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STATEMENT BY

MR. AMIR HAMZAH MOHD NASIR

FIRST SECRETARY

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

AT THE

PLENARY MEETING ON THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE

WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION [ITEM 112]

NEW YORK, 21 JANUARY 2021

 

 

Mr. President,

 

I wish to start by commending the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting and the Secretary-General for the presentation of his priorities and report. Malaysia also wishes to align itself with the statement delivered by Cambodia on behalf of ASEAN.

 

2.     My delegation also commends the early deliberation of the report as it allows for a timely and interactive discussion on our collective work in this Organisation and to reflect and address those gaps and challenges throughout the year.

 

Mr. President,

 

3.     Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining international peace and security, tackling climate change, as well as promoting human rights are all tasks that call for collective efforts and solidarity. The Secretary-General’s report reminds us that multilateralism is more indispensable than ever today.

 

4.     Malaysia has long been a strong advocate and supporter of international cooperation. We believe that multilateralism and the rules-based international order can help ensure a level playing field for all states, large and small. Malaysia will continue to 2 do its part in preserving multilateralism and the primacy and credibility of this Organisation.

 

Mr. President,

 

5.     The report of the Secretary-General notes the continued divisions between major powers and fragmentation within States, which contributed to a challenging environment for peace and security over the past year. It also underscores the importance of the global ceasefire. Malaysia is pleased to have facilitated the expression of support to the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire in 2020. We continue to urge all parties to refrain from taking provocative action that could potentially escalate tension and spark conflict.

 

6.     The report also highlights the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in January 2021. Malaysia congratulates all State Parties to the TPNW and encourages other countries to expedite their ratifications or accessions to the Treaty. Malaysia also reiterates its unwavering commitment towards nuclear disarmament and will continue to work closely with other partners to attain a world free of nuclear weapons.

 

Mr. President,

 

7.     The Secretary-General’s report also underscores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable groups and the importance of putting human rights at the centre of pandemic socioeconomic response plans. As a current member of the Human Rights Council, Malaysia is committed to advancing this agenda, including the right to health and healthcare, particularly for marginalised and vulnerable groups. We also continue to support the call for affordable, accessible, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

 

8.     On climate action, we share the Secretary-General’s concern that the pandemic has impacted and reversed years of development progress, with pre-existing inequalities and poverty deepened. In this connection, we continue to call for urgent and collective action to address these challenges, especially those faced by least developed countries, 3 small island developing countries, and middle-income countries. Malaysia also underlines the leading role to be played by developed countries in supporting developing countries to deliver the promise for climate action, which includes providing new, adequate and consistent financial assistance as well as technological transfer to developing countries.

 

Mr. President,

 

9.     My last point is on the effective functioning of the Organisation. Malaysia supports the necessary reform of the UN with an aim to make it more inclusive, transparent, and accountable. Malaysia also believes that the Secretariat must be accorded with the appropriate resources so it can effectively execute its mandates entrusted by Member States. Malaysia is pleased to have paid in full and on time the UN's regular budget and its peacekeeping contributions. We join the Secretary-General’s call for others to meet their financial obligations.

 

Mr. President,

 

10.     The pandemic continues to reveal our shared fragility and interconnectedness. We need more multilateralism anchored within this Organisation. Let me conclude by reassuring Malaysia’s support for your work, as well as that of the Secretary-General guided by the relevant mandates and the Charter of the United Nations. In the same spirit, we also look forward to the discussion on the report of Our Common Agenda in the coming months.

 

Thank you.