PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will deliver Malaysia’s national statement at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (Unga) in New York today.

       His inaugural speech at Unga will be delivered via a pre-recorded video, highlighting the theme “The World is a Family”, and how the Malaysian Family will work together with the “world family” to manage, overcome and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Wisma Putra secretary-general Datuk Seri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob said the Prime Minister will also look to health diplomacy, which is one of the main focuses of Malaysia’s foreign policy framework.

       “The Prime Minister will also state the country’s firm stand on political and humanitarian issues including those of Palestine and Myanmar, and Malaysia’s concerns over developments in Afghanistan,” he said during a briefing yesterday on the prime minister’s participation at the 76th Unga.

       Shahrul Ikram said Ismail Sabri will also reaffirm, among others, the reform of the UN, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Ceasefire.

       The Prime Minister will also speak on the peaceful coexistence to address the deep-rooted challenges of inequality, political instability and global governance.

       He said Ismail Sabri had also addressed the UN Food Systems Summit early yesterday (Thursday local time) via a pre-recorded video which highlighted the importance of the food systems to achieve the 2030 SDGs.

       “In his speech, the Prime Minister said the government will pay attention to small-scale farmers who contribute up to 75% of the national food output,” he said.

       Shahrul Ikram said Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah will represent Malaysia and deliver its statement at the High-Level Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons via a pre-recorded video on Sept 28. — Bernama