THE United Nations has praised Malaysia’s leadership as the 2025 ASEAN Chair and its strong international stance on the Palestinian issue, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said following a high-level meeting in New York.
Speaking at a press conference at Malaysia’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Mohamad revealed that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres personally commended Malaysia’s role during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“Guterres greatly appreciated and praised Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair,” Bernama reported Mohamad saying. “He confirmed his attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October, and I handed him the formal invitation from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.”
According to Mohamad, the Secretary-General also lauded Malaysia’s unwavering position on the Palestinian struggle, particularly Prime Minister Anwar’s vocal defence of Palestinian rights at international forums.
“Guterres said Malaysia’s efforts align closely with his own aspirations as UN Secretary-General. He assured us of full support, both for Malaysia and for ASEAN, in advancing the Palestinian cause — an issue he described as exceeding the limits of humanity,” Mohamad stated.
Recognition from the Islamic World
Mohamad also took part in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Foreign Ministers' Coordination Meeting, where Malaysia’s continued advocacy for Palestine received strong backing from member states.
“Many countries commended the Prime Minister’s uncompromising remarks in Doha,” he said, referring to Anwar’s speech at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit.
“It is time for us to act — time to coordinate our statements into concrete action. We are pushing for OIC resolutions to be elevated and implemented swiftly at the UN level,” he added.
During the meeting, Mohamad announced an additional contribution of RM420,000 (US$100,000) to the OIC Humanitarian Trust Fund for Rohingya refugees.
Diplomatic Engagements and International Agreements
In a series of bilateral engagements, the Foreign Minister held talks with counterparts from Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Türkiye and Slovenia, as well as the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini.
Among the outcomes, Slovenia expressed interest in strengthening ties with Malaysia. “We will move this forward at the level of senior officials,” said Mohamad.
Separately, Malaysia submitted its instrument of accession to the *Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space*, with the document handed over to UN Legal Affairs Deputy Secretary-General Elinor Jane Britt Hammarskjold.
The convention aims to establish a transparent and accountable system for registering space objects, enhancing global cooperation and safety in outer space.
Malaysia Urges Cambodia and Thailand to Finalise ASEAN Observer Mission Terms
Meanwhile, Malaysia is pressing for the finalisation of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the proposed ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) between Cambodia and Thailand, ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan expressed hope that both nations would complete the necessary framework to formalise the observer mission, which has been operating provisionally along their contested 817-kilometre shared border.
“We are very grateful that both countries have, up to now, continued to honour the agreement signed in Putrajaya this past July. What we are hoping for now is simply to have the TOR finalised,” Mohamad said during a press conference at Malaysia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Friday.
The AOT initiative was borne out of renewed tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which briefly flared into an armed exchange on 24 July. Hostilities were brought to an end on 28 July following an emergency meeting brokered by Malaysia in Putrajaya, leading to a provisional agreement on the deployment of ASEAN observers.
Mohamad stressed that while Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair includes facilitating peace and dialogue, the territorial dispute itself remains a bilateral matter.
“It is entirely up to the two countries to negotiate a long-term settlement. Malaysia maintains a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of fellow ASEAN members, in accordance with the ASEAN Charter,” he said.
Mohamad’s remarks followed a quadrilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, attended by senior representatives from the United States, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand.
The session was chaired by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and attended by Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, with Malaysia serving as facilitator and coordinator. - September 27, 2025
