Malaysia accedes to Antarctic Treaty Pact

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has officially become a member of the Antarctic Treaty Pact. It is the first Asean country and the 49th nation to do so.

Malaysia's accession to the treaty as a non-consultative party means that it can take part in the decision-making process at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM, conduct scientific expeditions to Antarctica and establish its own research base there.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday hoped this would enhance Malaysia's scientific research efforts and allow findings made by Malaysian researchers in Antarctica to be patented.

Malaysia has since July 2008 been a member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, a committee of the International Council of Science that is in charge of the initiation, promotion and co-ordination of scientific research in Antarctica.

Over 60 scientific expeditions involving Malaysian researchers have been conducted since 1997, when New Zealand opened its Scott Base to Malaysian scientists.

Twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty in Washington on Dec 1, 1959. It came into force in 1961.

“It is the Government's hope that Malaysia will be invited as a full consultative party to the ATCM in Australia next year,” the statement said. - Bernama