STATEMENT BY

MR. SOFIAN AKMAL ABD KARIM

DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

 

Thank you, Vice President,

 

2. Please allow me to start by congratulating Ambassador Tareq Albanai of Kuwait and Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren of the Netherlands on their appointment as the Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the Reform of the Security Council for the current session. We look forward to engage constructively under the able stewardship of both Co-Chairs, over the coming months.

 

Vice President,

 

3. To contribute to this plenary debate, allow me to reiterate the following three points:

 

Question of the veto

 

4. First, on the question of the veto. During his address to the General Assembly in September, my Foreign Minister stressed that we must limit the use of the veto. Until the veto is abolished, it must be strictly regulated. We must challenge it each time the veto is wielded, and there must be a complete prohibition on its use in situation involving mass atrocities.

 

5. Malaysia believes the veto to be an anachronism. It has no place in a modern multilateral architecture.

 

6. In regulating the use of the veto, Malaysia has also proposed that for a veto to be valid, it must be supported by other permanent and non-permanent members of the Council, and endorsed by a simple majority in the General Assembly.

 

Relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly

 

7. Second, on the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly, Malaysia underscores the importance of increased access and participation of non-Council members in the work of the Security Council, to enhance transparency and accountability.

 

8. We commend the implementation of Resolution 76/272 or The Veto Initiative, which has allowed the General Assembly to hold a permanent member of the Council accountable for its decision in casting a veto. For this reason, we will continue to support mechanism that enhances the accountability of the Permanent Members to the wider membership.

 

Expansion of the Membership of the Security Council

 

9. Third, Malaysia supports the expansion of the membership of the Security Council to make it more representative, democratic and accountable. Expansion of membership of the Council would also better reflect the current membership of the UN and the geopolitical realities of the contemporary world. We want to see a Council that truly represents the will and the interests of the whole international community.

 

Vice President,

 

10. Since we become a member of the United Nations, Malaysia has had the privilege of serving as an elected member of the Security Council on four occasions. This is a trust bestowed upon us by Member States that we do not take lightly. We believe that a reformed Security Council will restore the credibility of the Council as the custodian of international peace and security. Malaysia will continue to contribute constructively toward efforts to reform and strengthen the Council.

 

Thank you..