Malaysia, 2009

I would like to take this

opportunity to congratulate Mr. Treki on his presidency

and to assure him of Malaysia’s full support.

There is a difference in the General Assembly this

year. In light of some of the greatest challenges ever

faced by any generation, we have resolved to work

more closely together, to strengthen the ties that bind

us as members of a human family, to fulfil our

responsibilities and to overcome distrust and discord.

Malaysia will continue to do its part in this cooperative

endeavour. We do so knowing that we are a country in

the middle, not too large nor too small, not too rich nor

too poor, not too strong nor too weak. We do our part

knowing that our actions have consequences for

ourselves and our children. We do so in the belief that

hope will triumph over adversity.

I believe that the developing world is not shirking

its responsibilities to address the entire spectrum of

challenges facing us. But our efforts will be far more

effective if done in tandem with the developed world.

So allow me to say this on behalf of the developing

world — give us fair terms and we will seal the deal.

Give us the tools and we will help to finish the job.

Invest in our common future, and all our children and

humanity henceforth will reap the rewards.

A few days ago we deliberated on the issue of

climate change, among the most pressing and urgent

issues facing us today. Therefore, I hope that we are

now more firm in our resolve to act immediately. In

Malaysia’s case, we are, in the context of mitigation

action, protecting and preserving our rainforests

through sustainable forest management measures. We

are increasing the use of public transportation as part

of the relevant Ministry’s key performance indicator.

We are also increasing the usage of renewable energy

sources and promoting greater energy efficiency. The

Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications has

been transformed into the Ministry of Energy, Green

Technology and Water.

However, it is the developed world that must play

the leading role in the global effort to combat climate

change. Sadly, such leadership has been lacking.

Developed countries’ pledges to cut greenhouse gas

emissions fall short of what is required to tackle

increasing global temperatures.

We have to seal the deal in Copenhagen.

However, that cannot be achieved if the developed

world continues to attempt to reinterpret and

renegotiate key principles of the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change and the

Kyoto Protocol. Let me be absolutely clear about this:

there will not be a deal in Copenhagen if some are keen

to “steal the deal”.

I need to state what I believe to be a very

important fact. Tackling climate change entails making

difficult choices, given the competing interests of so

many constituents and needs in developing countries.

More important, there is a need to balance

development, food security and poverty eradication, on

the one hand, and environmental considerations, on the

other. Let us not make the glib statement that one

perfectly complements the other.

For example, agricultural production, the bedrock

of efforts to address the food crisis, produces 14 per

cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Let us not forget that

the world food system is still in crisis. Although the

prices of major food grains have declined since last

year, they are still above average. Hunger afflicts more

than 1 billion people. Addressing the food crisis

requires more than increasing food production; it

demands nothing less than a transformation of market

systems so that they work better for the poorest and

hungriest. It is for those reasons that we believe that

climate change must not be treated as a stand-alone

subject; it must be seen as part of the broader

sustainable development challenge.

The United Nations has been in existence for

more than 60 years, yet peace and security continue to

elude us in many parts of the world. Malaysia has

played and will continue to play its role in achieving

global peace and security. We have committed our

troops to United Nations peacekeeping operations since

1960.

09-52604 38

Closer to home, Malaysia has been playing a role

in fostering peace within the Association of Southeast

Asian Nations region. We are actively involved in

peace efforts in the southern Philippines. We will

continue to work towards greater progress in the

democratization process in Myanmar.

Often, grave injustices are the cause of breaches

of peace and threats to security. In that connection, we

must accept the fact that the Palestinian issue

epitomizes everything that is unjust and unfair in

international relations. It has taken on a symbolic value

that colours cultural and political relations well beyond

its geographical scope. This issue has bedevilled the

international community for too long. We must do all

that we can to address the Palestinian issue, as

resolving it will have a major impact in our efforts to

achieve peace and security in the Middle East and

beyond.

For far too long, the unstinting support given to

Israel has resulted in an impasse. In the interest of

global peace, Israel, Palestine and the affected

countries in the region must work together to resolve

the conflict. We look forward to the United States

undertaking the role of an honest broker. We hold much

hope for a more even-handed approach by the United

States on the Middle East. We expect to be able to be

part of a just and comprehensive solution and that the

action of the United States will match its rhetoric. After

all, history is littered with examples of the fury and

vehemence that result when hope turns into despair.

Non-proliferation and disarmament are

cornerstones of peace and security. We agree that at the

heart of such efforts is a basic bargain comprising these

elements: first, all nations have the right to peacefully

use nuclear power; second, nations that have nuclear

weapons must move towards disarmament; and third,

those without nuclear weapons must renounce their

acquisition.

In that regard, Malaysia draws hope from any

action by major Powers such as the agreement between

the United States and Russia to reduce their nuclear

stockpiles. We also look forward to other measures to

strengthen that bargain, including the strengthening of

the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons (NPT) and other international instruments

related to disarmament and non-proliferation. By the

same token, we view with grave concern any attempt

aimed at the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other

weapons of mass destruction.

For our part, since 1996, we have introduced the

draft resolution on follow-up to the advisory opinion of

the International Court of Justice on the legality of the

threat or use of nuclear weapons, and we will continue

to do so at this session of the General Assembly. The

resolution, inter alia, calls on all States to fulfil their

obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations

leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons

convention. Malaysia’s efforts in that regard will not

cease here. We will also participate actively in the 2010

Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT and play

our rightful role as President of the Board of Governors

of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

For many, efforts to achieve peace and security

begin at a more commonplace level. Given Malaysia’s

multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, we are

especially conscious of the need to continuously

promote interaction among peoples of different

religions, races and beliefs. For that reason, the

Malaysian Government has introduced the “one

Malaysia” concept, which builds on previous efforts to

promote national unity yet takes present realities into

account. It aims to foster appreciation and respect for

all races, seeing diversity as a source of strength. It

envisages unity that arises from true acceptance instead

of mere tolerance, based on the legal principles set out

in the Constitution, and has social justice for all at its

heart.

If our collective efforts to create a better world

are to succeed, the global governance structure must be

improved. Decisions are still made by the few for the

many. The prime example of that is the Security

Council. We continue to believe that reform of the

Council, including the eventual abolition of the veto, is

critical if the aspiration to the equality of States is to be

fulfilled.

The same situation is reflected in the economic

sphere. Perhaps the most important result of the

recently concluded summit of the Group of 20 (G-20)

is the Group’s designation as the premier forum for

international economic cooperation. That point was

made twice in the Leaders’ Statement. Further, G-20

representatives are to report back to their countries

with recommendations on how to maximize the

effectiveness of their cooperation.

39 09-52604

It may be said that the G-20 is far more

representative than the Group of Eight, given the

participation of the leading emerging economies.

However, questions remain as to how representative

and inclusive it truly is. Therefore, the challenge of the

G-20 process is how best to make it more legitimate

and more effective.

I would like to make the following points and

proposals in this regard. First, many of the main thrusts

of the G-20’s work, such as reform of the Bretton

Woods institutions and strengthening the international

financial regulatory system, were first articulated by

Malaysia in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.

Secondly, while claiming no particular credit for

Malaysia, that means that ideas and solutions are not

the monopoly of the large and powerful. Thirdly, the

choice between legitimacy and effectiveness is often a

false one. Fourthly, in addressing ways of maximizing

cooperation among themselves, the G-20 must

simultaneously address ways of improving links with

the broader international community. Finally, there

needs to be greater clarity on the involvement of

regional organizations.

On the issue of global governance, as in many

others, Malaysia stands ready, willing and able to make

a meaningful contribution. We aspire to equality for all

States, large and small. We dream a dream of a true

Parliament of Man, a Federation of the World.

But we are not content to be idle dreamers. We

intend to make full use our presidency of the Economic

and Social Council next year to address these issues.

We will do so in a cooperative and action-oriented

manner. History has shown that a state of virtue or vice is

often the result of human endeavour and activity. Vices

that have existed since time immemorial have been

eradicated by dint of human action. Slavery is one such

example, apartheid another. Inspired by the hope that

these examples provide, I believe that we can yet

overcome the grave challenges that we face. However,

there must be a willingness to collectively bear our

common burdens.

I would therefore like to end where I began, with

an expression of hope that in the light of some of the

greatest challenges ever faced by any generation of

Man, we will finally be able to work more closely. This

hope is that we may strengthen the ties that bind us as

members of a human family, fulfil our responsibilities

and overcome distrust and discord.