Malaysia

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

SIGNED

RATIFIED

IN FORCE

SIGNED

20 September 2017

RATIFIED

30 September 2020

IN FORCE

22 January 2021

Status

Malaysia has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021.

Signature and ratification

Anifah Aman, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Malaysia, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017.

In an address to the United Nations that week, he said: “We are convinced that the political and legal impact of this treaty will steer the international community collectively towards the elimination of nuclear weapons.”

He added that the TPNW is “legally sound [and] feasible to implement” and “sends a powerful political message that nuclear weapons are categorically unacceptable”.

Anifah Aman, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Malaysia, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: ICAN

On 30 September 2020, Hishammuddin Hussein, the then-minister of foreign affairs, signed Malaysia’s instrument of ratification at a ceremony in the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, and it was deposited with the UN secretary-general that day.

“By joining, Malaysia is contributing to the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons,” he said. “We are proud to have contributed to this important treaty, and we encourage other states to expedite their ratifications,” he added.

Malaysia was the 46th state to ratify or accede to the TPNW.

Hishammuddin Hussein, the then-minister of foreign affairs, signs Malaysia’s instrument of ratification in 2020. Credit: Malaysia MFA

National position

In 2021, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Malaysia, Saifuddin Abdullah, welcomed the TPNW’s entry into force, which “further strengthens the global norms that nuclear weapons are unacceptable”. He added: “The outlawing of nuclear weapons contributes towards international peace and security.”

In 2022, Malaysia said that it “remains convinced that the TPNW complements and strengthens the [Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968], by constituting effective legal measures under Article VI of the NPT”.

In 2024, Malaysia described the TPNW as “a landmark instrument signifying political will to advance steadily toward a world free of nuclear weapons”, and noted its “integral role in reframing debates and paradigms on nuclear weapons, drawing on the latest scientific and technical knowledge”.

Implementation

In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Malaysia submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 17 February 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.

As required by Article 3, Malaysia has a comprehensive safeguards agreement in force with the International Atomic Energy Agency to guard against the misuse of nuclear facilities and materials. It also has an additional protocol in force.

Per Article 12, Malaysia has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by co-sponsoring and consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

In 2021, Malaysia called on all states that have not yet done so to join the TPNW “as a manifestation of their commitment towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and, more importantly, for a safer and secure world”. In 2022, it said that it stood ready to assist other states in joining the TPNW.

In 2024, hailed the TPNW as “a significant breakthrough in our collective endeavours to free the world from inherent danger of nuclear weapons” and pledged to “work in earnest” to achieve its universalisation. It also noted that the treaty “is steadily growing in strength”.

Meetings of states parties

Malaysia participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2022, describing it as “a gathering of particular moment in our collective endeavours to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons”.

“The TPNW is undoubtedly a significant contribution to the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture,” it added. “It is underpinned by strong ethical and security imperatives, and rests on a firm legal foundation.”

Malaysia and South Africa were appointed as co-chairs of an informal working group responsible for promoting universalisation of the TPNW.

Malaysia also participated in the second meeting of states parties in 2023 and the third meeting in 2025.

At the third meeting, it concluded its leadership role on universalisation and was appointed as a co-chair, together with the Philippines, of a working group on implementation of Article 4, relating to the verified elimination of nuclear-weapon programmes.

TPNW negotiations

Malaysia participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption.

In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Malaysia said that “our work here would have a political as well as a legal impact on the disarmament debate” and give impetus to the movement to attain and maintain a nuclear-weapon-free world.

In its closing statement, Malaysia said that it was “pleased to vote in favour of this treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons”, and described such weapons as “unacceptable and categorically rejected”.

Before the negotiations

In 2016, Malaysia co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

Malaysia was also among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.

Ron McCoy, a Malaysian doctor who helped establish ICAN in 2007, speaks at a campaign meeting in Switzerland in 2016. Photo: ICAN

Further information

Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor

Malaysia

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

Status

Signature and ratification

National position

Implementation

Meetings of states parties

TPNW negotiations

Before the negotiations

Further information

Local Partner Organizations

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