Strengthening bilateral ties: Ismail Sabri holding a discussion with Sheikh Mohammed during their meeting at the President’s Residence in Abu Dhabi. — Bernama
ABU DHABI: After proposing that the United Nations undergo transformation, including the abolition of the veto power, Malaysia has another suggestion to boost democracy in the world body.
This time, Malaysia has proposed for all continents to be represented as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the proposal was among issues of international concern which he raised during his meeting with the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan.
“I raised this proposal with Sheikh Mohammed and hope that the UAE will lend its support to Malaysia’s idea,” he told the Malaysian media yesterday.
The UAE has been elected to join the UN Security Council for the term 2022-2023.
At the recent UN General Assembly, Malaysia called for the abolition of veto power at the United Nations, arguing this was consistent with the principle of one country, one vote.
The UN Security Council veto power refers to the power of its five permanent members – China, Russia, France, United Kingdom and United States – to veto any “substantive resolution”.
The veto power has been criticised for its undemocratic nature, as a single country can prevent the security council from taking any action.
Ismail Sabri said he also raised Malaysia’s concern over the situation in Palestine and Myanmar during his meeting with the UAE president.
“I propose that the UAE play an active role in highlighting the issue in an effort to see the problems being resolved,” he added.
At the UN stage last week, the Prime Minister labelled Israel as an apartheid entity and wants action to be taken as expeditiously as when crisis embattled Ukraine.
Malaysia was also disappointed to see the security council not acting on the crisis in Myanmar, where some countries saw it as the body having washed its hands off the issue.
Ismail Sabri also informed Sheikh Mohammed on the establishment of the Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan Chair at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies that will further boost dialogue between Malaysia and the UAE.
He said the setting of the Chair is aimed at promising world peace through research, conferences and international dialogue.
