STATEMENT BY

MR. AHMAD GHAZALI MUHAMAD NADZRI

COUNSELLOR

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

ON AGENDA ITEM 13:

                                                                                                                                   

Mr. President,

 

1. Malaysia extends its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the reports prepared pursuant to Article 319 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS). Malaysia trusts that the reports and the details contained therein warrant the attention, collective deliberation and coordinated action of all States Parties to address the issues pertinent to ocean affairs.

 

2. Malaysia is confident that this avenue serves as an ideal platform for States Parties to have discourse on issues related to sustainable and responsible means for ocean management, where the lives of the multitudes rely upon significantly for sustenance.

 

Mr. President,

 

3. The adverse effects of climate change are impacting every nation, big or small, none is shielded from it. The increase in ocean temperature, the changes in its acidity and the rise in sea level are alarming. For Malaysia, we have the challenge manage, mitigate and minimise the negative impacts arising from climate change and also most importantly from pollution especially vessel sourced pollution.

 

4. Cognisant of its responsibilities and international obligations, Malaysia formulated its National Climate Change Policy 2.0 to address climate change challenges, ocean-related included. It outlines our national policy to scale up ocean-based mitigation action by strengthening protection, conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrass beds. This would serve as a means for Malaysia to increase its capacity of carbon sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

 

5. Furthermore, Malaysia also recognizes that it can unlock the potential of blue economy by strengthening the governance of coastal and marine areas. This would allow Malaysia to move towards integrated, effective and sustainable management of ocean resources.

 

Mr. President,

 

6. With its strategic geographical position, Malaysia benefits greatly from the robust maritime transport activities in its waters. As such, nothing matters more than maritime safety and security to Malaysia. For instance, Malaysia, through the Cooperative Mechanism for the Straits of Malacca, has been collaborating with littoral states, user states and the shipping industry under the IMO’s Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes initiatives to enhance maritime safety and environmental protection.

 

7. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have been working closely since 2004 under a cooperative arrangement named Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP). The MSP aims to ensure the security of maritime areas along the Straits of Malacca, one of the important and busiest maritime routes in the world. With this arrangement in place, the security and safety of the maritime areas concerned are secured. This is another testament to Malaysia’s commitment and determination in safeguarding international security and trade interests.

 

8. Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines established the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA) in 2017 to address security challenges in the Celebes Sea and Sulu Sea. It is an effective framework, significantly reducing illicit activities in designated Areas of Maritime Interest (AMI). Notably, there have been no reported kidnap-for-ransom incidents within the AMI since 2021. This success has contributed meaningfully to increased economic activity and strengthened people-to-people engagement in the region.

 

Mr. President,

 

9. Freedom of navigation as enshrined under the 1982 UNCLOS is also a fundamental principle of customary international law. Being  located in strategic waterways, Malaysian understands this fully. Therefore, Malaysia strongly denounces the act of interdicting and attacking the Madleen in international waters. The vessel was on its noble mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians in Gaza, only to find itself and the personnel onboard forcibly interrupted, illegally abducted and unjustifiably detained by Israel.

 

10. As a State Party to the 1982 UNCLOS, Malaysia is consistently adhering to the spirit of the instrument and abiding by the law as set out under the Constitution for the Oceans. As a responsible IMO member state, which Malaysia is seeking reelection this year in Category C, Malaysia has also been earnestly discharging its obligation and duty in strengthening navigational safety and safeguarding freedom of navigation.

 

Mr. President,

 

11. Malaysia will end its statement by urging the States Parties to contemplate upon our collective responsibilities to protect and preserve the ocean, upon which our survival depends. States must also continue to maintain our seas as the sea of perpetual peace and prosperity, for us and posterity.

 

Thank you Mr. President.