The Malaysian government has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations (UN) as the primary global institution for maintaining international peace, amid the emergence of the so-called Board of Peace (BoP), an initiative associated with former US President Donald Trump, Tempo.co reports.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysia’s Parliament) on February 5, Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said Malaysia would continue to uphold the UN’s central role in global peacekeeping efforts, according to remarks cited by Antara.

Unlike Malaysia’s close neighbour Indonesia, Lukanisman said the government had taken note of concerns raised by members of parliament that the Trump-backed Board of Peace should not be positioned as a substitute for the UN or its existing multilateral frameworks.

At least 12 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, reportedly have declined to participate in the initiative. France, in particular, had formally rejected the proposal because it undermines the UN’s multilateral system. Paris also objected to the reported $1bn membership fee, which it described as unreasonable.

Ireland and Spain have similarly expressed reluctance to join, arguing that the board merely duplicates or complicates the UN’s existing mandate without adding meaningful value.

Lukanisman further said that China and Russia have criticised the initiative, viewing it as an attempt to sideline the UN Security Council through a platform controlled by a single power.

He emphasised that Malaysia would not compromise its principled stance simply to participate in negotiations that fail to guarantee justice for Palestinians.