KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday congratulated Nasarudin Mohd Yusof for his collaborative work with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which won the Nobel Peace Prize 2013.
“Immensely proud of Nasarudin Mohd Yusof, our Nobel Peace Prize winner. Keep up the great work with @OPCW !” Najib said in his Twitter.
The Nobel Peace Prize 2013 was awarded to the OPCW, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said Nasarudin’s achievement was outstanding, and that he should be congratulated by all Malaysians.
“It shows the quality of our work force,” Rahim said of the retired Armed Forces’ lieutenant-colonel.
“All Malaysians should be proud of him.
“The award is an international recognition for the global fight against chemical weapons,” Rahim told the New Straits Times.
The award was for his work at the inter-governmental organisation, which ensures its member countries adhered to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons and calls for their destruction.
“When you work overseas, no matter how small it (your work) is, you are carrying your country’s flag,” Nasarudin was quoted as saying.
The Nobel Peace Prize to the OPCW consisted of a medal, a diploma and a cash prize of 900,000 euros (RM3.77million).
Nasarudin said although it was difficult for him to leave Malaysia, he chose to do so since such opportunities only came once in a lifetime.
The OPCW was set up to implement the 1992 global chemical weapons convention.
On Oct 11 last year, the Nobelprize.org said in a statement that the conventions and the work of the OPCW had defined the use of chemical weapons as a taboo under international law.
“Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons.
“Some states are still not members of the OPCW.
“Certain states have not observed the April 2012 deadline to destroy their chemical weapons.
“This applies especially to the United States and Russia,” it said.