30 Sept 2020

Press statement by MCA International Communication & Diplomacy Bureau Chairperson Dr Tee Ching Seng

Malaysia 46th nation to ratify Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

As the 46th nation to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) by the United Nations, I applaud Malaysia for this decision and urge other nations to echo this declaration, in order to reach the 50 nations requirement for the treaty to come into effect.

The recent pandemic opened our eyes to the dangers of such unconventional threats to human lives. Nuclear weaponry on the other hand, is also capable of causing deplorable destruction to humanity, with radioactive fallout, food shortage, widespread environmental damage and pollution being some of its many consequences. Regrettably, in the pursuit of power and stability, certain nations overlook these and willingly channel precious resources to fund their arms race, resulting in an increasingly volatile international climate.

The threat of nuclear weaponry is unbiased, no matter how strong, rich, technologically or militarily advanced, all are helpless before such weapons of mass destruction, similar to how we have witnessed countries struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

ASEAN envisions a region free of all nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in accordance with the ASEAN charter and the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone treaty (SEANWFZ).

Under the charge of Foreign Minister Hishammuddin, Malaysia became party to the TPNW today (30 September), to renounce the use of nuclear weapons regardless of justifications, for the sake of a nuclear-weapon-free earth.

In 2017, 122 UN members voted and passed the TPNW despite facing the objections of nuclear armed states. The TPNW prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, stationing, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as assistance and encouragement to the prohibited activities.

Dr Tee Ching Seng

MCA International Communication & Diplomacy Bureau Chairperson

-MCA Online-