STATEMENT BY
MR. SOFIAN AKMAL ABD KARIM
DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE 51ST PLENARY MEETING OF THE 78TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSSEMBLY
[ITEM 63] USE OF THE VETO
9 JANUARY 2024, NEW YORK
Mr President,
My delegation and I would like to thank you for convening today’s plenary meeting following the veto cast by a permanent member during the meeting of the Security Council on 22nd December 2023 under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
Mr President,
2. While we welcome the convening of this meeting in pursuant of General Assembly resolution 76/262, we regret the exercise of the veto by a permanent member of the Security Council, which has led to this plenary meeting. The exercise of the veto prevented the adoption of an oral amendment calling for an urgent suspension of hostilities, which was proposed by another permanent member.
3. Malaysia believes that the call for an urgent suspension of hostilities, which had received 10 votes in favour in the Security Council, would have made a significant difference if it was not vetoed. With a Security Council resolution calling for an urgent suspension of hostilities, the killings of innocent Palestinian civilians could have been stopped and more humanitarian aid could have reached those in desperate need.
4. Alas, this did not come to pass due to the absence of unity in the Security Council over the Palestinian question. Unconditional support of a permanent member towards Israel, has once again prevented the Security Council from discharging its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations, leading to further loss of innocent lives on daily basis.
Mr. President,
5. As it stands, the death toll in Gaza has reached more than twenty-two thousand (22,835), out of which about 70 percent are women and children. Tragically, more than 9,600 children have been killed. Many more are maimed and orphaned. At least 79 journalists and media personnel have also died – the highest number recorded in any conflict ever. In addition, 146 UN staff have also been killed. How many more innocent lives – humanitarian and health workers, media personnel, the elderly, women and children, have to die before those opposing a ceasefire in the Security Council, can see that enough is enough?
6. My delegation continues to be appalled over Israel’s continued belligerence in Gaza, with excessive and disproportionate force, showing utter disregard towards its duty to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Hospitals continue to be targeted and there is little protection for health and humanitarian workers.
7. The flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and throughout Gaza continues to be impeded. UN humanitarian agencies have long described the humanitarian condition in Gaza to be dire. Three months into the war, Martin Griffiths, the Head of UNOCHA said that the people of Gaza face “daily threat to their very existence” and Gaza is now “uninhabitable”. He warned that famine is looming and a public health disaster is unfolding in Gaza.
8. 87 percent of the Gaza population that is, 1.9 million of Gazans have been internally displaced, a few times over. For a long time since the war began, there has not been any place that is safe in Gaza. Israel forces have been relentless in bombing the Gaza Strip, including in the south, where it had told Palestinians to evacuate to.
9. We condemn and reject the calls by some Israeli Ministers and legislatures for the Palestinians to be resettled out of Gaza. This brings to mind ethnic cleansing and is a clear violation of international law.
10. Malaysia joins other Member States in calling for the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security. The Council must act responsibly and decisively, to stop Israel’s unlawful collective punishment of the Palestinians.
11. As the war in Gaza rages on, we will soon come to a point where any Security Council’s action would only be too little too late. Let us be clear that, those opposing a ceasefire would be complicit in the genocide of Gazans and have blood on their hands.
Mr. President,
12. The impunity enjoyed by Israel challenges the legitimacy of international law. It also undermines efforts towards a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the conflict in accordance with the two-State solution. In this regard, Malaysia welcomes the decision by South Africa to institute proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”) in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
13. The proceedings against Israel before the ICJ is a timely and tangible step towards legal accountability for Israel’s atrocities and violations of international law in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) at large.
Mr. President,
14. Malaysia holds the position that the exercise of the veto by permanent members of the Security Council should be regulated to prohibit it from being used unjustifiably or abused by permanent members, against the wishes of the majority of Member States. It should not be used in situations involving mass atrocity crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. Malaysia is also of the view that to be effective and more accountable, the veto should be exercised by at least two of the P5 members, and supported by three non-permanent members of the Security Council. The decision then must be supported by the General Assembly with a simple majority vote. However, in the long run, we believe that the veto has no place in a modern and democratic multilateral architecture. Malaysia wishes to reiterate our call for the veto to be abolished.
Mr. President,
15. The veto and its undemocratic nature runs against the very principles that the United Nations was built upon. Malaysia will continue to work constructively with other Member States through the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Security Council reform, towards improving the United Nations to make it more efficient, open, transparent, and inclusive.
I thank you.
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