STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON THE REVITALISATION OF THE WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (AHWG)
NEW YORK, 9 MARCH 2022
Co-Chairs,
Thank you for convening this meeting. I would also like to thank the PGA for his valuable remarks. Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Co-Chairs,
2. Malaysia welcomes the adoption of GA resolution 75/325 dated 10 September 2021. We also welcome the focused discussion on two of the four pillars in this year's deliberations, specifically on the role and authority of the General Assembly and its working methods. My delegation will speak more on these pillars in their respective thematic debates. At this juncture, allow me to briefly respond on the proposed focus areas as contained in your letter dated 25 January 2022.
3. First: My delegation welcomes the ongoing efforts in addressing gaps, overlap, and duplication in the General Assembly's agenda. In this respect, we call for more regular and closer consultations among the Chairs of the Main Committees to address the existing conundrums. Malaysia also calls for innovative ways to make the Main Committees' debates more focused, interactive and efficient. We also urge the convening of business continuity meeting, as and when appropriate to discuss and consider the way forward on the conduct of our work.
4. My delegation is also of the view that the General Committee can play a greater role in the revitalisation process, including in the implementation of the adopted provisions and outcomes of the revitalisation process. However, we must recognise that the General Committee shall not decide on any political question as stipulated in Rule 41 of the Rules of Procedures of the General Assembly.
5. Second: My delegation remains convinced that greater diversity and inclusion in the conduct of General Assembly’s affairs will strengthen the representative and inclusive features of this Organ. In this connection, we fully support the mainstreaming of gender equality in General Assembly meetings, resolutions, and outcomes. We also call for the same to be observed in the appointment of facilitators under the ambit of the PGA. At the same time, we must ensure that such appointment respects the principle of equal geographical representation.
6. Third: On the coordination among principal organs, Malaysia hopes that the practice of regular meetings with the Security Council President, ECOSOC President, and the Secretary-General will continue to be strengthened. We commend the issuance of readouts of the meeting between the PGA and the Security Council President. However, we call for more consistency in conducting this engagement, including in sharing the readouts of the meeting with the wider UN membership in a timely manner. We look forward to examining the readouts of the engagement between the PGA and the President of the Security Council for February and March 2022.
7. Fourth: On training for delegates, my delegation continues to support human and institutional capacity development that would contribute to the enhancement of General Assembly’s efficiency and effectiveness. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that Malaysia, together with Ecuador, Finland, and UNITAR, successfully hosted the first transition workshop for the Office of the PGA in September last year. The transition workshop aims to support greater accountability, transparency, and strengthening of the institutional memory of the Office of the PGA, so it can effectively fulfil its functions as set out in the UN Charter. We remain committed to hosting this workshop annually.
Co-Chairs,
8. In closing, my delegation wishes to reaffirm our commitment to engage constructively in the revitalisation process and, we look forward to continuing our productive discussions under your able leadership.
Thank you.