STATEMENT BY
HIS EXCELLENCY MR. SHAHRUL IKRAM YAAKOB,
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO
THE UNITED NATIONS
SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE :
“COLLECTIVE ACTION TO IMPROVE UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS”
I thank the Netherlands, as the President of the Security Council, for convening this timely and important debate.
- I also wish to thank the Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Mr. Mousa Faki Mahamat and Mrs. Fatimata Toure for their remarks.
- Malaysia aligns itself with the statement made by the representatives of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and ASEAN respectively.
4. I wish to reaffirm Malaysia’s support for the central role played by the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security through among others, peace keeping operations. That is why Malaysia believes in the reform of the UNPKOs to make it fit for purpose and cost efficient. Malaysia first participated in PKO in 1960 and to date Malaysia is participating in six out of 16 UNPKO contributing nearly 1000 peacekeepers. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the sacrifices of all peacekeepers; to the devoted men and women serving with unwavering dedication and great distinction in our endeavors to keep peace. Some paid the ultimate, with their lives.
5.Malaysia believes that the reform of the UN peacekeeping operationsshould focus on the continuous strengthening and enhancing of the capabilities of its peacekeeping missions. This is to ensure that they remain relevant and, more importantly, effective. In addition to this, efforts also must be geared towardsenhancing the overall performance of peacekeepers through the right training.
- We acknowledge that military, police and civilian personnel deployed in volatile and perilous locations must be equipped with the right aptitude, strong survival skills and unquestionable competency. This is due to the more comprehensive peacekeeping mandates which encompasses the necessity to protect civilians, address sexual violence and overcoming human right challenges. We believe that a common module of training prior to their deployment is vital for the safety and security of our peacekeepers.
- Each peacekeeping mission is unique and distinct. Therefore, we need to take into account various challenges on the ground such as the mission’s components; environment; equipment as well as coordination among various stakeholders, in our collective efforts to enhance the overall peacekeeping operations effectiveness.
8.In light of this, Malaysia also believes that it is important to also strengthen the cooperation between the UN peacekeeping operations with regional and sub-regional organizations as well asactive participation of host country. In the context of the peacekeeping missions in Africa, Malaysia welcomes the African Union’s resolve in taking up a more prominent leadership role in increasing and enhancing its peacekeeping capabilities among its members. We are of the view that the African Union would have a better understanding of their own security challenges, than anyone else.
9.To conclude, Malaysia reaffirms its supporttowards enhancing and strengthening the UN peacekeeping missions. We reiterate our full cooperation with all stakeholders, because we sincerely believe that only by working together, we can ensure that all peacekeeping missions are fit for purpose and cost-efficient.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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