STATEMENT BY
MR. AZRIL ABD AZIZ
DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UN
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
OF THE 76TH SESSION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 1 OCTOBER 2021
Mr. Chair,
I join other delegations in congratulating you and members of your Bureau upon taking office in this 76th session. We trust your able stewardship and assure you of my delegation’s undivided support and cooperation throughout this session.
2. Malaysia aligns itself with the statements of the G77 and China, the Non-Aligned Movement and ASEAN.
Mr. Chair,
3. Eighteen months have passed since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global health crisis with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date the world’s public health systems and socio-economic situations remains under immense strain.
4. It was clear from the beginning that vaccinating the global population en masse was key in overcoming the pandemic. In Malaysia, every person regardless of their status, has access to medical attention, testing, and vaccination. This includes vulnerable groups such as migrants, and undocumented foreigners. To date, Malaysia has fully vaccinated 85 percent of its adult population.
5. Despite progress made, we remain deeply concerned about the uneven access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines. There is a need for renewed international solidarity and urgency to narrow vaccine equity gaps that are leaving many developing countries behind.
Mr Chair,
6. In addressing the impacts of the pandemic, Malaysia introduced the National Recovery Plan (NRP) as a roadmap to progressively reopen society and the economy. More than US62 billion has been disbursed, encompassing eight strategic stimulus packages that have benefitted over 20 million people and 2.4 million businesses. The successfully execution of this roadmap demanded a whole-of-society approach with bi-partisan political support, with the Government, frontline workers, public safety personnel, volunteers, NGOs and the people, all working in concert.
7. With respect to women and girls, Malaysia implemented gender-responsive policies, which include cash assistance for single mothers, childcare subsidies and flexible work arrangements. The Government has also set-up helplines, online advocacy, shelters and provide counselling services to address gender-based violence.
8. The elderly and persons with disabilities also received social support services. Those who wish to venture into businesses are given access to the Disabled Persons and Senior Citizens Entrepreneurship Programme.
Mr. Chair,
9. At a time where unity and solidarity is most critical, Malaysia is concerned with increased reports of intolerance, racism, hate speech, religious discrimination and xenophobia around the world. In facing the health crisis, Malaysia’s multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious communities were presented with a unique opportunity to come together in giving aid to the most vulnerable segments of society. Selfless acts from ordinary Malaysians, irrespective of background and ethnicity, reflect the strength of our diversity in facing the challenges of the pandemic together. The international community in its diversity must also come together to condemn and counter such acts of intolerance and divisiveness.
Mr. Chair,
10. Malaysia remains concerned with the predicament faced by Rohingya refugees as well as the internally displaced in the Rakhine state. To date, Malaysia continues to house hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees and provide them with assistance, including COVID-19 vaccination. Malaysia has provided such assistance based on humanitarian grounds, despite not being a State Party to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees. We therefore urgently call on all signatories to the Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol to fulfil their obligations for proportionate burden and responsibility sharing.
11. As a founding member of ASEAN, Malaysia is working within the ASEAN framework, in encouraging Myanmar to take more concrete steps to resolve both the current political situation and the Rohingya issue. We urge the Myanmar authorities to expedite the implementation of the ASEAN “Five-Points of Consensus”.
Mr. Chair,
12. Another issue of importance is the plight of the Palestinian people. Malaysia will not cease in supporting all efforts in defending the inalienable rights and dignity of the Palestinians. Malaysia urges Israel to end all human rights violations against the Palestinians, particularly those committed by the Israeli security forces and illegal settlers. The international community has an obligation to investigate these violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Chair,
13. Human rights has been negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations has a critical role in ensuring that human rights remain at the center of the pandemic rebuilding efforts. The time is now ripe for us to rethink our old ways of doing things and to build back better and ensure the resilience and the relevancy of our multilateral system.
I thank you.
