Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has called for the United Nations Security Council’s veto power to be challenged and eventually abolished, arguing that expanding the council’s membership alone would not address its shortcomings.
Speaking during Malaysia’s national statement at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) General Debate in New York on Saturday, Mohamad said all UN member states should strongly question the use of veto powers, particularly in cases involving crimes against humanity.
“The use of veto power must be questioned and challenged as strongly as possible by every member of this General Assembly, especially in cases involving crimes against humanity,” he said.
Mohamad said UN General Assembly Resolution 76/262 had already established an accountability mechanism between the Security Council and the General Assembly.
“We must make full use of this resolution as a platform towards greater accountability over the use of veto power,” he said.
He stressed that the international community must begin efforts to reform the Security Council immediately.
“Expanding the membership of this council alone is not enough to address its failures. It is the veto power that must be challenged, and it is the veto power that must be abolished. We must begin this effort now,” he said.
Mohamad said there was still time to safeguard the global order, while stressing that deadlock within the Security Council should not result in deadlock across the United Nations as a whole.
He also highlighted what he described as a growing deficit of trust in the UN, saying confidence could only be restored through concrete action, including ensuring that international law is upheld and that people around the world continue to believe their voices matter.
The UN Security Council is the UN’s principal body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It comprises 15 members, including five permanent members with veto powers.
Mohamad is in New York from September 23 to 27 to lead Malaysia’s delegation to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
