Malaysia says pandemic prevention and preparedness must be shared global responsibility, Tok Mat tells UN

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan delivers his intervention at the High-Level Meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) at the ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters in New York September 26, 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 26 Sep 2026 2:22 PM MYT

NEW YORK, Sept 26 — Malaysia has stressed that pandemic prevention, preparedness and response must be treated as both a national imperative and a shared global responsibility, drawing on lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Covid-19 exposed a fundamental truth. No nation can secure its health in isolation,” said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan in Malaysia’s statement at the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response here yesterday.

Mohamad is in New York from September 23 to 27 to lead Malaysia’s delegation to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Malaysia has translated this lesson into action, Mohamad shared at the meeting.

“Through the Malaysia National Action Plan for Health Security 2025–2030, we are strengthening health-system readiness, integrated surveillance and early warning, laboratory capacity, emergency coordination, and a prepared health workforce,” he said.

Taking public health seriously, Mohamad said Malaysia is implementing the ‘One Health’ approach to mitigate microbiological threats in food, water and the environment.

“We believe that only through a whole-of-society approach would public health be assured nationwide,” he said.

The foreign minister noted that stronger preparedness will remain incomplete without equity.

Malaysia, he said, welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement and “we call for a robust and equitable Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Annex that places pathogen sharing and benefit-sharing on an equal footing, while respecting national legislation and State sovereignty.”

Mohamad said equity must also be supported by the capacity to research, develop and produce essential health products.

Through its National Vaccine Development Roadmap 2021–2030, Malaysia is strengthening these capabilities.

Looking ahead, Mohamad said Malaysia’s collective ambition must be matched by sustainable means.

“Financing should be adequate, predictable and responsive to public health risks, equity and country needs.

“International mechanisms must complement domestic investment, strengthen national capacities, and reinforce universal health coverage,” he said.

The true test of this meeting, Mohamad said, will not be the commitments we announce, but whether the next threat is detected earlier, contained faster and met with fairer access to life-saving tools.

“Let us make solidarity not an improvised response to crisis, but a standing commitment secured before the next emergency, for every nation and every generation,” he said.

The meeting was held under the theme “Fostering a Multilateral and Intergenerational Approach to Prevent, Prepare for and Respond to Pandemics and Public Health Emergencies, Through the Principles of Equity and Solidarity” at the UN Headquarters. — Bernama