KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has officially submitted its candidacy to rejoin the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member for the 2036-2037 term.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said Malaysia will continue to make UNSC reform, chief among them the abolition of the veto, along with global peace and security, a top priority in its foreign policy.
He added that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will reaffirm Malaysia's stance during the National Statement at the 81st UN General Assembly Debate in New York this September.
"Malaysia's position is clear: the veto power is unjust and must be abolished. At the very least, its use must be disallowed in cases involving violations of international law, particularly grave offences such as war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, as witnessed in Gaza.
"UNSC reform and global peace and security issues will remain a top priority in Malaysia's foreign policy," he said in response to a question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) during today's question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.
Sh Mohmed Puzi had sought clarification on Malaysia's position regarding the disproportionate veto power wielded by major nations within the UNSC.
Lukanisman said Malaysia's voice at the UN is not mere rhetoric, but is backed by its strong track record and credibility as a non-permanent member of the UNSC on four separate occasions.
He added that Malaysia has proposed limiting the use of the veto power if its complete abolition cannot be achieved.
Malaysia also supports the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent UNSC membership, he said, to ensure fairer representation for every region and to reflect the current geopolitical realities.
Lukanisman noted that Malaysia had voted in favour of UN General Assembly Resolution 76/262 in 2022, which mandates that the General Assembly must automatically convene within 10 working days whenever a veto is exercised by a UNSC permanent member.
"This approach has already been put into practice. For instance, an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly was convened on April 16, following the use of the veto by China and Russia at the UN Security Council on April 7, regarding the resolution on the situation in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz," he said. - Bernama
