STATEMENT BY
MR. SHIVANAND SIVAMOHAN
FIRST SECRETARY
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
THEMATIC DEBATE ON OTHER DISARMAMENT MEASURES
FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 79TH SESSION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 25 OCTOBER 2024
Madam Chair,
Malaysia associates itself with the statements by Indonesia, on behalf of NAM, and by Thailand, on behalf of ASEAN.
- The prevalence of information and communication technologies in contemporary society, and the accelerating pace of developments in this field, pose unprecedented opportunities and challenges for the global community. Multilateral cooperation is essential in governing the conduct of States and other relevant actors, premised on international law as well as voluntary, non-binding norms. We must work together to combat the malicious use of ICTs, which often has cross-border implications and may threaten international peace and security.
- Malaysia is heartened by the progress made under the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Security of and in the Use of ICTs (2021-2025), including the adoption of its Third Annual Progress Report by consensus earlier this year. Of particular importance in the final phase of the OEWG’s work will be the topic of regular institutional dialogue, and more specifically, elements of the permanent mechanism which will succeed the OEWG upon the conclusion of its mandate.
- We believe that Annex C to the third APR provides a helpful basis for further deliberations in this regard. Importantly, this stipulates that the permanent mechanism “would take as the foundation of its work the consensus agreements on the framework of responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs from previous OEWG and GGE reports”. We must guard against the risk of fragmentation, either in the substantive framework itself, or in the process through which it is articulated, clarified and further developed.
- My delegation is pleased that, at the present session of the First Committee, we have not witnessed the tabling of competing proposals on ICT security, a phenomenon which has posed complications in previous years. It is our fervent hope that Member States will pursue constructive dialogue in the OEWG in the months ahead, with a view to building a single-track, State-led, permanent mechanism under the auspices of the UN. It is imperative that States - especially from the developing world - are afforded an inclusive platform for sustained engagement in the evolving cybersecurity discourse.
- We also look forward to the steady operationalisation of initiatives already established through the OEWG, such as the global intergovernmental points of contact directory, drawing on related experience at the regional and national levels.
Madam Chair,
- In our own region, Malaysia will continue working with fellow ASEAN Member States to strengthen cyber security, including through the recently launched ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). This body will play an integral role in enhancing coordination, improving threat intelligence sharing and building the requisite capabilities for the region to detect, defend against, respond to, and recover from, ICT incidents.
- In addition, the ASEAN Norms Implementation Checklist provides a set of actions that States may consider vis-à-vis implementation of the voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs, in line with their respective national priorities and capacities. Malaysia played an active role in the development of this Checklist, as well as preparatory work under ASEAN Regional Action Plan (RAP) Matrix on the Implementation of Norms.
- As ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia is committed to leading efforts that enhance our collective cybersecurity resilience against evolving threats. Our ASEAN Chairmanship theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, reflects the vision of a region in which the benefits of the digital era are shared equitably, and where steps are continually taken to realise and maintain an ICT environment embodying trust, security and innovation.
Thank you.