NEW YORK – Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will lead Malaysia’s delegation to the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) here.
In his first appearance at the annual gathering of world leaders, Anwar will share Malaysia’s efforts in addressing the climate crisis and action taken towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
“The prime minister will also share Malaysia’s Madani framework. It’s very important for us to let the world know what this is all about,” Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir told Malaysian media at the office of the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations here.
Also present were the Malaysian ambassador to the United States, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin; and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Datuk Ahmad Faisal Muhamad.
According to Zambry, the prime minister, who is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow, will deliver Malaysia’s national statement at the General Debate on Friday.
During the visit, Anwar will be accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, and several MPs and government officials.
The General Debate, which starts today and runs until September 26, will see state and government leaders from 157 countries, as well as 35 ministers, deliver their national statements at the United Nations headquarters.
This year’s theme for the General Debate is Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.
Zambry said the prime minister’s presence at the UNGA is expected to receive prominent coverage, as many other national leaders who were met earlier stated that they were looking forward to Anwar’s speech because of his experience and leadership.
“The prime minister will also speak about global conflict, including the Ukraine crisis, as well as the long-standing Palestine and Myanmar issues,” he said.
The prime minister has also been invited to deliver a Friday sermon at the Islamic Cultural Centre of New York on September 22, the first foreign leader to be given such honour by the city’s first mosque.
Anwar will also host a dinner for 1,000 Malaysian diaspora on Friday, said Zambry, adding that there are about 25,000 Malaysians residing in the country. – September 19, 2023