PUTRAJAYA, Sept 12 — Malaysia has officially signed an agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) on September 3.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) in a statement today announced that the BBNJ is a historic achievement in the global effort to protect the marine environment, especially in the high seas or areas beyond national jurisdiction.
The agreement was signed by Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Datuk Ahmad Faisal Muhamad, who was authorised to sign the deal on behalf of Malaysia at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States.
“This legally binding instrument is under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which aims to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity through closer international cooperation, capacity-building, environmental impact assessment and equitable access to marine genetic resources.
“Malaysia’s signing of the BBNJ agreement is the first step before it proceeds to ratify the agreement,” the statement read.
According to NRES, Malaysia’s decision to sign the BBNJ demonstrates the country’s strong commitment to the principles of multilateralism, the rule of law in ocean governance and its support for the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, especially Goal 14: Life Below Water.
“As a maritime nation and a member of the UN, Malaysia recognises the critical importance of preserving the health and resilience of the oceans for present and future generations,” it said.
Malaysia will also continue to engage constructively in the preparatory work towards the implementation of the BBNJ and undertake appropriate domestic processes for the ratification of the deal, the statement added.
