STATEMENT BY
MS. AZIZAH ABD AZIZ
FIRST SECRETARY OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AGENDA ITEM 23: OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT
21 OCTOBER 2019
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Malaysia aligns itself with the statement made by Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well as the statement made by Indonesia, on behalf of ASEAN.
Mr. Chairman,
2. It has been three years since the adoption of resolution 71/243 on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) of UN system operational activities and a year after the adoption of resolution 72/279 on the repositioning of the UN development system.
3. Malaysia wishes to express its appreciation for the strong commitment of the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General and teams to respond to the ambitious mandates set by these resolutions.
4. We are pleased that significant progress has been made in repositioning the United Nations development system, especially where it matters most: at the country level.
5. Nevertheless, while we acknowledge the progress achieved so far in advancing all reform mandates, we also note with concern that there are still unfulfilled mandates from these resolutions. In light of this, Malaysia emphasises the importance of ensuring timely implementation of all outstanding mandates from General Assembly resolutions 71/243 and 72/279.
6. As Malaysia also believes that the focus of the Operational Activities Development should be on implementation, we are of the view that it is vital that, in its critical first year, all reform mandates must be progressing at a pace satisfactory to programme countries.
Mr. Chairman,
7. Malaysia underscores the importance of national ownership and leadership in all matters pertaining to the ongoing implementation. This includes the effective and timely reporting from Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams back to host governments.
8. It is also crucial that the new guidelines for the development of new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks be developed in full consultation with host governments, taking into account country needs and priorities. Ultimately, the objective of all reform mandates must be to address the interests and needs of respective programme countries.
Mr. Chairman,
9. Malaysia joins others in expressing the view that the South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries of the South and that the agenda has to be determined by them.
10. Malaysia believes that the South-South cooperation remains relevant to developing countries especially in addressing existing global challenges, particularly in the areas of economy and finance. It is also about their solidarity, where developing countries could help each other in tackling development challenges together.
11. We trust that forging a closer South-South cooperation should be one of the key approaches for developing countries to achieve their development goals. In this regard, the countries should always be proactive and not to be too dependent on assistance from the international community.
12. In pursuit of development that is all-inclusive and sustainable, Malaysia is keen to collaborate with developed and developing partners. Malaysia, through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) stands ready to share its development experiences and expertise by providing assistance and training. Since its inception, MTCP has benefitted more than 32,800 participants from 143 recipient countries.
Mr. Chairman,
13. To conclude, Malaysia reaffirms its continued support for the Secretary-General’s efforts to deliver an effective and fit-for-purpose UN Development System. We look forward to a more coherent, accountable and effective UN system in supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Thank you.