personnel as peacekeepers in current and future missions. The involvement of women peacekeepers enhances engagement and confidence-building with local communities, particularly women and children, thereby strengthening the overall impact of the mission.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

9. Given the evolving realities and emerging challenges, peacekeeping missions must be continuously adapted to ensure that peacekeepers are able to implement their mandates effectively. This calls for personnel to be equipped with the requisite skills, training, and equipment, and to have clearly defined mandates. At the same time, greater strategic efforts are needed to enhance the legitimacy of peacekeeping missions and to counter disinformation and hate speech that may undermine their work and credibility.

 

10. In conclusion, Malaysia reaffirms its steadfast support for efforts to strengthen United Nations peacekeeping operations. We owe it to ourselves, our peacekeepers, and the populations we serve to ensure that UN peacekeeping remains effective, adaptive, and able to respond to both current and emerging challenges.