Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to Lead Malaysia’s Delegation to 81st UN General Assembly

NEW YORK, Sept 23 – Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will lead Malaysia’s delegation to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York from Sept 23 to 27, where Malaysia will reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism, international law, and systemic UN reform.

Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Datuk Nadzirah Osman, stated that Malaysia’s participation comes at a critical juncture as global cooperation faces a growing trust deficit.

“During a time when multilateralism is under scrutiny and facing this growing trust deficit, the international community must move beyond words and commit to collective and concrete action. No country can actually address today’s global challenges alone,” Nadzirah told Malaysian media representatives on Tuesday.

This marks the third time Mohamad has led the Malaysian delegation to UNGA since assuming his portfolio as Foreign Minister in December 2023.

The theme for UNGA 81, ‘Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All’, focuses on rebuilding confidence in international diplomacy while addressing geopolitical, technological, economic, and climate challenges.

Mohamad is scheduled to deliver Malaysia’s national statement during the General Debate on Sept 26. His address is expected to highlight:

• Multilateralism & International Law: Defending global rules-based order and supporting international legal institutions.
• Middle East Geopolitics: Addressing the question of Palestine, calling for immediate solutions to Middle East tensions, and defending UNRWA operations.
• Institutional Reform: Urging comprehensive reform of the UN and Security Council, and participating in the UN80 initiative.
• Sustainable Development: Closing the development gap and accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ahead of the General Debate, Mohamad will participate in several high-level ministerial meetings starting Sept 24, including the Peacebuilding Commission, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Annual Coordination Meeting, a ministerial meeting supporting UNRWA, and a session on sea-level rise threats.

On Sept 25, he will attend meetings on pandemic preparedness, the Group of 77 and China, the Hague Group Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting in Defence of International Law, the Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem, and the Group of Friends of the UN Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC).

Mohamad is also scheduled to conduct bilateral discussions with counterparts from Nepal, Iran, Kuwait, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Algeria, as well as hold an official engagement with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Addressing Malaysia’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2036-2037 term, Nadzirah confirmed that Malaysia will actively lobby UN member states ahead of the June 2035 election, building on its previous term in 2015-2016.

Nadzirah also highlighted the ongoing selection process for the next UN Secretary-General, noting that of the seven candidates currently in the running, four are women, offering a historical opportunity for female leadership at the helm of the UN for the first time since 1945.

During his visit, Mohamad will also host a gathering for the Malaysian diaspora residing, working, and studying in New York on Sept 26.

–NMT