STATEMENT BY
MR. AZREEY ABU KASIM
REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
THEMATIC DEBATE ON
REGIONAL DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY
FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 80TH SESSION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 28 OCTOBER 2025
Mr. Chair,
Malaysia aligns itself with the statements delivered by NAM and by ASEAN.
- Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, nuclear-weapon-free zones play a key role in preventing proliferation and advancing disarmament.
- My delegation supports continued efforts to strengthen existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and establish new ones. This year, we mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), also known as the Bangkok Treaty. We welcome Timor-Leste’s recent accession to the Treaty.
- As regards the Protocol to the Bangkok Treaty, Malaysia remains committed to constructive engagement with fellow ASEAN Member States and all Nuclear-Weapon States towards resolving all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Treaty. This is vital in ensuring the provision of legally binding negative security assurances by the Nuclear-Weapon States.
- Malaysia also calls on all delegations to support the draft biennial resolution on the Bangkok Treaty, presented by ASEAN in the current session, which reflects the importance of the SEANWFZ to our region.
- Having co-sponsored General Assembly resolution 79/241, Malaysia looks forward to the “comprehensive study of the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones in all its aspects” to be prepared by the qualified group of experts (QGE). We believe the study could make a meaningful contribution to the evolving discourse on this subject, drawing on the experience of different regions.
- Further, Malaysia welcomes progress made under the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction mandated by General Assembly decision 73/546, and the upcoming convening of its sixth session in November. We also underline the imperative of full implementation of the 1995 NPT Resolution on the Middle East.
- Malaysia remains gravely concerned over the situation in the Korean Peninsula, and underscores the urgent need for all concerned parties to resume peaceful dialogue, towards the realisation of lasting peace and stability in a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.
- Realising our shared disarmament goals requires strengthened multilateral action, including through the efforts of relevant regional mechanisms. Malaysia will continue working closely with all partners to this end.
Thank you.
News From Mission