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STATEMENT BY

 

MR. MOHD HAFIZ BIN OTHMAN

MINISTER COUNSELLOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

ON THE DRAFT OUTCOME DOCUMENT OF THE 76^TH IGN ON THE

Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council

 

12 MAY 2022

 

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

 

My delegation wishes to commend your continued efforts in the IGN process. We also thank you for the updated version of the Co-Chairs Elements Paper.

 

Co-Chairs,

 

2.     Many proposals and positions for the Security Council reform have been put forward in the past 13 years. This Co-Chairs Element Paper presents, to our understanding, a good basis to move forward with the text-based negotiations. Although we envisage a more result-oriented draft outcome document, we consider this draft paper a small step in the right direction.

 

3.     With regard to the proposal to discuss the principle or principles of reform, my delegation is of the view that the principle is crystal clear, namely, to create a reformed Security Council that is more democratic, credible, and transparent. We believe that many would agree that this should be our key principle as it captures the interlinkages of all five key clusters of the reform.

 

4.     While it is important to review the elements contained in the paper, my delegation is also of the view that we need to agree on the process first. Process matters. And process also matters to facilitate Member States in bridging differences in a more efficient and orderly manner, including discussing principle(s) and other elements of reform. In this respect, Malaysia has been consistently advocating for a transparent, inclusive, and efficient process in all GA deliberations, which we would like to see in the conduct of the IGN on the Security Council reform.

 

5.     Member States may also recall that the General Assembly decision 62/557 mandated the commencement of intergovernmental negotiations in the informal plenary of the General Assembly, based on proposals by Member States, in good faith with mutual respect and in an open, inclusive, and transparent manner that can garner the widest possible political acceptance by Member States. There are three important elements here that I wish to highlight i) proposal by Member States, ii) inclusive and transparent manner, and iii) widest possible political acceptance. These, in our view, should be the basis to guide Member States in undertaking the reform process.

 

Co-Chairs,

 

6.     Let me conclude by assuring you of Malaysia's commitment to moving this process forward.

 

I thank you.