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STATEMENT (1C) : GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE, 5 OCTOBER 2021
STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO
THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE
OF THE 76TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 5 OCTOBER 2021
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Mr. Chairman,
I join others in congratulating you and members of the Bureau on your election. Please be assured of our support in the deliberations of the Committee at this session.
2. Malaysia aligned itself with the statements delivered by Indonesia on behalf of NAM and by Thailand on behalf of ASEAN, respectively.
Mr. Chairman,
3. The world today continues to grapple with numerous security challenges, which are made more complex by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is during this trying time that we have to strongly uphold the principle of multilateralism.
4. It is unfortunate that we still observe sustained modernisation as well as new development of nuclear weapons, as provided for in the military doctrines of some Nuclear Weapon States. In addition, a recent introduction of a new strategic partnership that includes strategic delivery systems with nuclear technology could trigger further an arms race.
5. It is therefore imperative and has become more critical than ever, that we act on nuclear disarmament. The only and absolute guarantee against the existential threat to humanity posed by nuclear weapons is their total elimination.
6. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) remains until today the cornerstone of global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Malaysia hopes that States Parties will reaffirm their obligations and past commitments towards the Treaty at the upcoming 10th NPT Review Conference, and progress effectively towards their implementation.
7. Malaysia welcomes the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on 22 January 2021. The Treaty further strengthens the global norms that nuclear weapons are unacceptable given its catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences. Malaysia looks forward to continue its constructive engagement in the lead up to the First Meeting of States Parties of the TPNW in March 2022.
8. Like others, Malaysia urges the Annex 2 States to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to allow for the Treaty’s entry into force as soon as possible.
Mr. Chairman,
9. Malaysia is committed to safeguarding Southeast Asia as a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. This objective is enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty).
10. Although the SEANWFZ Treaty has been in force for over two decades, its Protocol has yet to be signed by any of the Nuclear Weapon States. Malaysia underscores the urgent need to resolve outstanding matters pertaining to the signing and ratification of the SEANWFZ Protocol at the earliest, in line with the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025.
11. It is also important that ASEAN Member States collectively make progress and reach an agreement on a submission of the biennial SEANWFZ Resolution to the First Committee this year, following the last substantive submission six (6) years ago in 2015.
Mr. Chairman,
12. Malaysia is pleased to inform the Committee that it will be presenting its traditional resolution entitled “Follow-Up to the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons”.
13. With regard to the Korean Peninsula, we stress on the importance of continued peaceful dialogue amongst all concerned parties in order to realise lasting peace and stability of a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.
14. On the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), we hope for the success of diplomacy resulting in a return of concerned parties to the agreement and its subsequent full implementation.
15. Malaysia also maintains its unequivocal commitment to upholding the norms against the existence and use of chemical, biological and radiological weapons.
16. On ICT, Malaysia is of the view that all mechanisms within the UN should continue to be utilised, through which Member States could deliberate various pertinent aspects that include norms-setting, principles, rules as well as legally-binding commitments in cyberspace.
Mr. Chairman,
17. With the mounting complexities of global challenges, we have no choice but to preserve and strengthen all fora under the UN disarmament machinery, namely the First Committee, the Conference on Disarmament and the Disarmament Commission. To this end, Malaysia stands ready to work with all stakeholders towards achieving the global disarmament agenda.
I thank you.