FOREIGN MINISTRY HANDLING MALAYSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN ICC

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- The Foreign Ministry will be preparing a memorandum to explore the possibility of Malaysia joining the International Criminal Court (ICC), said Minister in the Prime Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said.

He said the memorandum, which would presented to the Cabinet, would be used to assist it in making a decision regarding the matter.

"This memorandum will be prepared by the Director-General of Research, Treaties and International Law Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It (the matter is not under the JPM (Prime Minister's Department)," he told a press conference at Parliament's lobby Wednesday.

Earlier, Mohamed Nazri, who is in charge of the law portfolio in JPM, had attended the opening of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Consultation on the Universality of the Rome Statute of The International Criminal Court (ICC)
seminar at Parliament house.

The seminar was opened by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

The ICC is the first permanent and independent international court tasked with investigating and bringing to justice individuals who commit the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.

Mohamed Nazri had on Tuesday said that Malaysia should become a member of the ICC so that it can play a role in voicing its view on upholding justice and human rights.

Sharing Mohamed Nazri's view, Pandikar Amin said that while being consistent of its stand in non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, Malaysia and the world should reaffirm their stand through a body such as the ICC that aggression cannot be committed with impunity.

"I hope this seminar will give the participants the opportunity to discuss pressing issues pertaining to the ICC for the common good of humanity, and always be mindful of the idiosyncrasies of member countries," he said.

Meanwhile, ICC president Judge Sang Hyun Song, when met by the media after the official opening of the seminar, said it was aimed at explaining the role of the ICC in addition to promoting awareness of the importance of the war against crime.

So far 114 of the 192 members of the United Nations have joined the ICC.