STATEMENT BY
HIS EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR SYED MOHD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
ON THE JOINT DEBATE OF
AGENDA ITEM 120: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS; AND
AGENDA ITEM 121: REVITALIZATION OF THE WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AT THE
UN HEADQUARTERS
8 NOVEMBER 2019, NEW YORK
Mr. President,
Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Thailand on behalf of the Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
2. I join others in extending our appreciation to the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Jordan, in facilitating the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Revitalization of the General Assembly during the 73rd session. I also wish to congratulate the Permanent Representative of Ghana for her appointment and the Permanent Representative of Slovakia for his re-appointment as co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group for the current General Assembly session.
Mr. President,
3. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. As an organization which began with only 51 members during its inception in 1945, it has grown and expanded to what it is today. With 193 members, our august organization has become much more sophisticated. In today’s digital era, information travels much faster, warranting a quick response in our work so as to ensure that all our mandates are implemented efficiently and effectively.
4. My delegation is therefore encouraged with the adoption of resolution A/73/341 on the “Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly”. It is a manifestation of our resolve to uphold the principles of multilateralism continue to be upheld in accordance with the letter and spirit of the UN Charter.
5. Malaysia is of the view that there should be no end in our collective efforts to ensure that the General Assembly remains as the chief deliberative policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations. To this end, the General Assembly must be equipped with all the necessary capacities to address all the challenges that our world is facing today, be it in political-security or socio-economic aspects.
6. In this context, my delegation wishes to stress on the vital importance of improving our focus in the work of the General Assembly. Prioritizing our agenda should be high on our attention.
7. My delegation therefore welcomes continuous efforts in addressing gaps, overlap and duplication in the agenda of the General Assembly. In this regard, my delegation wishes to call for regular and closer consultation between the chairs of the relevant Committees to address these conundrums. The Ad Hoc Working Group may also convene informal consultations in the form of breakout sessions to allow frank and open exchange of views. We can task the Secretariat to come up with a concept paper that we can use as a basis for our consultation, on how best we can move forward.
8. My delegation would also like to join others in encouraging regular interaction between the Presidents of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. Such interaction is useful, as we move towards reinforcing the synergy, coherence and complementarity between the three organs of the UN. Malaysia is also supportive of regular interactions and greater coordination between the Presidents of the three organs and the Secretary-General.
Mr. President,
10. Lastly, my delegation wishes to stress on the pertinence of the strengthening of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (PGA). The task of the PGA is not an easy feat. Hence, we have the collective responsibility to support the PGA towards the implementation of our mandates.
11. My delegation supports the proposal for additional permanent staff as well as adequate financial allocation from the regular budget to be allocated to the Office of the PGA. The Office should not just rely on voluntary contributions from Member States for 87% of its expenses.
Mr. President,
12. The commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in 2020 would be an opportune time for us to take stock of our achievements as well as to critically look at the challenges for the United Nations and multilateralism. Let us make the anniversary meaningful, and not merely ceremonial. With the theme ‘The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism’, there is no other time more appropriate and timely, for us to reform our organization for the better, in the interest of international peace, security and prosperity.
I thank you Mr. President.