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STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR DR. AHMAD FAISAL MUHAMAD,

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA

AT THE

SECURITY COUNCIL HIGH-LEVEL OPEN DEBATE

ADVANCING ADAPTABILITY IN UN PEACE OPERATIONS – RESPONDING

TO NEW REALITIES

24 MARCH 2025

 

President,

 

Thank you for convening this Open Debate.

 

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, 876 Malaysian peacekeepers are serving in various UN missions.  11 percent 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 that 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.

 

President,

 

5.         The core principles of UN Peacekeeping – consent of the parties, impartiality, and the non-use of force except in self-defence or to protect the mandate – remain crucial and must be upheld. We call for strict adherence to the UN Charter in establishing new peacekeeping missions or extending the operations of existing ones. We also urge caution against overly ambitious mandates. We ask the Security Council to ensure peace operations are guided by political strategies and have clear, achievable, and prioritized mandates.

 

6.         Furthermore, the safety and security of UN peacekeepers in conflict zones are paramount. Malaysia is deeply concerned about the threats and attacks on peacekeepers in various missions, including UNIFIL.  All stakeholders, including the Security Council, share the responsibility to guarantee peacekeepers' safety and well-being, which must remain a top priority.

 

7.         Malaysia also wishes to underline the importance of enhanced cooperation and partnerships between the UN, regional and sub-regional organisations, and host states in efforts to enhance adaptability of peacekeeping operations, in line with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter. 

 

8.         Malaysia strongly believes in the critical role of training, especially those focussing on enhancing interoperability, sharing knowledge, and improving the safety and effectiveness of peacekeepers. In addition, capacity building, and the provision of specialized equipment are essential. 

 

 

9.         Women peacekeepers contribute significantly to the effectiveness and success of missions, including through community engagement and civilian protection. Malaysia strongly supports the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, which advocates for the equal participation of women in peace processes.

 

President,

 

10.       Malaysia welcomes the independent study commissioned by the UN Department of Peace Operations entitled The Future of Peacekeeping, New Models, and Related Capabilities. We look forward to further discussing the publication of this study at the upcoming UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Berlin in May.

 

11.       In conclusion, Malaysia firmly believes that the UN peacekeeping operations are essential components to the UN’s overall role in the maintenance of global peace and stability. The collaboration among the UN Security Council, the Secretariat, host countries, and troop- and police-contributing nations must be rooted in the principles of partnership and collective responsibility. Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

 

I thank you.