STATEMENT BY
MR. MOHD HAFIZ OTHMAN, MINISTER COUNSELLOR
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE THIRD THEMATIC DEBATE OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: STRENGTHENING THE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 9 JUNE 2020
Co-chairs,
Thank you for your continued leadership of the Working Group. Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
2. The role and mandate of the Office of the PGA continue to expand and evolve, which has resulted in a considerable increase in its workload over time and resources. The Covid-19 pandemic situation has also revealed and further reinforces the indispensable role of the PGA in facilitating and making sure that member states and the UN can continue to operate without major disruption.
3. In this regard, Malaysia joins others in reiterating our view that the Office of the PGA should be strengthened in such a manner that both human and financial resources are sufficient for the Office to execute its activities, as mandated by the UN Charter and relevant GA resolutions.
4. My delegation also supports the proposal for a reasonable number of additional permanent staff to support the strengthening of the Office's institutional memory. We also support the call for an adequate and predictable financial allocation from the regular budget. The Office should not solely depend on voluntary contributions from Member States for almost 90% of its expenses.
5. On the Office's staffing, my delegation calls for respect for equal geographical representation and gender balance. We believe that diversity and inclusion in the Office of the PGA would not just reflect the representative character of the General Assembly, but also offers the PGA the benefit of a larger pool of ideas and perspectives.
6. On the subject of coordination with other principal organs, Malaysia hopes that the current practice of regular meetings with the Security Council President, ECOSOC President, and the Secretary-General will continue to take place. We also commend the issuance of Memo of the meeting between the PGA and the Security Council President. We also hope that the readouts or Memo of the discussion with other heads of UN organ can also be shared with the wider UN membership.
7. In closing, my delegation wishes to reaffirm our commitment to engage constructively in the revitalization process.
Thank you.
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