STATEMENT BY
MR. SOFIAN AKMAL ABD. KARIM
DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE,
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE PLENARY MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE QUESTION OF EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION ON AND INCREASE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL (IGN)
CLUSTER DEBATE ON WORKING METHODS
27 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK
Thank you Co-Chair,
The debate on Security Council reform within the IGN focuses on five interconnected clusters. All are essential for achieving comprehensive and sustainable reform. The working methods cluster is especially vital due to its potential to transform the Council's functioning, ensuring it is inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable.
Co-Chairs,
For today’s debate, Malaysia wishes to highlight the following three points:
Setting of agenda
First, The Security Council holds the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. As part of this mandate, the Council determines the priority issues that make it onto its agenda. While there are instances where consensus is reached to include a particular issue, there are times when this deliberate on is lacking. This is not always problematic, but the real concern arises when crucial issues – important to the countries involved, specific regions, or particular regional groups – fail to be discussed. More concerning is when the determination of the Council's agenda is subject to the narrow political interests of certain members. It is essential that the Council’s agenda be shaped by the importance of issues to international peace and security, not by the political expediency of a few.
Open meetings
Second, Malaysia supports increasing the frequency of open meetings, where discussions and decisions are made accessible not only to Council members but also to non-members and the public. This encourages transparency and accountability in the Council's work. Additionally, the expanded use of Arria formula meetings provides a valuable and innovative means to include non-Council members in deliberations on critical issues, offering a platform for diverse perspectives. Such practice not only enhance transparency but also foster trust and cooperation between the Council and non-Council members, contributing to a more inclusive and effective decision-making process.
Accountability
Third, Malaysia believes that mandating regular reporting by Council members on their actions and decisions is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability. In this regard, Malaysia commends the Veto Initiative introduced by Liechtenstein, adopted in 2022.
Penholders play an important role in the Security Council's work, guiding the drafting of resolutions, building consensus, and facilitating negotiations among Council members to secure their adoption. Regular reporting on penholder activities is crucial, not only for accountability but also to identify opportunities for collaboration with non-Council members, helping to advance important issues.
Co-Chairs,
Since becoming a member of the UN, Malaysia has had the honor and responsibility of serving as an elected member of the Security Council on four occasions. This role is one we approach with the highest level of commitment, given the significant stakes involved, particularly in safeguarding international peace and security. In this spirit, Malaysia remains committed to contributing constructively to the work of the IGN.
Thank you.
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