Speeches, Statements & International Documents

SPEECH BY H.E DATO’ SRI ANIFAH HJ. AMAN,

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF MALAYSIA

AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEW UNITED NATIONS OFFICES

IN PUTRAJAYA, 7 FEBRUARY 2018

 

 

Mr. Stefan Priesner [ste-fan-pris-ner], UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative for Malaysia,

 

Mr. Haoliang Xu [haw-liang-zu], United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific,

 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,                       

 

 

 

Good afternoon,

 

1.Firstly, I would like to express my appreciation to the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN offices in Malaysia for according me the honour to inaugurate the new United Nations Offices in Putrajaya. I am pleased to see the presence of many distinguished guests joining us this afternoon.

 

2.     As all of you are aware, Putrajaya has been the administrative seat of the Government since 1999. Putrajaya is more than a bureaucratic core for the country; it offers planned residential and commercial areas amidst an ambience of tranquillity in a natural environment. Since the shifting of the seat from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian government has continuously encouraged embassies and international bodies to relocate to Putrajaya. Today, I am delighted that the UN offices in Malaysia have now followed suit.

 

3.     I am also pleased to learn that this building that houses the UN offices is a certified green building, the first of its kind in the main commercial boulevard of Precinct 2 in Putrajaya. In a way, the operations of UN offices in this building not only underscores Malaysia’s commitment in contributing towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but also a testimony of Putrajaya’s status as a pioneer of green technology.

 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

 

4.     The UN offices’ relocation to Putrajaya is indeed timely as the UN had already established its Services Centres at nearby vicinity in Cyberjaya, namely, the UNDP Global Shared Services Centre that serves 166 UNDP offices; and the WHO Global Services Centre that provides administrative services to all WHO offices worldwide.

 

5.     To date, I am pleased at the level of collaboration that the UN offices based here have extended to Malaysia. For instance:

 

-       the UNDP has provided assistance in implementing numerous development programmes and projects in the country;

 

-       the UNHCR has cooperated with the relevant ministries and agencies on issues relating to UNHCR cardholders;

 

-       the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) has carried out various population related projects;

 

-       in the health sector, the United Nations University has established the International Institute for Global Health based at the Medical Faculty of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital to carry out research, capacity development and various projects on key issues of global health;

 

-       the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) collaborated with Malaysia to increase development services for the well-being of children in Malaysia; and

 

-       the first United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Asia was established in Subang in 2010 to deliver humanitarian relief items within 48 hours of a crisis occurring.

 

6.     I am convinced that the relocation of UN offices to Putrajaya will further contribute towards enhancing the circle of networking and strengthen cooperation between the UN personnel and the various Malaysian government ministries and agencies in this city.

 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

 

7.     In the larger context, Malaysia strongly believes that the UN plays an imperative role as a platform for international cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect and international law.

 

8.     Since joining the UN in September 1957, Malaysia has been an active member in promoting the three founding pillars of the UN system: peace and security, human rights, and development. These included Malaysia playing its role effectively and efficiently toward the efforts to prevent conflicts and to sustain peace during our non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council on four occasions - 1965, 1989-1990, 1999-2000 and 2015-2016 - and active participations in the UN peacekeeping missions since 1960 of which, to date, Malaysia has participated in 36 UN peacekeeping missions with over 35,000 of Malaysian military and police personnel deployed.

 

9.     As recently as 8 December 2017, Malaysia had successfully tabled the Resolution on Moderation at the 68th Plenary Meeting of United Nations General Assembly in New York. A concept that was mooted by our Honourable Prime Minister to bridge differences and resolve disputes as well as to counter violent extremism and radicalisation, received an overwhelming 135 votes. As a result, the UN has decided to proclaim 2019 as the International Year of Moderation in an effort to amplify the voices of moderation through the promotion of dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation.

 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

 

10.Malaysia remains committed to working closely and collaborating with the UN offices at all levels to ensure development and progress in all fronts and spheres by taking our national interest into account. Towards this end, I can assure the UN personnel that my ministry will extend its fullest cooperation to the works of the UN in Malaysia.

 

11.Before I conclude, I must thank and congratulate everyone who have worked hard in making the move to Putrajaya a reality. On this note, I am pleased to officiate the new offices of the United Nations in Putrajaya. I wish the UN team a pleasant working environment at their new premises.

 

Thank you.