At UNGA, Malaysia to raise Palestine, UN reform and global challenges

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will take Malaysia’s multilateralism push to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York this week in September 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Wednesday, 23 Sep 2026 10:18 AM MYT

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) here from Sept 23 to 27, with Malaysia set to reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism, international law and a stronger, more effective United Nations (UN).

Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the UN, Datuk Nadzirah Osman said Malaysia’s participation comes at a time when multilateralism is under scrutiny and facing a growing trust deficit, making collective and concrete action increasingly important.

“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,” she told Malaysian media representatives ahead of Mohamad’s visit at her office here Tuesday (Sept 22).

This will be the third time Mohamad has led the Malaysian delegation to the UNGA since taking over as Foreign Minister in December 2023.

The 81st session, themed ‘Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All’, focuses on rebuilding confidence in global cooperation while navigating major geopolitical, technological, economic and environmental changes.

The General Debate runs from Sept 22 to 28.

Mohamad is scheduled to deliver Malaysia’s national statement at about 4.30pm on Sept 26 (New York time), with key issues expected to include strengthening multilateralism and defending international law, the question of Palestine and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, UN and Security Council reform, the development gap and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the UN80 initiative.

Before the General Debate, Mohamad will attend several high-level meetings, beginning Sept 24 with the Ministerial-Level Meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission, followed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers, a Ministerial Meeting in Support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) 2026 and a high-level meeting on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise.

On Sept 25, he will participate in the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, the 50th Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 and China, and the Hague Group Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting in Defence of International Law.

He will also attend the Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem, where he is expected to deliver a national statement, and the High-Level Meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC).

Nadzirah said Mohamad is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings and receive courtesy calls from foreign ministers and eminent persons from Nepal, Iran, Kuwait, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Algeria.

He is also scheduled to meet the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation and building a shared understanding of regional and global issues of common concern.

She said some bilateral discussions were also expected to cover technical cooperation and efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN system, including through the UN80 initiative.

On Malaysia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2036-2037 term, Nadzirah said Malaysia would actively seek the support of UN member states ahead of the election in June 2035.

She said Malaysia last served on the Security Council in 2015 and 2016, adding that the bid reflected the country’s unwavering commitment to the maintenance and preservation of international peace and security.

On greater female representation in UN leadership, Nadzirah noted that the organisation had never been led by a woman since its establishment in 1945, despite various UN programmes and initiatives related to women.

She said seven candidates were currently in the running for the UN secretary-general post, four of whom were women, adding that the candidates included former leaders of their respective countries and brought diverse experience and leadership backgrounds.

The selection process is ongoing, and Malaysia will continue to monitor developments.

Mohamad will also host a dinner for the Malaysian diaspora in New York on Sept 26, providing an opportunity to meet Malaysians working and studying in New York and surrounding areas. — Bernama