ArchiveS ArchiveS

STATEMENT BY

MR. MUHAMMAD ZULASRI BIN ROSDI

ADVISER/ LONG-TERM DELEGATE

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

AT THE GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE

78^TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

ON AGENDA ITEM 18: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 

 

Mr. Chair,

 

Malaysia aligns itself with the statements made by Cuba on behalf of the G77 and China, as well as the Philippines on behalf of ASEAN.

 

2. Firstly, I extend our appreciation to the Secretary-General for the reports presented under this agenda item. Given the challenges of a post-pandemic world, compounded by climate change and geopolitical tensions, it is imperative that our focus extends beyond "building back better."

 

Mr. Chair,

 

3. Malaysia is actively addressing climate change challenges by developing disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, including aligning with the Sendai Framework through our National Policy on DRR and the DRR Act. We have established the National Disaster Management Agency as the primary coordinating entity for DRR. Additionally, we wish to emphasise the importance of investing in resilience to reduce the impact of disaster-related emergencies. This year, our government allocated $154 million for disaster risk management, including for flood mitigation. We are pleased to highlight Malaysia's Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel infrastructure in Kuala Lumpur as a model for managing urban floods and easing traffic congestion.

 

4. In pursuit of equitable economic development, Malaysia has undertaken initiatives to advance the adoption of digital technologies, especially in rural and underserved urban areas. The establishment of Digital Economy Centres aims to provide communal internet access to areas lacking connectivity. This effort not only bridges the digital divide but also helps stabilise rural-urban migration. Additionally, the recent launch of the National Circular Economy Council underscores our commitment to transition towards a circular economy, aligning closely with the zero-waste paradigm, with the ultimate goal of eliminating single-use plastics by 2030.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

5. Malaysia is resolute in its pursuit to achieving zero hunger within and beyond our borders. Through the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030, our Government aims to strengthen the local agrofood industry, promote socio-economic growth, inclusivity, and resilience, with a special focus on supporting smallholder farmers and food producers, who constitute about 75 per cent of our agrofood sector. Furthermore, as the world's second-largest palm oil producer, Malaysia plays a leadership role in ensuring global food security, leveraging on palm oil's availability, affordability, and sustainability. To address misinformation surrounding our palm oil production, Malaysia reaffirms its dedicated commitment to sustainable palm oil through the mandatory Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification scheme, which addresses environmental, social, and economic aspects of palm oil production comprehensively.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

6. Charting our path towards a greener energy future, Malaysia has introduced the National Energy Transition Roadmap to transition from traditional fossil fuels to a high-value green economy, aiming to reduce by 32 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to the 2019 baseline. Last July, we also unveiled catalyst projects covering among others, energy efficiency, renewable energy, hydrogen, and green mobility, underscoring Malaysia's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, despite our relatively low global greenhouse gas contribution of 0.8 per cent.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

7. As one of the world's megadiverse countries, Malaysia, through our National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016-2025, recognises the shared responsibility for conserving our rich biodiversity. We have empowered various stakeholders, including indigenous communities, NGOs, and the private sector, to collaborate in biodiversity conservation. Additionally, conserving biodiversity is integral to effective climate action, however, achieving climate ambitions without equity, justice and necessary resources is challenging. Thus, addressing climate actions underscores the critical importance of providing financial assistance, capacity building and technology transfer to developing nations, which cannot be overstated.

 

8. As we advance the SDGs, Malaysia promotes SDG localisation through institutionalising multi-stakeholders’ involvement in governance, especially in programme implementation and monitoring. Additionally, an All-Party Parliamentary Group on SDGs, comprising Members of Parliament from diverse political viewpoints, was established in 2019 which continues to enhance SDG localisation, including their implementation at the constituency levels.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

9. Our primary focus remains on fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth, leaving no one behind. On that note, Malaysia reaffirms its readiness to collaborate with fellow Member States and other multi-stakeholders to strengthen our collective actions. Together, through global solidarity and exchange, we can accelerate our progress in realising the 2030 Agenda.

 

I thank you.

 

Time limit: 5 minutes