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STATEMENT BY

COLONEL SHAMSURI NOORDIN, DEFENCE ADVISER

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

AT THE FIRST SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP

ON CONVENTIONAL AMMUNITION

NEW YORK, 26 MAY 2022

 

 

Mr. Chair,

 

Malaysia joins other delegations in commending your leadership of this first substantive session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition, and the transparent manner in which you held the preceding informal consultations.

 

2.       My delegation would also like to express our heartfelt condolences to the United States on the brutal shooting at an elementary school in Texas on 24 May 2022, a most senseless tragedy which has reportedly claimed 21 lives.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

3.       Our deliberations over the past few days have allowed for a meaningful exchange of views, and provide a good basis for further efforts towards the elaboration of a set of political commitments as a new global framework that will address existing gaps in through-life ammunition management, in line with UNGA Resolution 76/233. We commend the Chair for having organised expert briefings as well as sessions involving international organisations, regional organisations and non-governmental organisations in an informal mode. This has enabled the articulation of diverse perspectives which may be considered, as appropriate, by Member States in strengthening conventional ammunition management.

 

4.      Malaysia notes the emphasis of the report of the GGE, established pursuant to UNGA Resolution 72/55, on through-life ammunition management in addressing safety risks, involving such issues as unplanned ammunition explosions, as well as security risks, chiefly the risk of diversion to unauthorised users, including criminal and terrorist groups.

 

5.       At the national level, legislative measures such as the Strategic Trade Act 2010 and the Firearms Act 1960 are in place to prevent any misuse of ammunition and explosives in Malaysia. We have also developed an Ammunition and Explosive Regulation in line with the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) of the United Nations to regulate the storage, use and disposal of ammunition and explosives in the military inventory. This regulation has successfully prevented any misuse or incident involving ammunition and explosives in the Malaysian Armed Forces.

 

6.       Our national authorities will consider how best the existing regulations and procedures can be strengthened so as to improve the management of ammunition and explosives, taking into account deliberations in relevant international fora such as the present OEWG.

 

7.       We also join other delegations which have highlighted the role of international cooperation and capacity building, particularly for developing countries, in meeting the challenges at hand.

 

Thank you.