STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO
THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE
74TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 14 OCTOBER 2019
Mr. Chairman,
I join others in congratulating you on your election as the Chair of the First Committee. My delegation will extend our full cooperation to you and members of the Bureau in the conduct of the Committee’s work.
2. Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Republic of Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the statement by Thailand on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Mr. Chairman,
3. Malaysia remains concerned over the lack of progress in nuclear disarmament. The nuclear disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation architecture is being strained and pulled apart. The recent termination of the INF Treaty, the possibility that 2010 New START will not be extended beyond its expiry in 2021, and the difficulties and challenges in nuclear disarmament discourse – whether through the NPT context, the Conference on Disarmament, or even this fora- compound the challenges.
4. These continuing drawbacks breed instability and create an environment that is detrimental towards international peace and security. The world is seeing the start of a new arms race with the development and testing of ground-based intermediate-range missiles following the termination of the INF, and pronouncements by its former state parties of further developments of such weapons.
5. There is a need for constructive dialogue between and among all states. All have a responsibility to ensure that the disarmament and arms control architecture is preserved, and nuclear disarmament is advanced. Better conceptualization is needed, with the paradigm of the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons being one which can contribute to better discourse and understanding.
6. Attaining a nuclear-weapon-free-world has been a longstanding desire of the international community since the inaugural UN General Assembly in 1946.
7. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The 2020 Review Conference would be an appropriate avenue to recommit ourselves to the global agenda of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, while promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In this regard, Malaysia supports the call by the Secretary General for Member States to reconcile divergent positions, with a view to advance nuclear disarmament and preserve the disarmament and arms control architecture.
8. Malaysia also believes that it is pertinent that we enhance public awareness and education on the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons, and the urgent need for their total elimination. As such, Malaysia welcomes the commemoration and promotion of 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. In this spirit, Malaysia will continue to work with other like-minded countries to pursue follow-up actions on the General Assembly Resolution on the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of the threat and use of nuclear weapons.
9. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment and unwavering support towards the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and is working towards ratifying the TPNW at the earliest opportunity and contributing towards its early entry into force. Malaysia urges all states to have the same open and focused approach towards TPNW and become Party to the Treaty as a manifestation of our commitment towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Mr. Chairman,
10. The entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT) is fundamental to the systematic progress towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. Malaysia calls upon all States, particularly the Annex 2 States, to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible.
11. Malaysia reiterates that the establishment of nuclear weapon free zones is an integral part of nuclear disarmament and the promotion of regional peace and stability. In this regard, Malaysia will continue to work with other ASEAN Member States to actively pursue the signing and ratification of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Protocol by the nuclear weapon states (NWS), in line with the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025.
12. Malaysia is also supportive of the convening of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction, in November 2019. We call upon all States of the region to actively participate in this Conference to realize the establishment of the Zone.
13. Closer to home, Malaysia expresses its deep concern at the reported launch of a weapons-grade projectile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 2 October 2019 into the sea in close proximity to Japan. This development is counter-productive to confidence building measures and the security of the Korean Peninsula. Malaysia hopes for the resumption of dialogues towards reconciliation and realization of the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Mr. Chairman,
14. Malaysia fully supports the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Malaysia encourages developed countries to promote international cooperation through the transfer of technology, material and equipment for peaceful purposes in this area and for the removal of all discriminatory restrictions that are contrary to the spirit of the CWC.
15. Malaysia supports the efforts by the international community to promote universal adherence to the BWC and compliance with its provisions. In line with Article IV of the Convention, Malaysia is working towards adopting a national Biological Weapons Bill, which would further strengthen our implementation of the BWC.
Mr. Chairman,
16. The world is confronted by cyber threats. The threats are rapidly evolving and increasingly sophisticated. And we recognize the challenges of attribution in the cyber domain are complex. On this note, Malaysia wishes to highlight on the need to develop “Universal Attribution Mechanism”, under the auspices of the United Nations which is recognized by all UN Member States. In coming out with this mechanism, “due diligence” is certainly one of the important elements that should be included to prevent any wrongful attribution.
17. Malaysia remains committed to ratifying and acceding to international treaties governing the use of outer space. In this regard, Malaysia has endorsed its 2030 National Space Policy and has commenced the process of drafting its national outer space legislation. We look forward to collaborating with other Member States as we put our national outer space regulatory framework in place.
18. Malaysia remains deeply concerned over the illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world. Malaysia strongly calls for the full, balanced and effective implementation of the UN Programme of Action (UN PoA) to prevent the illicit spread of these weapons.
19. Malaysia believes that more efforts need to be undertaken to address the issue of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA), and we will be supporting efforts in this regard, including through the formulation on a Political Declaration, as called upon by the Secretary-General.
Mr. Chairman,
20. The threats from all types of weapons are growing, due to technological capability and global connectivity. No single nation can deal with the catastrophic consequences of these potential threats on its own. Given the current political and security environment that we are facing, it is pertinent that we revisit the purposes and principles of the UN Charter to move forward the global disarmament agenda.
21. Any action that ignores the letter and spirit of the Charter and disregards the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, would adversely affect serious and genuine efforts in the field of disarmament. In this regard, Malaysia underlines the vital importance of multilaterally-agreed solutions in addressing disarmament and international security issues.
I thank you.