Malaysia and the United Nations

Malaysia became the 82nd member of the United Nations on 17 September 1957 (when it was then known as the Federation of Malaya).[1] Malaysia has held a rotational non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for four terms, and has participated in over 30 United Nations peacekeeping missions since October 1960.[2]

Malaysia
United Nations membership
MembershipFull member
Since17 September 1957 (1957-09-17)
Former name(s)Federation of Malaya (1957–1963)
Permanent RepresentativeDato' Syed Mohamad Hasrin Aidid

History

Soon after declaring independence on 31 August 1957, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman wrote to the United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld to express Malaya's interest to join the United Nations.[3] On 17 September 1957, the twelfth session of the United Nations General Assembly, presided by Sir Leslie Munroe (New Zealand), unanimously agreed to admit Malaya as its 82nd member through resolution 1134(XII).[4]

Tun Dr. Ismail Abd Rahman was appointed as Malaya and Malaysia's first ambassador to the United States of America, as well as the United Nations – two posts which he held concurrently from 1957 till 1959.[5]

On 16 September 1963, Malaya merged with the former British colonies of Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak to form Malaysia.[6] However, less than two years after the merger, Singapore was expelled from the federation.[7]

Activities

Malaysia is a strong proponent of multilateralism and international cooperation.[8] Malaysia's presence in the United Nations, among others, is to formulate, coordinate, defend and advance Malaysia's positions and interests on all three pillars of the United Nations (Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development).[8]

General Assembly

On 17 September 1996, Razali Ismail was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 51st session.[9] At the time of his election, he was serving as Malaysia's ambassador to Cuba and its High Commissioner to Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.[9] He was the third representative from Southeast Asia to preside over the world body after Dr. Carlos Pena Romulo (the Philippines) and Adam Malik (Indonesia).[10]

Razali Ismail presided the General Assembly’s 51st session from 17 September 1996 to 15 September 1997.[9]

Security Council

Malaysia served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for four terms in 1965 (with Czechoslovakia), 1989–1990, 1999–2000 and 2015–2016.[11] In 2015, Malaysia introduced a draft resolution, calling for the establishment of an international criminal tribunal, in response to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The resolution, however, failed to pass as a result of Russia's veto.[12]

On 23 December 2016, resolution 2334 (2016) sponsored by Malaysia made history as the first resolution adopted by the Security Council on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in eight years.[13] Adopting the resolution with 14 votes in favor, with the United States abstaining, the Security Council reaffirmed that Israel’s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders.[14] The Council also reiterated its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.[14]

Human Rights Council

Malaysia served as a member of the Human Rights Council twice in 2006–2009 and 2010–2013.[15]

Peacekeeping and observer missions

In October 1960, Malaysia deployed its first contingent of 3,500 Malay Special Forces of the then Malayan Armed Forces to the United Nations Operation in the Congo.[2] Since then, Malaysia has participated in over 30 peacekeeping operations with the deployment of over 29,000 peacekeepers from the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Police - a clear manifestation of Malaysia’s strong commitment to shared responsibilities towards the early and peaceful resolution of conflicts.[2]

Malaysia also participated in other UN-mandated missions such as the Protection Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mission in East Timor, Transition Assistance Group in Namibia, International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF), United Nations Transition Assistance Group, Interim Force in Lebanon, Operation in Somalia, and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao.[2]

Malaysia through the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC) is committed to provide training and capacity building on multi-dimensional peacekeeping for international military, police and civilian personnel who will be embarking on UN peacekeeping missions in conflict areas around the world.[2]

Disarmament

Malaysia consistently advocates for the cause of nuclear disarmament in the international fora, and supports all efforts towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.[16]

From 27 April to 22 May 2019, Malaysia, represented by Ambassador Syed Mohamad Hasrin Aidid, chaired the third and final preparatory committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).[17] The NPT has played an invaluable role in the preservation of international peace and security for the past five decades, by preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and imposing a legal obligation on the five Nuclear Weapon States to eliminate their nuclear arsenals, towards a nuclear-weapon-free world.[16]

Malaysia will be chairing Main Committee I on Nuclear Disarmament at the 2020 NPT Review Conference, when it is convened.[16] The Conference, initially scheduled to take place from 27 April until 22 May 2020, has been postponed to a later date in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] 2020 marks the 50th anniversary since the Treaty’s entry into force in 1970, and the 25th anniversary of its indefinite extension in 1995.[16]

Representation

Malaysia has three permanent missions to the United Nations.[18] Ambassador Syed Mohamad Hasrin Aidid heads the Malaysian Mission in New York[19], Ambassador Ahmad Faisal Muhamad heads the Malaysian Mission in Geneva[20], and Ambassador Ganeson Sivagurunathan heads the Malaysian Mission in Vienna[21].

UN Agencies in Malaysia

There are seven UN agencies with a physical presence in Malaysia namely the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations University (UNU) and the World Food Programme (WFP).[22]

Financial contribution

In 2020, Malaysia contributed $9.6 million to the United Nations regular budget and was included in the year's Honour Roll.[23]

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See also

References
  1. "A/RES/1134 (XII) : UN Documents : Security Council Report". www.securitycouncilreport.org. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  2. User, Super. "MALAYSIA - United Nations Security Council (UNSC) - Strengthening the UN Peacekeeping Operations". malaysiaunsc.kln.gov.my. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  3. "SUMBANGAN PERTUBUHAN BANGSA-BANGSA BERSATU (PBB) DALAM PEMBENTUKAN MALAYSIA DAN PENGLIBATAN MALAYSIA DALAM PBB, - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  4. "A/RES/1134 (XII) : UN Documents : Security Council Report". www.securitycouncilreport.org. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  5. "Ismail Abdul Rahman", Wikipedia, 8 February 2020, retrieved 8 May 2020
  6. "Formation of Malaysia". Borneo Post Online. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  7. "Singapore separates from Malaysia and becomes independent - Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  8. "Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations, New York".
  9. "Razali Ismail, President of the 51st session of the UN General Assembly". www.un.org. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  10. "Past Presidents | General Assembly of the United Nations". www.un.org. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  11. "List of Countries Which Have Been Elected Members of the United Nations Security Council since 1946". United Nations. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  12. "Russia vetoes MH17 tribunal at UN". BBC News. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  13. Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "UN Security Council adopts historic resolution on Israeli settlements". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  14. "Israel's Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute Flagrant Violation of International Law, Security Council Reaffirms | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  15. "Malaysia loses bid to get elected to UN Human Rights Council". The Malay Mail. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  16. "MFA Malaysia Press Release: Commemoration of 50th Anniversary of NPT".
  17. "2019 Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference – UNODA". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  18. "MFA Malaysia List of Malaysian Missions".
  19. "Website of the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York".
  20. "Website of the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations in Geneva".
  21. "Website of the Embassy of Malaysia, Vienna".
  22. "United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)". United Nations in Malaysia. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  23. "Contributions received for 2019 for the UN Regular Budget - Committee on Contributions - UN General Assembly". www.un.org. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
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