YouSaid · the spoken record

Ismail Sabri Yaakob

lines on the record: 35
first: 2021-09-24
most recent: 2022-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“That effort is timely because it will give us the opportunity to look back at what has been achieved and what can be improved for the benefit of the world family. We all share the same concerns on all the issues I have raised. Malaysia remains optimistic. I call on Member States to play their respective roles in overcoming the challenges we face. However, we have to do it together as one big family — the world family. United we stand; divided we fall. As long as we are united and strong together in shouldering this burden, I am sure we will succeed. Today I invite the international community to work together by practicing the spirit of the world family in facing global challenges. Malaysia will continue to give its full commitment.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Malaysia has agreed to establish a National SDG Centre to intensify SDG programmes and monitor their progress. As one of only 17 biodiverse countries in the world, Malaysia is aware of its responsibility to maintain and preserve its natural resources for future generations. During the Earth Summit in 1992, Malaysia pledged to maintain at least 50 per cent of its land mass under forest and tree cover. Three decades on, the entire Malaysian territory today remains 54 per cent forested. That percentage will increase following ongoing aggressive reforestation measures. Not only Malaysia, but the entire world also needs to be more sensitive to efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In that regard, Malaysia welcomes the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, to be held next year.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In that regard, Malaysia is committed to shouldering its responsibilities and roles to ensure environmental conservation and sustainability. Malaysia has undertaken various measures in that context. For example, in the palm oil industry, Malaysia has introduced the Malaysian sustainable palm oil standard to meet requirements for the purpose of sustainable development. Malaysia is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent, based on gross domestic product, by 2030. In that regard, Malaysia has set a target of achieving 31 per cent renewable energy use by 2025. Malaysia is also committed to achieving its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The national energy policy 2022-2040 was implemented in Malaysia on 19 September to build macroeconomic resilience and energy supply security.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The fact remains that developed countries must bear the responsibility of increasing aid for developing countries by fulfilling their commitment to providing an unconditional yearly allocation of $100 billion. That will help realize the actions taken against climate change that should have been implemented since 2020. COVID-19 has slowed our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I stand here as the representative of a developing country to assert that the implementation and success of a greener and more sustainable socioeconomic development will be achieved with a fair and inclusive response to that pledge. The fact is that new technology is an incentive for nations to switch to renewable energy. However, that new technology must first be affordable to developing countries.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In line with the principle of one-country one-vote, now is the time to abolish the veto power. As an Organization that brings the spirit and symbol of democracy to the world, the United Nations needs to return to its foundations. Climate change is a universal problem that affects us all. Last year alone, Malaysia was struck by the most serious floods in its history, resulting in losses estimated at $1.4 billion or 6.1 billion ringgit. Many lives were lost and almost 100,000 people had to be moved to temporary evacuation centres. That situation arose not only in Malaysia but in several other countries as well. Clearly, mitigation and adaptation measures need to continue.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It is the responsibility of all countries, including those participating in the Convention, to welcome and resettle more refugees. At the same time, Malaysia strongly emphasizes the importance of the world’s addressing the root cause of the Rohingya crisis. I believe that this issue will not be resolved as long as the crisis in the country continues. The conflicts and crises that occur in the world, including in Ukraine, Palestine and Myanmar, cannot be resolved due to the debility of the global governance system and the United Nations. The biggest problem in the United Nations is the Security Council. The power of veto is often misused to favour the world Powers that have it. It is not democratic and violates the principles of democracy. That makes it impossible for conflicts to be resolved by any of the permanent members of the Council.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Malaysia is disappointed that there has been no meaningful progress in the implementation of the ASEAN five-point consensus, especially on the part of the Myanmar junta. The ASEAN five-point consensus cannot continue any longer in its current form. It needs to be given a new lease of life and refined based on a clearer framework, time frame and end goal. Even more important is that the aspirations of the people of Myanmar must be fulfilled. The political crisis in Myanmar has also aggravated the situation of millions of Myanmar refugees, including the Rohingya refugees. Although Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol, it has accepted nearly 200,000 Rohingya refugees on humanitarian grounds.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Malaysia has played an important role in conflict resolution in South-East Asia. For example, Malaysia has been involved in the peace process between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front since 2001. In addition, Malaysia has always been proactive in helping to resolve regional crises and conflicts. However, Malaysia has been disappointed with the situation in Myanmar since the coup that took place in February 2021. It is very saddening that the Security Council has taken no serious action to deal with the situation. Some even see the Security Council as having washed its hands of the matter and handing it over to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Malaysia is therefore of the view that the major Powers need to be honest in resolving the issue of cruelty faced by the Palestinian people. The United Nations should take a firm stand to ensure that the longstanding crisis in Palestine is resolved quickly. Many countries today have been quick to act in the case of Ukraine. Malaysia wants the same action to be taken to resolve the issue of Palestine. Israel needs to stop being an apartheid entity! Although we are still threatened by conflicts among countries, we cannot ignore other crises around the world. The pillar of strength for a conflict-free world is living together in a culture of peace. Malaysia, as a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious country, always supports and strives for the concept of peaceful coexistence among races, beliefs and cultures.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“This is a positive step in addressing the food security problem. In that regard, Malaysia reiterates its insistence that all countries, especially the major Powers, refrain from creating isolation blocs that will only push the world towards a cold war. The world needs to realize that peace can be achieved only through dialogue and negotiation. As for the occupied Palestinian territories, Malaysia is disappointed by the brutal occupation by Israel, which has been going on for a long time. The Palestinian people continue to live under the shackles of Israel’s discriminatory policies. Illegal settlements are becoming more widespread, in violation of international law, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016). The most basic rights of the Palestinian people continue to be denied.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“When a conflict erupts, all parties have the responsibility to ease tension and prioritize the safety and lives of civilians. At the same time, the conflicting parties need to return to the negotiating table to stop the conflict as soon as possible. Malaysia does not approve of the isolation of a country from international organizations. Such a measure is against the principle of multilateralism and hinders dialogue. The price to be paid for war is high. That is proven by the situation experienced by Ukraine. The effects are felt not only by the people and the country but also by the world. This conflict has threatened peace, global security and the economy, and undermined food security. Malaysia welcomes the creation of a sea corridor that allows for the shipment of grain from Ukraine.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“One truth that we should not forget is that conflicts have nothing but negative effects for the whole world. It is because of conflict that we are now facing various problems, such as lack of nutrients and food resources. In that regard, Malaysia calls on all countries to emphasize the issue of food security so as to guarantee sufficient food resources for all. The United Nations Charter and international law are there to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes between countries. The Charter and the laws set the limits of a country’s pursuit of its own interests. Based on that principle, Malaysia opposes violations of international law, including the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of any nation.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“For example, in addressing the current inflation around the world, one country’s monetary policy and control of interest rates has an impact on other countries. That is where cooperation and coordination among countries need to be stepped up if we are to achieve the goal of a more just economic well-being for all. In an international financial and monetary structure that is still dominated by a few major Powers, and in the context of world economic recovery, domestic monetary decisions have to be adjusted by taking the reality and needs of developing countries into account. In that connection, Malaysia urges Member States to establish a cooperative international monetary mechanism to build a more effective and just system that is able to balance the needs of global development.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That has given hope to the world. Numerous statements were issued, all inspiring hope, including in me, that the spirit of a world family would allow us to set aside our differences. That commitment enables us to rise from the pandemic and together overcome the challenges we face. Even so, that spirit of optimism is fading. I am concerned by the challenges that remain unaddressed and are , in fact, deteriorating. Many challenges remain unresolved. A major lesson the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic taught us is that we cannot run from every challenge that confronts us. Being selfish and not caring about the impact on others will only generate mistrust in international cooperation. In an interconnected world, the policies and decisions of some countries can affect others.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“First of all, I would like to congratulate Mr. Csaba Korosi on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session. I am confident that under his leadership, this session will be conducted with efficiency and effectiveness. I would also like to express my appreciation to the previous President, His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, for his excellent leadership of the seventy-sixth session in the face of various constraints and challenges. Malaysia welcomes the theme chosen for this year’s session of the General Assembly, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”. We believe that the theme is most apt for the situation we are going through together. During the seventy-sixth session of General Assembly, we heard a high level of commitment and pledged to work together.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Today, we place our resolve in the UN and its Member States to save humanity from the scourge of the global pandemic. The pandemic has shown that we need to improve our resolve to strengthen international cooperation and multilateralism, and consider ourselves as a family of nations. At the same time, the world family must be made a more peaceful, prosperous, sustainable and equitable one. We must close ranks and enhance our unity and cohesion. We must live in peaceful coexistence. Only then will we have a chance to succeed. Thank you.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Reform of the UN: Revitalisation of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council Mr. President, The UN has been in existence for over 75 years. In that time, the world has changed significantly. As such, the UN must keep pace with a rapidly changing world as it continues to face a crisis of expectations. Reform is necessary to strengthen the UN’s effectiveness as a multilateral organisation, to bring more transparency to it and to enhance its credibility. On this, we must work together to reform the organisation and we hope Member States will demonstrate openness, flexibility, and political will in the interest of international peace, security, and prosperity. Conclusion Mr. President, During its inception, we looked to the United Nations to save humanity from the scourge of war.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The Situation in Afghanistan Turning to the situation in Afghanistan, Malaysia is appalled by the terrorist attack outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport last month. The attack resulted in the loss of innocent lives with many more injured. Malaysia expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims. We also wish those injured a full recovery. Malaysia condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The region cannot be allowed to be turned into a fertile breeding ground for terrorism again. The world family must come together to support Afghanistan in this time of need, including by extending humanitarian assistance to the people. On this, Malaysia stands ready to extend its assistance and do what it can.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Malaysia continues to call for the deployment of a temporary international presence in the city of Al-Quds, to monitor the cessation of hostilities in the OPT. The international community must spare no effort to ensure the safety, protection, dignity and well-being of the Palestinian civilian population. While generations have had to endure this oppression, it is time that we pay attention to the voices and roles of the younger generation of Palestinians. It is time to give them a better future. They have been suffering in dreadful living conditions under illegal Israeli occupation for so many years and we cannot allow this to continue indefinitely. Malaysia has and will continue to lend its unwavering support and solidarity to the Palestinians.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The systematic oppression of Palestinians over many years through discriminatory policies; denial of basic civil rights; imposition of harsh conditions; large scale land confiscation; and, inhumane acts committed against them tantamount to the crime of apartheid. Yes, Mr. President, apartheid still exists in this world and most of us are just turning a blind eye to this. Malaysia stresses again that Israel must be held responsible and accountable for all its wrongdoings including its flagrant violations of international law. We welcome the establishment of an international commission of inquiry by the Human Rights Council to investigate violations of international human rights law during the 11-day crisis.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“However, we remain concerned that the authorities have yet to allow ASEAN’s Special Envoy to visit the country. We urge the authorities to accept the visit and assist the Special Envoy in his duties as well as expedite the implementation of the ‘Five-Point Consensus’. The Palestinian issue Mr. President, On the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Malaysia is appalled by the deaths of many Palestinian civilians, including women and children, following the brutal attacks by Israel in May this year. We strongly condemn repeated violations and aggression by Israeli forces and settlers against Palestinian worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque. The targeted aggression against worshippers is indeed contemptuous to all Muslims, or for any peace-loving religion. In fact, let us be truly frank about what is happening in the OPT.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Malaysia is particularly worried about the humanitarian situation, now further aggravated by Myanmar’s healthcare system, which is stretched thin. It is absolutely essential for aid to reach those in need. Equally troubling is the refugee crisis that has engulfed Myanmar since the mass exodus of Rohingya in 2017. Malaysia currently hosts more than 154,000 refugees from Myanmar, comprising 86 per cent of the refugee population in the country. More than 66 per cent of those are from the Rohingya ethnic minority and this is just a conservative estimate. ASEAN Member States have taken steps to engage key parties of this conflict to extend assistance where possible. Malaysia fully supports the work of the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We strongly believe that the UN membership must speak with one voice on the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities in all corners of the world. This would allow governments and all stakeholders to focus their attention on combating humankind’s deadliest enemy. The Situation in Myanmar and the Rohingya issue Nevertheless, Mr. President, it is unfortunate that we are far from realizing this global ceasefire. Many places are still experiencing instability. The situation in Myanmar remains of grave concern. Malaysia cannot emphasize enough the importance of respecting the will and interests of the people of Myanmar. There is a need for a peaceful solution to be found, especially with a multitude of challenges besetting the country.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Amid the global uncertainties, it is time for us to work and strengthen our efforts towards living together in peace and harmony. As such, Malaysia will continue to do what it can in promoting peace and preventing conflict in the conduct of its foreign policy. With this approach, Malaysia will continue to uphold its fundamental principles of defending the nation’s sovereignty and interest, maintaining good relations including promoting tolerance, mutual respect and understanding among all peoples and actors of all nations. As a Member State of ASEAN, Malaysia is committed in preserving ASEAN region as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN). Malaysia also reaffirms its commitment towards global peace, security and prosperity by continuing to lead on the issuance of a Joint Communique on global ceasefire in June this year.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“As a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious country, Malaysia strongly believes what we have been practicing can also be applied to the entire world. At the same time, we are a strong proponent of multilateralism. Both multilateralism and peaceful coexistence are mutually reinforcing. We need to realise that as we progress further, we should be far more integrated and stronger as a family of nations. Respect and mutual understanding must be the backbone and essence in our interactions and discourse. We believe that diversity can be a powerful source of strength and resilience. Thus, we need to take a deeper look at the many qualities that make up our family of nations. It is no longer enough that we tolerate differences, but we should, instead, learn to celebrate and treat them with genuine curiosity and meaningful respect.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Towards this end, Malaysia welcomes the coming into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) earlier this year. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and as Chair of Main Committee One (1) on Nuclear Disarmament for the 10th NPT Review Conference, we will strive towards bringing State Parties together and do our best to steer deliberations towards a fruitful outcome. Peaceful Coexistence and Global Ceasefire Mr. President, Malaysia has always been a firm believer in all efforts and initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence between nations; between different peoples; and, between different faiths and cultures.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“At the same time, developed countries have the responsibility to provide financial resources and technology transfer to the developing world to undertake sustainable initiatives. This is in line with the equity principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibility’. Nuclear Disarmament Mr. President, The development and deployment of nuclear weapons continues to be a threat to all mankind. Given the global health crisis, we find it disheartening that billions of dollars are being spent to maintain and modernise nuclear weapons, rather than on saving lives and livelihoods. Malaysia supports the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the assurance that they will never be produced again. This is the only guarantee against the catastrophic consequences arising from their use.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Climate Action That said, rebuilding lives and economies after the pandemic will not come easy. The challenges are even greater for countries that are more vulnerable to natural disasters. Recovery efforts will certainly be more difficult and, thus, require more time and resources to take effect. For Malaysia, mainstreaming sustainability is key in ensuring a smooth transition to a greener socioeconomic ecosystem. We have set ambitious plans to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon, and climate-resilient future. We have introduced policies including the concept of Circular Economy, which will drive mitigation and adaptation initiatives in our cities. We are confident that they will greatly contribute towards making Malaysia a low carbon nation by 2050.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We ensured inclusive growth by addressing poverty, while providing a social safety net to protect vulnerable groups. These packages also play an important role in assisting enterprises to remain afloat during these difficult times. Almost two years into the pandemic, we realise that we need to balance between keeping our people safe while protecting their livelihoods. As such, Malaysia introduced the National Recovery Plan as the nation’s exit strategy from the pandemic. This includes speeding up vaccination rates, which stand at more than 500,000 doses daily in recent weeks. It also includes reopening key economic sectors to revive the economy. We are pleased that these efforts as well as our pursuit in attaining the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development were commended during our Voluntary National Review in July this year.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Needless to say, we are further away from achieving the 2030 Agenda now than we were before. Like the rest of the world, Malaysia’s economy has not been spared. In 2020, Malaysia’s GDP contracted by 5.6 per cent. This marks the worst decline in more than 20 years since the Asian Financial Crisis. From the beginning of the pandemic, Malaysia took a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in addressing this unprecedented crisis. We executed a clear strategy which focused on three thrusts. Firstly, we expanded our healthcare delivery system to prevent the spread and tend to the infected; secondly, we provided strategic fiscal injections to safeguard the economy; and, thirdly, we protected the people’s livelihood. In doing so, we introduced economic stimulus packages worth about $130 billion or 36 per cent of our GDP.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“It is because of this that Malaysia will play a more prominent role and participate more actively in health diplomacy, and our approach will be more inter-disciplinary in nature and involve more relevant stakeholders. As for COVID-19, we cannot afford to wait for an even deadlier variant to emerge and claim more lives. We need to act now. Growing inequities and achieving the SDGs Mr. President, The path towards achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was never easy to begin with. Yet, we have made steady progress. COVID-19 has, however, reversed many hard-won gains. The pandemic has amplified pre-existing inequalities and uncertainties. It has widened the gap between the “haves and the have-nots”. Varying degrees of shortfalls in governance and social security have driven populations back into poverty.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“There are other aspects of health that require our attention. Many health challenges transcend national borders. COVID-19 is just the latest challenge besetting us. Before that, the international community had to deal with other serious outbreaks, which had their unique security and socio-economic dimensions. With the growing frequency of global health threats, this world family must come together and engage in more effective health diplomacy. We must ensure greater collaboration not just to end this pandemic but on an array of other health-related issues. These include expanding the public health capacity of nations, particularly by enhancing their access to relevant technology and knowledge. We truly need to regard public health as a global public good rather than the exclusive domain of individual nations.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“COVID-19 and Health Diplomacy Last year, the international community came together with a pledge to fight COVID-19 hand-in-hand. With our unified commitment; with the aggressive rollout of vaccines; and, with the sharing and adoption of best practices, we should have been on our way to recovery. Sadly, the reality today is that we are far from winning the war against this deadly virus. Our relief that vaccines were developed in record time was quickly followed by distress at its discriminatory rollout. While most vaccine producing nations as well as those that have the financial means have achieved some measure of success, the majority of the world’s population, mainly from middle income and least developed countries, remain unvaccinated. Nevertheless, our focus should not just be on vaccines.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“President, Malaysia is fully committed in managing, overcoming and recovering from this deadly pandemic. No one is safe unless everyone is safe. We must fight this battle together. Our common mission in these unprecedented times call us to recognize that humankind is one big extended family. It is in that spirit that we in Malaysia have very consciously referred to ourselves as ‘Keluarga Malaysia’. Together, and putting aside our differences, we will protect lives and livelihoods. We will ensure that Malaysia will not only bounce back but will thrive as the world emerges from the depths of the pandemic. But, Mr. President, I am not here to only speak about Malaysia. I am here to call for us to work together in the spirit of a “world family”, to address the deep-rooted challenges of inequality, political instability and global governance.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Introduction I join others in congratulating you, Mr. President, on your election as President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr. Volkan Bozkir for his dedication and leadership in successfully completing the work of the last session, which was done under difficult circumstances due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Malaysia welcomes the theme of this year’s General Assembly — “Building resilience through hope — to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations”. The theme serves as a stark reminder of what needs to be done and the long road we have before us. Mr.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)