Nazri: M’sia accedes to Rome Statute of ICC

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has acceded to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), making it the third country in Asean to accede to the declaration to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crime.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said it was important for Malaysia, which had become a  member of the ICC, to accede to the Rome Statute as it not only reinforced Malaysia’s stand against war crimes, but also placed the country at the same level with other countries in the United Nations.

“It is also natural for Malaysia to accede to the Rome Statute as the country has long been involved in peacekeeping worldwide.

“This decision was made at the Cabinet meeting last Friday, after taking into consideration Malaysia’s involvement in peacekeeping,  often  sending its armed forces team for this purpose under the aegis of the United Nations to strife-torn countries like Somalia, Bosnia and Lebanon.

“Hence, it is consistent with the role played by Malaysia for it to accede to the Rome Statute, that is, an agreement to fight international crimes like genocide, crimes against humanity and war crime,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

 Nazri said that by acceding to the statute, Malaysia submitted itself to the scrunitising of the ICC and its laws, besides committing itself to maintaining peace and harmony in the country.

“We don’t want to see what happens in some other countries like Rwanda, happening here.

“We are a multi-racial and multi-religious society.

“This is a statement and commitment by the government and Malaysians that such crimes will not happen here,” he said.

Ipoh Barat member of parliament M Kulasegaran, who is also the organising secretary of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Consultative Assembly on the Universality of the Rome Statute of ICC, said acceding to the statute would enhance Malaysia’s image at the global stage.

“The parliamentarians are ready to start work on the legislation to implement the obligations contained in the Rome Statute, including procedures to fully cooperate with the ICC and norms to incorporate international crimes and general principles of international criminal law into the do-mestic legal order,” he said.

Cambodia and Timor Leste have already become members of the ICC and acceded to the Rome Statute, while the Philippines is expected to follow soon. — Bernama