INTERVENTION BY
MR. AHMAD RADZI MOHD ZIM
LONG-TERM DELEGATE TO THE 77TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
DURING THE INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH
MR. SAAD ALFARARGI
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
THIRD COMMITTEE OF THE 77TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, 17 OCTOBER 2022
Mr. Chair,
Malaysia expresses appreciation to Special Rapporteur, and welcomes his latest report. Malaysia concurs with the Special Rapporteur on the importance of international cooperation vis-à-vis ensuring equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, in order to rejuvenate development efforts.
2. COVID-19 has impacted development agendas in countries across the globe to varying degrees. More than two years later, many countries are still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic, including securing supplies of COVID-19 vaccines for their populations. In some cases, the pandemic has reversed or threatens to undo hard-won gains towards realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Malaysia firmly believes that the granting of equitable access to vaccines is in line with the commitments made by Governments in the context of the 2030 Agenda, in particular the promise “to leave no one behind”.
3. Under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) launched on 16 February 2021, Malaysia has secured access to COVID-19 vaccines to cover 41.7 million people. This is to ensure that the Government’s strategy to inoculate as many citizens as possible can be achieved in the fastest possible time. In addition, the Government has also administered COVID-19 vaccines to non-citizens, including documented and undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and UNHCR cardholders, despite limitations in resources and capacity in managing asylum seekers and refugees, which were further impacted by the pandemic.
4. In the spirit of international solidarity, Malaysia had also contributed COVID-19 vaccines to a number of countries to help boos their vaccine rate. We stand ready to make contributions to other countries in need.
Mr. Chair,
5. Malaysia is of the view that prolonged vaccine inequity will have a lasting and profound impact on socio-economic recovery in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Therefore, our question to the Special Rapporteur is, is there a long term strategy to address the issue of inequity in the distribution of vaccines, in preparation for future pandemics?
I thank you.