KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Malaysia has officially submitted its candidacy to rejoin the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member for the 2036–2037 term.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said Malaysia would continue to prioritise reforms to the UNSC, particularly the abolition of the veto power, as well as issues related to global peace and security in its foreign policy.
He added that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan would reaffirm Malaysia’s position during the national statement at the 81st United Nations General Assembly debate in New York this September.
“Malaysia’s position is clear: the veto power is unjust and must be abolished. At the very least, its use must be prohibited in cases involving violations of international law, particularly serious offences such as war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, as witnessed in Gaza.
“UNSC reform and issues concerning global peace and security will remain among the top priorities of Malaysia’s foreign policy,” he said in response to a question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) during today’s question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.
Sh Mohmed Puzi had sought clarification on Malaysia’s position regarding the disproportionate veto powers exercised by major nations within the UNSC.
Lukanisman said Malaysia's voice at the UN is not mere rhetoric, but is backed by its strong track record and credibility as a non-permanent member of the UNSC on four separate occasions.
He added that Malaysia has proposed limiting the use of the veto power if its complete abolition cannot be achieved.
Malaysia also supports the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent UNSC membership, he said, to ensure fairer representation for every region and to reflect the current geopolitical realities.
Lukanisman noted that Malaysia had voted in favour of UN General Assembly Resolution 76/262 in 2022, which mandates that the General Assembly must automatically convene within 10 working days whenever a veto is exercised by a UNSC permanent member.
"This approach has already been put into practice. For instance, an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly was convened on April 16, 2026, following the use of the veto by China and Russia at the UN Security Council on April 7, 2026, regarding the resolution on the situation in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
