Malaysia, 2005

Malaysia, as the Chairman

of the Non-Aligned Movement and in its own name,

wishes to convey our congratulations to you, Sir, on

your election as the President of the General Assembly

at its sixtieth session. I am confident that, under your

able stewardship, the work of the Assembly will reach

a successful conclusion. I wish to assure you of the

fullest cooperation of the Non-Aligned Movement and

of the Malaysian delegation.

Let me also pay tribute to your predecessor,

Mr. Jean Ping, for his dedication and for the successful

manner in which he conducted the work of the General

Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, which was an

exceptionally challenging one. The consultations and

negotiations led to the successful adoption of the final

outcome document at the world summit last Friday.

Six decades ago, the peoples of the world,

including those under oppression and colonialism,

celebrated the creation of the United Nations. The

United Nations, as envisaged by its founders, was a

beacon of hope for the world following the death and

destruction wrought by the Second World War.

Malaysia fully and consistently subscribes to the

centrality of the United Nations and thus to the

multilateral principles which have allowed the

evolution of an international order predicated on rule-

based interaction among States, thus creating a

predictable and stable international environment.

Without multilateralism, small or weak States could

not hope for a democratic international order within

which they could aspire to independence, peace and

stability, development and prosperity.

Today, even as we meet here, multilateralism has

come under increasing threat. We believe that attempts

to unilaterally rewrite or redefine the normative

framework is a dangerous experiment. Without the

stabilizing effect of such a framework, we would only

create uncertainty and confusion in the international

order.

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The challenge confronting humankind in our time

is to address, comprehensively and collectively, the

multifaceted threats to our survival and well-being in

the areas of peace and security, poverty and

development, human rights and democracy.

In that regard, the outcome document has sought

to give a fresh lease on life to multilateralism, both in

substance and in structure. As we continue our

discussions to reshape and redirect the Organization,

we must ensure that the General Assembly remains the

true embodiment of the will of the world community.

All of us must be committed to strengthening the

General Assembly so that it reflects the true voice of

democracy, transparency and accountability. At this

juncture, let me voice Malaysia’s support for the

checklist of items to be implemented during the current

session, as mapped out by the Secretary-General in his

address last Saturday. I hope that, by the time we meet

again next year, the Secretary-General’s report will be

able to illustrate a marked improvement in the world

situation, in particular towards achieving the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 and

the greater efficiency and effectiveness of the

Secretariat.

Driven by a common sense of purpose and

determined political will, we must operationalize the

commitments we have undertaken at the major United

Nations conferences and summits of recent years. Our

words must be matched by our actions. This must

represent the beginning of the collective redoubling of

efforts that is necessary to secure a more peaceful and

just world. Where we had been unable to push the

agenda on certain issues, we must now pursue them as

part of an ongoing process in the reform of the United

Nations. Where efforts to reach agreement have failed

altogether, such as on the issue of disarmament and

non-proliferation, we must now focus our energies in

order to keep the issues alive until we achieve

consensus.

Malaysia is disappointed by the absence of any

reference to disarmament and non-proliferation in the

outcome document. I hope that this is not construed as

a loss of interest by the international community or as

an indication that it has since fallen off our radar of

concern. Our collective call for nuclear-weapon States

to effect complete and general disarmament as well as

to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

must not be compromised.

It is indeed regrettable that the 2005 Review

Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) earlier this

year failed. That failure will intensify the adverse

repercussions on the disarmament regime,

painstakingly negotiated since the end of the Second

World War. We must therefore, at this session, reiterate

and, indeed, reaffirm the importance of the full and

non-selective implementation of the three pillars of the

Non-Proliferation Treaty, namely: nuclear

disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the

peaceful use of nuclear technology.

We must also rededicate our efforts towards the

total elimination of all weapons of mass destruction.

The world spent an estimated $1 trillion on global

military expenditures last year. Doubtless, much of that

went to strengthening the military arsenals of States

that feel constantly under threat; yet some of that must

also have been contributed by terrorists purchasing

arms for their condemnable acts. The sale of small

arms and light weapons has wrought untold suffering

on unsuspecting peoples everywhere. The international

community must collectively call on States to divert

such military spending to achieving the Millennium

Development Goals and to strengthening the

development infrastructure. This would go far towards

creating a just and equitable order, which in turn would

lead to a safer world.

Since the adoption of the MDGs five years ago,

the burdens and obstacles faced by developing

countries seem to have increased, with almost no

amelioration of the problems that already existed at the

time. Eight years ago, East Asia was battered by a

financial crisis, which in turn had trans-regional

repercussions, adversely affecting the health of the

global economy. Appeals by developing countries to

reform the international financial architecture fell on

deaf ears. As a result, the international financial

architecture continues to be vulnerable to similar

crises.

Now, even as that and other equally important

problems remain unresolved, we are faced with yet

another threat — a prolonged and sustained increase in

oil prices, which, even as we speak, threatens to

imperil the global economy. Continuous increases in

oil prices are placing a disproportionate burden on

developing countries, thereby impoverishing them even

further. It is morally reprehensible that the poor are

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expected to absorb the cost of instabilities of

production. In many quarters of the global community,

the unbridled free market in particular is viewed as

rapacious and unfeeling.

If the United Nations is to remain relevant to the

world at large, it must be able to discuss and decide on

precisely issues such as these, which not only have an

impact on our day-to-day lives but also have long-term

implications, including for peace and security. If wars

in the past were fought over ideology, conflicts in the

future will be due to competition for markets and

scarce natural resources, blurring the lines between

economics, development and security. Accordingly, the

United Nations must be prepared to address the

interrelated and cross-cutting issues that give rise to

such conflicts.

Globalization, with its myriad challenges and

opportunities, has left many in the developing

countries unable to compete in an open and free-market

system. Following the current trajectory, the

international economic system will continue to remain

unjust, punishing the poor for being unable to

influence, much less dictate, their destinies. Much

remains to be done to equalize the field between the

rich and the rest. Aid and debt cancellation, while they

are welcome and reduce the burden on developing

countries, have in the long term only limited effect. It

is trade that needs to be expanded and made more fair

and equitable. We must press ahead towards a

universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory, fair

and equitable multilateral trading system. It is widely

recognized that trade has a multiplier effect and is able

to lift poor communities towards becoming self-

sustaining ones. Trade can create competitive markets

that benefit all.

Malaysia condemns all acts, methods and

practices of terrorism. As terrorism is a global

phenomenon that transcends national boundaries,

fighting terrorism demands effective international

action in accordance with the Charter and universally

recognized principles of international relations and

international law.

In countering terrorism, the use of conventional

military force alone is insufficient. To truly address the

scourge and prevent its re-emergence elsewhere over

time, we must deal with the root causes of terrorism in

order to provide a lasting solution that will deny those

committing such acts of violence sympathy and keep

them from gaining new recruits. While countering their

actions, we must at the same time win the hearts and

minds of the people in order to ensure that our victory

will not be short-lived.

No one group acting alone will be able to achieve

total success. Clearly, success requires a sense of

common purpose. The portrayal of any particular

grouping of peoples as fanatical terrorists led by a

religion of war is, therefore, irresponsible and would

derail any attempt at forging a common and united

front against terrorism. It is our collective duty to

respond effectively to the legitimate grievances of

affected communities, wherever they may be, so as to

overcome their feelings of marginalization,

deprivation, oppression and injustice. The international

community as a whole must take a stand to stop actions

that contribute directly or indirectly to the perpetuation

of injustice, oppression or aggression.

Misunderstanding and fear of “the other” must be

replaced by respect, dialogue, understanding and

tolerance. In this context, we can build a universal

culture that respects diversity so that goodwill and

harmony can thrive.

The interests and concerns of minority groups

must not be sidelined in favour of the majority.

Minorities too have rights that must be protected by

their Government. Over time, the grievances of

minority groups over their being sidelined will

necessarily seek an outlet.

There is a national as well as an international

dimension to the issue of peaceful and cooperative co-

existence. Understanding and respect between

religions, cultures and civilizations become necessary

prerequisites for dialogue and the avoidance of

conflicts. If Governments can succeed in instituting a

culture of tolerance and moderation among people at

the domestic level, it will become easier for nation

States to cooperate in promoting tolerance and

moderation among nationalities and cultures at the

international level. We must institute the precepts of

justice, respect and understanding in our day-to-day

dealings. This would, in turn, lead to fairness, goodwill

and harmony in our relations.

The ideas of good governance, democracy and

accountability to God and our peoples are not

antithetical to Islam. They are clearly embodied in the

Koran and the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed.

For our own part in Malaysia, we believe that the

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obligation to act based on religious imperatives can be

directed towards good, progress and development. We

call this approach Islam Hadhari, literally civilizational

Islam, which is an approach towards a progressive and

humanistic civilization that is consistent with the

objective of creating a stable international world order.

The approach that Malaysia has taken emphasizes

that progress, development, knowledge and good

governance as enshrined in the teachings of Islam, are

compatible with modernity and yet are firmly rooted in

the ethical, moral and universal values that will

guarantee the future of humankind. It is an approach

that values substance over form and promotes tolerance

and understanding, moderation and peace, and

certainly, enlightenment.

In our preoccupation with the reform of the

United Nations, we must not lose sight of the need to

address and resolve, on a priority basis, one of the most

important outstanding issues confronting this

Organization: the question of Palestine. While we all

welcome the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, it should be

part of the Road Map and should be quickly followed

by similar measures in the West Bank. The issue of

settlements must not be left unresolved, including in

and around Jerusalem, as well as the construction of

the Separation Wall, which has already been

pronounced illegal by the International Court of

Justice. Such activities must cease forthwith. The

international community, particularly the United

Nations, must continue to remain engaged with this

issue until the goal of an independent and sovereign

State of Palestine is realized.

Rich or poor, strong or weak, whatever our

religion or belief, one fact is inescapable: we inhabit

one world, our global village. Sixty years ago, the

founders of our universal Organization came together

after witnessing horrors hitherto unimaginable and said

that never again could human life be so wantonly

extinguished. They also proclaimed that humankind

would forevermore work and live together in peace,

harmony and common respect. On this historic

occasion, my plea is that we return to those hopes and

ideals.