KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue to advocate for the limitation or complete abolition of the veto power to restore international trust and confidence in the credibility and role of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said there is an urgent need to ensure that the UNSC remains relevant and responsive to current global conflicts.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Mohamad Alamin highlighted the necessity for reform within the UNSC, emphasizing that it appears to be failing in implementing any decisions made. He urged for collective efforts with like-minded countries to propose a comprehensive reform of the UNSC, aiming to prevent the arbitrary use of veto power by Permanent Members to protect their own interests and those of their allies.
Mohamad expressed concern that the existing structure of veto power contributes to the UNSC’s inability to fulfill its mandate of maintaining global peace and security. He cited t
he situation in Palestine as an example, advocating for conditional veto power to prevent its use in cases involving genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to supporting a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This stance will be reiterated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the upcoming Extraordinary Joint Summit of Arab and Islamic Countries in Riyadh on November 11, where discussions will focus on Israel’s ongoing attacks against Palestine.
Mohamad further condemned Israel’s actions in Lebanon and Iran, demanding accountability for the killings of Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. He reported that the conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 43,400 Palestinians, including 16,500 children, and injuries to 102,300 others.
Additionally, he mentioned the government’s consideration of a proposal to rename the South China Sea, suggesting alternatives
such as the Southeast Asia Sea or the Malay Sea. He emphasized that any decision must comply with international practices and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.