KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Malaysia is optimistic of becoming a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), said Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

“The work has been cut out for the Wisma Putra officers and it has already begun.

“I hope all of you are ready to commit to ensure that Malaysia is resoundingly successful,” he said in his speech at the Diploma in Diplomacy Graduation 2013 ceremony here today.

On January 1, 1999, Malaysia became a member of the UNSC. It served for a two-year term until the end of December 2000.

The 15-member Security Council comprised five permanent members with veto powers, namely Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, and 10 non-permanent members with a two-year term.

Earlier reports said Malaysia would try to secure a seat as a non-permanent member for the UN Security Council for the term 2015-2016, in order to play a prominent role in regional peace and international security.

Malaysia also obtained endorsement by Asean members for the non-permanent seat candidature held on the sidelines of the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York recently.

A total of 39 local participants and 11 international participants received their diploma at the event. — Bernama