As Honduras became the 50th state party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the United Nations announced that the Treaty will enter into force on 22 January next year. Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) wholeheartedly welcomes this news and congratulates the states that have joined the Treaty.
SGM General Director, Koh Sia Feai, says that, this is an important milestone for humankind towards the end of the nuclear age.
On September 30, the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein signed the instrument of ratification on behalf of the government, thereby making Malaysia the 46th State party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Later, Tuvalu, Jamaica, Nauru and Honduras also ratified the Treaty. At least 50 countries are required to ratify the Treaty before it can enter into force.
The Treaty clearly stipulates that state parties shall not develop, test, produce, manufacture or otherwise acquire, possess or store nuclear weapons. This is a crucial step towards realising the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
General Director Koh further states that, nuclear weapons, by their very nature, are the manifestation of the devilish nature of life and the very existence of nuclear weapons poses the greatest threat to humanity’s right to live. Therefore, the 50 ratifications are of great significance in marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
At the same time, in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and to commemorate UN Disarmament Week, SGM also hosted an online premiere of the documentary titled “Our Journey towards Nuclear Disarmament”. The online premiere reached the viewership of about 4,000 in just 25 minutes. It was well received by people from all walks of life.
The documentary features the joint efforts of Malaysians in promoting peace and nuclear disarmament. Featured figures include: Dr. Ronald McCoy, the former co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). It is worth mentioning that Dr. McCoy, who is now 90 years old, is also the initiator of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner “International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons”. Additionally, SGM also invited Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Rector of the International Islamic University of Malaysia, to share the Hiroshima atomic bombing experience of his late father Abdul Razak bin Abdul Hamid. His father was the sole Malaysian survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. The documentary also highlights the important role played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia and civil society organisations in promoting nuclear disarmament.
With the ratifications by 50 countries and the imminent entry into force of the TPNW, it is hoped that people will deepen the appreciation for the solidarity and efforts by the Malaysian government and people at the grassroots who have contributed to the Treaty.
To watch the documentary “Our Journey towards Nuclear Disarmament”, please click the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW8bo3MTJwE
Press Contact: Koo Wei Qian
E-Mail: WeiQian.Koo@sgm.org.my
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SokaGakkaiMalaysia
