Malaysia plays "constructive role" as non-permanent Security Council Member

Since Malaysia joined the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member nearly 18 months ago - its two-year term as a non-permanent member in the UNSC expires at the end of the current year -- the country has played a "constructive role" within that body on key issues in world affairs.

The composition of the UNSC includes 10 non-permanent and five permanent members.

"Malaysia has played a constructive role in the Security Council when it comes to key world issues," emphasised Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim, Malaysia's permanent representative to the UN, in an interview with Bernama at his office.

Also present at the interview were two senior Malaysian diplomats, Datuk Raja Reza Raja Zaib Shah, the deputy permanent representative, and Johan Ariff Abdul Razak, the Malaysian mission's political coordinator.

"The feedback we get from UN diplomatic circles is that Malaysia, despite being a small country, is perceived as a serious player in world affairs because its position is based on principles," said Ramlan, adding that this had enhanced Malaysia's credibility.

In context of the Palestinian struggle, for example, Malaysia had equally criticised violence by non-state actors and even by Palestinians as much as it had condemned excesses by Israeli armed forces against Palestinians.

Malaysia's "principled position" was also evident when it recently, under Egypt's presidency of the UNSC, organised together with Angola, Egypt, Senegal and Venezuela, an Arria-formula meeting on protection of Palestinian civilian population.

Arria-formula meetings, named after former ambassador Diego Arria of Venezuela, the initiator of such meetings in 1992, are informal, confidential gatherings that allow Security Council members to meet on a specific topic and hear from people who normally would not have the opportunity to speak at regular meetings or consultations of the Council.

However, the UN has also recently drawn flak because of the conduct of some of its peacekeepers doing duty in a number of countries affected by armed conflict.

The United Nations has faced outrage and condemnation over allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers and foreign forces deployed in the Central African Republic.

Malaysia, according to Ramlan, has enjoyed respect from the international community also because of its contribution in peacekeeping efforts.

Malaysian "blue helmets", as UN peacekeepers are called, also do duty in the service of the UN in various countries.

Of the total of 890 Malaysian "blue helmets", some 800 are stationed in Lebanon while some are stationed in Morocco, Western Sahara, South Sudan, etc. Malaysian peacekeepers have been praised for their "dedicated service and professionalism".

Ramlan said Malaysia was also "working hard" for its forthcoming presidency of the UNSC in August.

This will, incidentally, be Malaysia's second one-month long presidency; it held the UNSC presidency last year.

As was the case during its first one-month long presidency last year, Malaysia will also raise the issue of Children in Armed Conflict dwelling on the Secretary General's report - the "centerpiece" - on the subject.

"My team and I are currently pre-occupied with preparing for Malaysia's final Security Council presidency in August. Besides the issue of Children in Armed Conflict, we may also include issues such as the situation in Haiti, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Central Asia, etc. We are also mulling over the possibility of having another event on Palestine.

"There is respect for Malaysia...people saw how we engaged with the Russians over the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight in Eastern Ukraine (in 2014), and how we maintained a well-balanced, pragmatic relationship with Russians, Ukrainians, Americans, Chinese, etc.

"The US was surprised because they had expected us to take confrontational position and they have realised that we are not afraid to take principled positions," said Ramlan.