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STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

AT THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE ALIGNMENT PROCESS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ECOSOC AGENDAS 

NEW YORK, 29 JANUARY 2021

 

President of the General Assembly,

Madam Co-facilitators,

Allow me at the outset to congratulate both of you, Ambassador Rabab Fatima of Bangladesh and Ambassador Darja Bavdaz Kuret of Slovenia on your appointment as co-facilitators to this important process. We appreciate the co-facilitators’ working paper that you had circulated dated 14 January 2021, that serves as a good basis for us to start our work today.

2.   Malaysia also wishes to align itself with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Guinea on behalf of the G77 and China.

Madam Co-facilitators, 

3.   The organs of the United Nations (UN) remain key in ensuring the effective delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This is particularly true and more pressing, as the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has derailed and reversed gains made in relation to the SDGs. The huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is widespread and amidst the challenges faced, there are lessons to be learnt and opportunities to be gained. Let us pause and consider how we should set about moving forward with the alignment process with a view to facilitate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. We must take time to learn the lessons emanating from the pandemic so that they could be integrated into our work, as we look methodologically into the alignment process.

4.   The pandemic has not only exposed gaps, weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the 2030 Agenda, but also in the delivery systems. We must analyse and evaluate in detail the impact of the pandemic on the delivery systems and the sustainable development goals. Existing structures that were vulnerable cannot be allowed to remain unchanged. The current COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the urgency for us to proceed with the alignment process, to strengthen such structures if we are to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

5.   We commend the UN system for their work during these difficult times. We have witnessed how organs and bodies in the UN system have come together to navigate and address the challenges of the pandemic.

Madam Co-facilitators, 

6.   Malaysia underscores the importance of the respective role and mandates of the General Assembly and the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, in supporting and guiding the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the SDGs. While we look at further rationalizing the work of these organs and look at improving existing frameworks and working methods, Malaysia maintains the view that the work of these organs must be driven by Member States. We also believe that the alignment process should be coherent with any decisions that will be taken on the wider process of the revitalization of the General Assembly.

7.   Malaysia also believe that in order for the alignment exercise to be comprehensive, we need to have a clear and accurate sense of how the agendas of the General Assembly and ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies measure up to the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. With such clarity, we would be able to enhance coherence and reduce the overlap in the agendas. At the same time we would be able to identify gaps and genuinely look into measures on how to address areas that are not covered under the General Assembly and the ECOSOC agenda.

8.   We must admit that there are issues where overlap or complementarities exists. We need to study the overlaps and complementarities based on values, principles and cross-cutting priority areas. We need to examine these issues closely and look for a practical approach by identifying concrete ideas and recommendations on how to drive such agendas forward. Overlaps or complementarities can be seen as an advantage if we undertake careful alignment and create the enabling conditions needed to accelerate the achievement of the sustainable development objectives. A comprehensive analysis of the agendas would also be helpful to feed into our work in the other stages of the alignment process, particularly as it feeds into the mapping exercise.

Madam Co-facilitators, 

9.   Informal consultation on the alignment process has continued over the years. The wealth in the body of work amassed must not be forgotten.  We must build on the work previously undertaken, beginning with a comprehensive mapping exercise which sought to identify possible synergies between the many and varying agendas of the GA, ECOSOC and their subsidiary bodies and that of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. The mapping exercise will allow us to identify, make diagnosis and further address the duplication and gaps in the agendas. It would allow us to outline a clear and balanced approach in attaining all the SDG. It is Malaysia’s view that a comprehensive analysis of the agendas of the General Assembly and ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies should be on a substance-based mapping approach, as opposed to a title-based mapping approach.

10.   We hope that the outcome of this session would be compiled into a report by the co-facilitators. It is envisaged that ideas, initiatives and recommendations contained in this report will be explored, considered and developed further as appropriate, as well as stimulate additional ideas and initiatives to advance the alignment process and the 2030 Agenda.

Madam Co-facilitators, 

11.   At a time where the world seems to be in turbulence, there exists overwhelming support of the international community to unite and ensure that the achievement of the SDGs do not slip through our fingers. We must take this pandemic as a wake-up call and push forward this alignment process. We need to take advantage of and ride this sweeping wave of multilateralism and solidarity, brought by the pandemic. There is no better time for us to address this issue. The tasks ahead are immense and difficult which demand our attention. The process of realignment calls for the exercise of pragmatism and imagination in our approach of finding solutions. We should regard the task as opportunities to serve and challenges to be met.

12.   Let me conclude Madam Co-facilitators, by assuring you of Malaysia’s confidence and support in your leadership to navigate the work of this important process forward.

Thank you.