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PETALING JAYA: The United Nations must ensure that once a vaccine for Covid-19 is found, it is available to all, says Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“This (Covid-19) has claimed so many lives and exposed the true capacity and effectiveness of our health systems. The socioeconomic impact has been just as severe.
“On this, we must ensure that once a vaccine is found, it must be accessible to all nations and peoples. There should be no discrimination.
“We must remember that since Covid-19 does not discriminate, neither should our response,” he said in his speech at a high-level meeting to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
Earlier, Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighted the importance of multilateralism and called for collective efforts for a better future.
“Multilateralism is not an option, but a necessity as we rebuild better and greener for a more equal, resilient and more sustainable world,” Bozkir said in his opening remarks at the high-level meeting.
Below is Muhyiddin’s speech in its entirety:
Malaysia national statement
Mr. president,
Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished representatives,
It is my great pleasure to address this high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
Let me first of all congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election as President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. I wish you all the best and a fruitful presidency. I also wish to extend our appreciation to your predecessor, His Excellency Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, for his commitment and capable leadership during a challenging 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly due to Covid-19.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Earlier this year, the United Nations launched the UN75 initiative, inviting people from around the world to share their aspirations, hopes and priorities for the future. Almost 40,000 people responded to the UN survey75 in the first 3 months of its launch. While the interpretation of the findings may differ depending on the respective national circumstances, the message and the direction our people have shared are clear.
This is not to say that the international community has not paid attention to these issues. On the contrary, we have worked especially on them over the years. The Paris Agreement, for example, was a milestone reached by nations in the fight against climate change, a culmination of international efforts that began at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. We also have a number of instruments and conventions. on human rights, most of which took many years to formulate. These instruments govern and regulate our actions so that we can all progress. Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen some countries ignore such agreements. We hope this stops. We must pay attention to what our people want and expect.
The UN survey75 came at a time when the world was just beginning to witness the spread of this deadly Coronavirus, which is why I am delivering my speech in Malaysia. It has cost so many lives and exposed the true capacity and effectiveness of our health systems. The socioeconomic impact has been just as severe. On this, we must ensure that once a vaccine is found, it is accessible to all nations and peoples. There should be no discrimination. We must remember that since COVID-19 does not discriminate, neither should our response.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
The United Nations remains the only global institution that we can all claim as property. While we recognize that the Organization has done quite well in many areas in its 75 years of existence, especially in promoting social and economic development, we must be honest and acknowledge that the UN has somehow failed to “save the nations. generations to come from the scourge of war. “Many people continue to suffer from conflicts, which remain unresolved in various parts of the world. The United Nations must improve in this regard. To do this, we believe that the organization must reform.
The United Nations is now more necessary than ever. However, the organization must be better equipped, not only with political freedom, but with the continued support of its Member States to respond to some of the most glaring problems facing the world.
Seventy-five years after its existence, the time is right for the United Nations to assess its achievements; improve your weaknesses and remove all obstacles that prevent your continued progress. Malaysia welcomes the adoption of the Declaration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations today. We sincerely believe that today’s commemoration presents a golden opportunity for the international community to do better. Let’s not lose this opportunity. Let’s move forward together in building the future we want and the United Nations we need.
With this I thank you.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Prime Minister of Malaysia
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