STATEMENT BY
MR. NIZHAN FARAZ RIZAL
FIRST SECRETARY
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE 66TH PLENARY MEETING OF THE 78TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AGENDA ITEM 63: USE OF THE VETO
8 APRIL 2024, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Mr. President,
My delegation thanks you for convening today’s plenary meeting following the vetoes cast by two permanent members of the Security Council during its meeting on 22 March 2024 under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
Mr. President,
2. Malaysia notes the exercise of the veto on the draft resolution presented by the United States. However, we are pleased to note that the Council was finally able to agree on an unequivocal call for a humanitarian ceasefire with the adoption of Resolution 2728 (2024) several days later. The resolution, spearheaded by the elected members of the Council, responds to the clarion call made by the international community, the Secretary-General as well as UN entities for the past six months since the conflict in Gaza erupted.
3. Regrettably and as seen in previous Security Council resolutions, Israel continues to defy the demands contained in Resolution 2728 (2024) by persisting its aggression in Gaza. It continues to indiscriminately kill Palestinian civilians, women and children alike. It continues to restrict and deny the civilian population of lifesaving humanitarian assistance, to the point that the innocents are being starved to death. It continues to deliberately destroy medical facilities and civilian infrastructures. It has killed at least 196 humanitarian personnel to date, as announced by the UN Secretary General last Friday. It is making all efforts to ensure widespread and complete destruction of Gaza, making nowhere in the tiny strip of land, safe.
4. Israel continues to brazenly violate every facet of international law with utter impunity, especially international humanitarian law and international human rights law. It is trampling on the rule of law, confident that it will not be held to account for its belligerence, due to the persistent paralysis within the Security Council.
Mr. President,
5. Malaysia reiterates its demand for Israel to be compelled to abide by the rule of law. Israel must cease its offensive on Gaza immediately and accept a lasting ceasefire. Israel must also take all measures to guarantee unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza at scale, and stop attacking humanitarian personnel. In addition, the international community must immediately impose a ban on the sale and supply of arms and ammunition to Israel. Financial support for Israel to continue its barbaric aggression must also be terminated now. Punitive measures such as sanctions, visa denials and travel restrictions must be imposed on members of the settler communities, to hold them accountable for their illegal actions and brutal violence.
6. The Security Council must shoulder its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security. The Council must act swiftly, responsibly and decisively, to stop Israel’s unlawful collective punishment of Palestinians, as well as the further erosion of a sovereign Palestinian State. The Council must ensure that Israel abides by its resolutions, and hold Israel to account for defying its provisions.
7. We take this opportunity to reaffirm our utmost support towards the full membership of Palestine to the United Nations. It is high time that this long-overdue recognition be realised.
Mr. President,
8. The veto and its undemocratic nature runs against the very principles that the United Nations was built upon. It has no place in a modern and democratic multilateral architecture. Malaysia maintains its position that the exercise of the veto by permanent members of the Security Council should be regulated to deter it from being used unjustifiably or abused. Its application must be prohibited in situations involving mass atrocity crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. We are also of the view that to be effective and more accountable, the veto should be exercised by at least two of the five permanent members, and supported by three non-permanent members of the Council. This decision must then be supported by the General Assembly with a simple majority vote. However, we maintain that ultimately, the veto needs to be abolished altogether. 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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