STATEMENT BY
MS. NURUL SYAZA AZLISHA
FIRST SECRETARY
ON AGENDA ITEM 140: IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS
MAIN SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE SEVENTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
28 OCTOBER 2021
Mr. Chairman,
I join others in congratulating you on your election as Chair of the Committee as well as to the other members of the Bureau. My delegation would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to your predecessor and the bureau members of the 75th Session of the General Assembly.
2. Malaysia aligns itself with the statements delivered by Guinea on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and Singapore on behalf of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), respectively.
3. Allow me to also thank Ms. Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance of the United Nations for her presentation on 19 October 2021 on the financial situation of the United Nations and her updates today.
Mr. Chairman,
4. Last year, Member States of the United Nations reaffirmed their commitments to pay their assessed contribution in full and on time when they adopted the declaration of the 75th anniversary of the organisation.
5. Regrettably, one year later the financial situation of the United Nations has not improved. This has forced the UN to manage expenditures based on liquidity rather than programme delivery. This has further undermined the delivery of mandated programmes in all the three pillars of the organisation – namely peace and security, development and human rights. We believe Member States can do more.
6. Malaysia calls on Member States particularly those that have the capacity to do so to honour their financial commitments and pay their assessments, in full, on time and without conditions so as to avoid disruption to UN operations globally. This is not a choice – it is a necessity, to enable our Organisation to perform its mandate in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
7. Malaysia has been consistent in fulfilling this important obligation, and we are pleased to be included in the honour roll for the past few years. We would also like to reiterate on the importance that the UN budget is utilised in the most efficient, effective, and accountable manner.
8. In closing, Malaysia looks forward to working closely with you and other delegations in an open, inclusive, and transparent manner in finding a solution to break the perpetual cycle of financial crisis of the organisation.
I thank you.