PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is one of the 58 countries that had abstained from a United Nations General Assembly vote to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. A total of 93 member states voted in favour, while 24 countries were against the resolution.
The Foreign Ministry statement said Malaysia stressed a critical decision such as suspending a Human Rights Council member should not be made in haste and must be accorded its due processes.
Malaysia believed the Commission of Inquiry, established by the Human Rights Council in March 2022, must be allowed time to carry out investigations and present its findings first, as to verify allegations of any gross and systemic violations of human rights and breach of humanitarian law happening in conflict areas, it added.
“As a Human Rights Council member, Malaysia reiterates its principled position against any politicisation of issues at the Council. The situation in the conflict areas in Ukraine is a call for grave concern,” the statement read. — Bernama