STATEMENT BY
MR. SOFIAN AKMAL ABD KARIM
DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HIGH-LEVEL OPEN DEBATE
MARITIME SECURITY UNDER THE AGENDA ITEM MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF WATERWAYS IN THE MARITIME DOMAIN
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, 29 APRIL 2026
Mr. President,
1. Malaysia congratulates the Kingdom of Bahrain on assuming the Presidency of the Council for April 2026. We welcome the convening of an open debate on this important and timely topic. We thank the Secretary-General and the briefers for their insights. Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Philippines on behalf of ASEAN.
2. The oceans and maritime routes are the lifelines to global trade, connectivity, and economic development. For Malaysia, as a maritime nation, the safety and security of these waterways are of paramount importance to both regional stability and global prosperity. Recent developments have shown how disruptions in one maritime region can swiftly reverberate across the international system, with far-reaching consequences. Such challenges highlight the reality that no State is immune to their impact.
3. Malaysia underscores that lasting peace, stability, and security at sea must be grounded firmly in international law. In this regard, Malaysia views national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and territorial integrity, as enshrined in the UN Charter and the relevant international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as fundamental to safeguarding regional and global maritime security. No State, whether large or small, should be coerced under any pretext, to cede its sovereignty, sovereign rights, or territory. The principle of sovereign equality must be upheld at all times.
4. Malaysia further reaffirms the importance of maintaining maritime safety and security, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international law, consistent with the UN Charter, and as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and relevant standards and recommended practices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Continued adherence to these international legal instruments and frameworks is essential to addressing evolving threats to international navigation, global trade, and the resilience of supply chains.
5. Malaysia attaches great importance on close and practical cooperation with neighbouring States to safeguard maritime security. In this regard, initiatives such as the Malacca Straits Patrol and the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement exemplify how sustained coordination, real-time information-sharing, and intelligence exchange can deliver tangible results, including a significant reduction in maritime security incidents.
Mr. President,
6. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, Malaysia emphasises the need to further promote and strengthen international cooperation to safeguard maritime safety and security.
7. Any further disruptions to these vital arteries – particularly in situations of conflict and instability – that carry serious implications for global trade, economic stability, and maritime security must be avoided. Malaysia strongly underscores that there should be no disruptions that could have significant implications for trade, regional stability, and the overall security of maritime routes.
8. In conclusion, Malaysia calls on all States to resolve disputes through peaceful means, make avail of diplomacy and dialogue, and to fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
Thank you.