STATEMENT BY
H.E. MR. WAN AZNAINIZAM YUSRI WAN ABDUL RASHID
REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
THEMATIC DEBATE ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS
FIRST COMMITTEE
79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 18 OCTOBER 2024
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Madam Chair,
Malaysia aligns itself with the statements of NAM, ASEAN and TPNW States Parties.
- It is deeply disconcerting that humanity remains subject to the ever-present, existential threat posed by nuclear weapons, despite the horrific consequences the world has experienced from their use and testing.
- Against a backdrop of intensifying conflict, rising nuclear rhetoric is most worrying. This throws into sharp relief the immense destructive capacity of nuclear weapons, a danger which has once again risen to the fore of public consciousness. The vast majority of States, which have solemnly foresworn the nuclear option, are constantly told, by a select few, that their indefinite possession of nuclear weapons is somehow required to maintain international security.
- Are we then to accept this veritable sword of Damocles as a supposed necessity to meet the exigency of our times? Or are we, rather, to acknowledge that the perennial threat of nuclear catastrophe is one which we must consign, immediately and unconditionally, to the annals of history? Surely, basic dictates of conscience and morality, alongside considerations of collective security, impel us to draw the latter conclusion. Malaysia unequivocally condemns any and all nuclear threats, whether explicit or implicit, and irrespective of the circumstances.
- Even as the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture experiences profound strains, the qualitative and quantitative enhancement of nuclear arsenals proceeds unchecked. The expansion of extended nuclear deterrence and nuclear sharing arrangements is also a matter of grave concern.
- In the wake of two successive NPT Review Conferences without a substantive Final Document, the effectiveness and credibility of the Treaty cannot be taken for granted. The global community requires sustained confidence in the “grand bargain” said to underpin the NPT. States Parties must work tirelessly to ensure a meaningful outcome at the 11th Review Conference in 2026, and to achieve the Treaty’s universalisation. Full and effective implementation of NPT obligations and commitments - particularly on the part of the Nuclear-Weapon States - is essential.
Madam Chair,
- The TPNW, a landmark disarmament instrument, is steadily growing in strength. It is a testament to the political will of States and other stakeholders to free us from the long shadow cast by nuclear weapons. TPNW States Parties are committed to advancing the Treaty on the basis of scientific and technical expertise, at all times preserving its credibility as a viable path to nuclear disarmament. Malaysia is pleased to be co-chairing, with New Zealand, the working group on Article 4 of the TPNW.
- Other components of the disarmament regime also need to be strengthened. Malaysia calls on the remaining Annex 2 States to sign and ratify the CTBT, so as to enable the Treaty’s entry into force without further delay. We also recognise the contributions of nuclear-weapon-free zones and the importance of establishing them in regions where they do not currently exist, including the Middle East.
- As a State Party to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty, Malaysia looks forward to continued engagement with all Nuclear-Weapon States, with a view to resolving all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty.
- Let us redouble our efforts, to remove once and for all, the inherent threat which the very existence of nuclear weapons represents. To this end, nothing short of the total elimination of these abhorrent instruments of war will suffice.
- Notions of responsible possession are inadmissible, and can never assuage the pain and suffering of the victims of nuclear weapons, nor the attendant fears of present and future generations. Realising a world free of nuclear weapons remains a pressing imperative, and one which can no longer be deferred.
Thank you.
