EXPLANATION OF VOTE BEFORE THE VOTE
BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
CLUSTER 2: OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 77TH SESSION OF
THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 31 OCTOBER 2022
Mr. Chairman,
1. My delegation would like to explain its vote on draft resolution L.55 entitled ‘Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction’, which we thank Poland for tabling.
2. Malaysia reaffirms its condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances. Any use or threat of use of these abhorrent weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is totally unacceptable, and in flagrant contravention of international law, particularly the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
3. As a State Party to the CWC, Malaysia remains firmly committed to the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of the Convention. The CWC is a landmark instrument proscribing a type of WMDs, and its compliance and verification provisions are important in assuring the global community of the effectiveness of the Convention.
4. There cannot be impunity for the re-emergence of chemical weapons, and those responsible must be held to account. This is imperative in preserving the established international norm against the use of chemical weapons.
5. Malaysia reiterates its full support for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as the sole body mandated to undertake investigations with regard to chemical weapons use. The OPCW plays a critical role in ensuring the attainment of the CWC’s overarching objective, viz. ‘to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons.’ The cooperation of all concerned parties is essential in facilitating the impartial and thorough investigation of any incident by the Organisation.
6. We have taken note of the decision adopted during the Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties in June 2018, which empowered the OPCW with an attribution mandate.
7. My delegation nonetheless reiterates that every decision and action taken at the OPCW must remain within the parameters delineated by the provisions of the Convention. It is vital for the OPCW, a technical organisation held in high esteem, to be protected from politicisation or any other extraneous influence in the discharge of its responsibilities.
8. Consistent with our position during previous sessions of the First Committee, Malaysia will abstain from voting on OP.2, OP,3, OP.5 and OP.18 of the present draft.
9. Malaysia further notes the inclusion of the new OP.6 on decision C-26/DEC.10 of the 26th session of the Conference of the States Parties entitled “Understanding Regarding the Aerosolised Use of Central Nervous System-Acting Chemicals for Law Enforcement Purposes” of 1 December 2021. Having supported this decision, my delegation will vote in favour of OP.6.
10. We will also vote in favour of the draft resolution as a whole.
Thank you.