KUALA LUMPUR – Following its decision to abstain from voting on a United Nations resolution to suspend Russia’s membership in the Human Rights Council (HRC) yesterday, Wisma Putra has stressed that such crucial calls cannot be rashly made.
During the voting, 93 member states voted in favour of the resolution, 24 voted against and 58 abstained, while 18 did not vote on the resolution.
According to UN News, Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Vietnam were among those who voted against the resolution, while neighbours Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore joined Malaysia in abstaining.
In a statement today, the Foreign Affairs Ministry explained that the suspension of a HRC member is a critical decision that should not be made in haste and must be accorded its due process.
It said that the commission of inquiry must be allowed time to carry out investigations and present findings to verify allegations of human rights violations and breach of humanitarian laws in conflict areas.
“As a HRC member, Malaysia reiterates its principled position against any politicisation of issues at the council,” it said, adding that developments on the ground are continuously being monitored, while reiterating its call for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to those in need.
Despite not agreeing to “each and every word”, Malaysia had voted in favour of the “Aggression against Ukraine” resolution at the emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on March 2.
Prior to that, a parliamentary special select committee had urged Malaysia to vote in favour of Ukraine, with its chairman Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai) saying that the vote will convey support for the embattled country, international human rights laws, the Minsk agreement and the principles of the UN charter. – The Vibes, April 8, 2022
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