MALAYSIA will use the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism and international law, with the Palestinian issue, UN reform and global development challenges expected to feature prominently in its engagements.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will lead the Malaysian delegation to the UNGA in New York from Sept 23 to 27, with his national statement scheduled for the General Debate on Sept 26.
Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Datuk Nadzirah Osman, said Mohamad was expected to underline the need for collective action at a time when multilateralism was facing growing questions over its effectiveness.
"At a time when multilateralism is being questioned and facing an increasingly apparent crisis of confidence, the international community must move beyond rhetoric and commit to concrete collective action.
"No country can address today’s global challenges on its own," she said at a media briefing.
Nadzirah said Palestine and geopolitical tensions in West Asia, reform of the UN and its Security Council, development gaps, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN80 Initiative were also expected to feature prominently.
Mohamad is scheduled to deliver Malaysia’s national statement at about 4.30pm New York time on Sept 26, reaffirming the country’s commitment to multilateralism, international law and efforts to strengthen the UN.
On Sept 24, he is scheduled to attend the Peacebuilding Commission meeting, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers, the 2026 Ministerial Meeting in Support of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and a high-level meeting on addressing existential threats arising from rising sea levels.
He is also scheduled to deliver Malaysia’s statement at the Joint Ministerial Meeting of Arab and Islamic countries on Jerusalem and meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sept 25.
On the same day, Mohamad is due to attend a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, the 50th Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 and China, an extraordinary ministerial meeting of The Hague Group on defending international law, and a high-level meeting of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends (UNAOC).
Nadzirah said Mohamad would also hold bilateral meetings and receive courtesy calls from foreign ministers and prominent figures from Nepal, Iran, Kuwait, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Algeria.
"These bilateral meetings are important in strengthening relations with Malaysia and building a common understanding on regional and global issues of shared interest.
"The focus of discussions depends on each country’s priorities, including technical cooperation and efforts to improve the effectiveness of the UN system," she said.
She said many of the discussions were also expected to focus on the UN80 Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN in addressing contemporary global challenges.
This will be Mohamad’s third time leading Malaysia’s delegation to the UNGA since taking over as Foreign Minister in December 2023.
The 81st UNGA is themed "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: The United Nations that Delivers for All".
A total of 81 heads of state, one crown prince, eight vice-presidents, 50 heads of government, seven deputy prime ministers and 42 ministers are scheduled to deliver national statements during the General Debate from Sept 22 to 28, 2026. - September 23, 2026
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