‘Middle powers’, like Malaysia, can shape global decisions when major powers can’t agree, Mohamad Hasan says at UN general assembly

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Hasan delivers Malaysia’s National Statement at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters in New York on September 26, 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Sunday, 27 Sep 2026 9:36 AM MYT

NEW YORK, Sept 27 — Middle powers such as Malaysia and regional organisations such as Asean have an important role in shaping global decisions and keeping dialogue alive when major powers cannot agree, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.

He said most countries represented at the United Nations (UN) were not great powers, yet decisions taken by a few could shape the future of all.

“We are the global majority. As I said earlier, we must not simply live with the consequences of choices made elsewhere. We must help shape those choices,” he said in his national statement at the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA) here on Saturday.

Mohamad said middle powers such as Malaysia could help keep dialogue alive when major powers could not reach an agreement.

He also said regional organisations such as Asean could bring the perspectives of their people into global debates.

“We must have the confidence to speak for our regions, not be spoken for,” he said.

Mohamad said the international community needed to rebuild trust in the power of proactive governance and multilateralism amid growing global uncertainty.

He said Malaysia would not turn away from the UN in its hour of difficulty or abandon multilateralism because it was imperfect.

“We will do the work to make it worthy of the trust placed in it,” he said.

Asean, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a regional intergovernmental organisation established in 1967 to promote peace, stability and economic growth, and to strengthen cooperation among countries in Southeast Asia.

It comprises 11 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the recently joined Timor-Leste.

Mohamad is in New York from Sept 23 to 27 for Malaysia’s participation in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). — Bernama