When the Assembly was established almost 80 years ago. the world was still reeling from the horrors of a catastrophic bloodletting that our nations resolved should never be repeated. A decision — profound in wisdom, magnanimous in intent and bold in ambition — was made so that the General Assembly would become the main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the United Nations. That decision manifested no less than the very strength and courage of our convictions. By giving equal voice to the sovereign nations of the world, the founders of the United Nations pursued a vision of a more democratic world, predicated on the dictates of equity and justice. It was a vision that consigned to the past the predations of the strong over the weak, of the rich and powerful over the poor and the marginalized, and of the big Powers over the rest. That vision, in my opinion, has been utterly shattered to pieces.
Today, we find that the major Powers and those that aspire to greater international status are increasingly casting the United Nations aside for smaller, supposedly more efficacious platforms. As the Powers continue to pay lip service to the imperative of multilateralism, we see the emergence of multilateralism instead, effectively becoming fragmented configurations of power.
We are living in a deeply polarized world. We are seeing major Power rivalry unfolding with consequences that will negatively impact nations, especially the smaller ones, in the regions of conflict. The upshot is that we are confronted with a geopolitical and geostrategic dilemma. While the major Powers continue to assure us that a binary choice is not being imposed, the reality for many is that it is the only choice offered. Unchecked, that will ultimately lead once again to a world where the masses are unrepresented, where the few rule over the many, and the many resent the few.
The lofty ideals and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations call upon nations to resolve their disputes through peaceful means and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any State.
We condemn unequivocally the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine, for example, underscores the imperative to make peace and settle differences amicably through negotiations. Nevertheless, time is not on our side, and owing to the protracted failure to deal with the Russia-Ukraine crisis. I urge a concerted multilateral effort led by the United Nations to resolve it. We cannot choose our neighbours, but we can choose to live in peace with them. And peace cannot happen without the cessation of hostilities by all parties. It is imperative for all parties to return to dialogue and resolve their differences through the negotiation table. The extent of the Ukraine conflict has radiated throughout the world as food prices have skyrocketed, leading to shortages and hunger, further malnutrition and despair. As in other conflicts elsewhere, be it in the Middle East or South-East Asia, forced migrations take place, piling on the problems of refugees and statelessness.
In the Middle East, the politics of dispossession continue with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them. That constitutes a gross violation of international law. It also poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-State solution, not to mention the continued killings. There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine. The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice and abusive regimes.
On Afghanistan. Malaysia remains deeply concerned over the dire humanitarian situation in the country. That is especially so given that the country is grappling with its third consecutive year of drought and a devastating locust infestation that has severely undermined wheat harvests. On our part. Malaysia is committed to continuing its existing people-to- people relations with Afghanistan, including through the provision of humanitarian aid. However, we remain resolute and firm in our call on the authorities of Afghanistan to reverse their exclusionary and discriminatory policies against women and girls. Denying their right to go to school is a violation of the teachings of Islam, not to mention the Charter of the United Nations and the multilateral framework of human rights. They are also profoundly detrimental to the future of Afghanistan.
We are deeply horrified by the continued post-coup violence and instability in Myanmar. The situation in that country is currently among South-East Asia’s biggest strategic and humanitarian challenges in recent years. The barbarism and depravity inflicted upon the people of Myanmar are indefensible and go against the values and principles shared by the peoples of the region and globally. The support of the international community, including the United Nations, is crucial to urge continuously and maintain the necessary pressure on the military authorities to reverse their course. In as much as the principle of the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) dictates that the continued atrocities must end. Malaysia calls on Myanmar to immediately implement the ASEAN five-point consensus towards achieving peace and stability in the country.
ASEAN is navigating the rivalry between major Powers in the Asia-Pacific. Malaysia believes that any strategy undertaken should neither start nor exacerbate a race for dominance. Instead, such strategies should contribute to peace and stability, security and prosperity in the region.
Scientists have confirmed that the world has just experienced its hottest summer in history. We have heard Secretary-General Guterres gravely declare that climate breakdown has begun. Even Malaysia is seeing an increase in the adverse impacts of climate change, with increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, intensified monsoons and erratic weather patterns disrupting livelihoods and degrading local ecosystems. As such, we have not a moment to lose.
Malaysia is doing its part by developing low- carbon and renewable energy road maps to implement mitigating and adaptation strategies. The newly launched National Energy Transition Roadmap should aid us in achieving our nationally determined contributions, as well as lighting the path towards our net zero aspirations.
Discussions on climate change in the absence of equity, justice and the necessary means to assist and empower countries to undertake greater climate action are an exercise in futility. We also urge the developed countries to fulfil their commitment to mobilizing $100 billion a year to support the climate ambition endeavours of developing countries, while recognizing that trillions of dollars per annum will be needed in the near future.
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023 has confirmed that we are falling behind, with nearly a third of the targets either in a state of inertia or. worse, regressing. The global economy is also projected to continue to be weighed down by geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain disruptions, increase in commodity prices and challenging financial conditions. That has widened the gap between economic growth and income, leading to a continuous disparity. As the growth in incomes fails to match economic growth, households become burdened with debt. We now have
the super-rich living side by side with the ultra-poor. The contrast lies starkly in the things that matter: food on the table, shelter, access to quality education and health care. Those factors cry out for drastic, systemic reform — a total reset of the global institutions that impact our lives — or else we will continue to face widening inequality setting apart nations and peoples.
We are concerned over the emergence of a new form of racism characterized by xenophobia, negative profiling and the stereotyping of Muslims. That is manifested in an alarming trend of hatred, intolerance, and acts of violence against Muslims and their sanctities. We are appalled by the legitimization of these acts under the feeble defence of human rights. The burning of the Holy Qur’an is nothing but a clear Islamophobic act intended to incite hatred. Inaction in the face of such blatant provocation to a religion is simply irresponsible and sends a dangerous message to humankind.
We must embody the values of acceptance, tolerance and mutual respect. We must promote intercultural. inter-civilizational and inter-religious understanding and cooperation. We must unite our faiths in common causes to promote understanding and goodwill among our peoples and strengthen peace and harmony among nations. Those are indeed tall orders, but that is the very reason we are here. I truly believe that no challenge, however formidable, is insurmountable if we secure the collective commitment of the global community, the States Members of this institution. What we need is trust, the conviction to make the world a better place and the will to work together on a platform of consensus and solidarity.
Early this year. I introduced Malaysia Madani. a vision built on the pillars of the core values that we believe are indispensable in any harmonious, thriving and peaceful society: compassion, respect, trust, innovation, prosperity and sustainability. Those basic principles and moral values also apply in the context of our relations with other countries. Whether it is the Group of Seven, the Group of 20. the Group of 77. the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or the world’s largest free trade area, there is no denying that multilateral collaboration is the sine qua non for any effective and sustainable resolution to the crises that beset the world. In that regard, it bears stressing that Malaysia’s commitment to the United Nations and the multilateral system is born out of our strong conviction that all countries, no matter how big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, have a common responsibility to create a better world for tomorrow.
The world and our future in it is what we envision and construct it to be. Malaysia believes that we can achieve this through greater trust and strengthened multilateralism. The United Nations can be the vessel to take us from despondency to a brighter future, from uncertainty to optimism, and from vulnerability to resilience.