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STATEMENT BY

COLONEL SHAMSURI NOORDIN

MILITARY ADVISER

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

FOR THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 2025 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

 

 

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 takes immense pride in its long and illustrious history of contributing to the UN’s peacekeeping operations. Since 1960, Malaysia has been a steadfast participant in over 38 peacekeeping operations, deploying approximately 40,000 peacekeepers from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). This extensive experience, spanning over six decades, is a testament to our unwavering commitment and capability in maintaining international peace and security. Currently, 876 Malaysian peacekeepers serve in five Peacekeeping Operations and one Special Political Mission. Our most significant concentration of peacekeepers is serving in South Lebanon under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). On the same note, we are delighted to continue our co-deployment with Brunei Darussalam, whereby 30 personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces are embedded with their Malaysian counterparts in Lebanon.

 

3.      The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) plays a pivotal role in the United Nations system. It serves as a crucial platform for shaping and strengthening peacekeeping policies. Malaysia recognises the significance of this committee and its role in providing direction and gathering information on all aspects of peacekeeping operations.

 

4.      Malaysia views that a sound method of work is needed to allow the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) to provide clear and specific recommendations and will continue to support the importance of the work of the C-34. Recommendations from the C-34 would be essential to ensuring that peacekeeping missions execute their mandate effectively.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

5.      Malaysia emphasises the importance of enhancing the safety and security of peacekeepers and remains deeply concerned with increased attacks against UN peacekeepers. The continuing indiscriminate attacks, targeting UN personnel and innocent civilian populations, is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and could be considered war crimes. These deplorable actions against peacekeepers are an attack against the UN, the Security Council and the sanctity of the UN Charter. As such, Malaysia strongly condemns the attacks on peacekeepers and calls for an immediate stop to these attacks. We cannot tolerate these actions that threaten the very foundation of our peacekeeping efforts. We pay tribute to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to maintain peace around the globe.

 

6.      Despite our collective efforts to stabilise countries in conflict with the deployment of more peacekeepers, we must continue to ensure the safety and security of our peacekeepers. At the same time, more significant efforts at the strategic level are needed to increase the legitimacy of peacekeeping missions with great concern for the increasing amount of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech directed against United Nations peacekeeping operations, which may negatively impact the missions and peacekeepers.

 

7.      Malaysia stresses that the safety and security of peacekeepers could be significantly improved with better preparedness through quality training and the provision of better equipment. Malaysia strongly believes in the critical role of training in ensuring effective peacekeeping. The Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC) continues to be recognised as a premier training centre in the region. In this context, Malaysian peacekeepers are continually trained in their pre-deployment training including subjects related to Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

 

8.      Malaysia's unwavering commitment to ensuring women's full, effective, and meaningful participation in peacekeeping and peace processes is a source of pride for us. In this regard, Malaysia recently made a significant stride by deploying its largest contingent of women peacekeepers serving under the UN banner in Lebanon, consisting of 85 women personnel and complying with the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS). This milestone showcases our dedication and sets a benchmark for gender equality in peacekeeping missions. With their capability to undertake diverse roles and tasks, women peacekeepers have proven to increase the overall effectiveness of peacekeeping missions.

 

9.      In conclusion, Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to peacekeeping efforts under the United Nations's ambit. We stand ready to continue working with others to strengthen our commitment to international peace and security, and we will not waver in our dedication to this noble cause. We stand ready to engage constructively and look forward to having productive negotiations in this year’s C-34 Substantive Session.

 

Thank you.