KUALA LUMPUR: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has lauded Malaysia for its steadfast and principled stand on Palestine, while renewing his call for sweeping reforms to the UN Security Council, which he said is facing a “crisis of legitimacy.”
“I would like to express my appreciation for what has been the constant and coherent foreign policy of Malaysia — one that has no double standards and has been strongly advocating for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood,” Guterres said during a press conference after the Asean-UN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.
He was responding to a question on Malaysia’s interest in contributing to a potential Gaza peacekeeping mission.
“It is not yet clear what kind of force, or under what circumstances, will be created.
“What is important now is to make sure that the ceasefire holds, that Phase One of the agreement is fully implemented, and that the UN is ready to play whatever role the key actors in this process determine.”
Guterres’s remarks came as major powers continued talks to secure a lasting truce in Gaza after months of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The UN chief also used the press conference to deliver one of his strongest critiques yet of the Security Council, warning that its composition no longer reflects the realities of modern geopolitics.
“It is clear that the Security Council has a problem of legitimacy and a problem of effectiveness.
“We have three European permanent members — France, the United Kingdom and Russia — but only one from Asia, and none from Latin America or Africa.
“This shows that the Council does not correspond to the world of today.”
He said Africa and Latin America must gain permanent representation to make the Council more inclusive and credible while member states should also give serious consideration to proposals by the United Kingdom and France to limit the use of veto powers in certain cases.
“The Security Council must regain its legitimacy and effectiveness if we are to maintain international peace and security,” he said.
Earlier, in his opening remarks at the summit, Guterres urged regional leaders to pursue collective solutions for sustainable development, climate action and digital transformation, warning that “global governance must become more inclusive, representative, equitable, and effective.”
He said Asean’s role as a stabilising force was crucial in addressing widening inequalities, the rise of disruptive technologies and entrenched conflicts worldwide.
