Statement by
THE HON. DATO' DR. SITI ZAHARAH BINTI SULAIMAN
MINISTER OF NATIONAL UNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MALAYSIA
AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION
27 June 2000, Geneva
CHALLENGES IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: BRINGING NEW HOPE FOR MANKIND
Mr. President,
On behalf of my delegation, I would like to congratulate you on your election as President of this UN Special Session on World Summit For Social Development and Beyond. This Special Session is of great importance to all of us. It is my earnest hope that we will be able to attain a new plateau of understanding and cooperation in addressing social development issues which are of interest and concern to us all. Through the understanding and cooperation, we can collectively work in a more cohesive manner in achieving the goal of bringing prosperity and happiness to all mankind. I am certain that under your expert stewardship, we will have a successful Summit that will establish a new and a more durable platform in addressing social development issues as well as meeting the future challenges.
Mr. President,
2. The end of the Cold
War, as well as the advent of new technologies and modes of communications have
given us new hope and window of opportunity to streamline and focus our minds,
efforts and resources in meeting the needs of social development for our peoples.
We had high hopes, that with the dividends of peace, we would be able to fully
eradicate poverty and alleviate the social wellbeing of peoples. Poverty affects
one in every five person in the world, mainly in developing
countries and mostly women. We have not forgotten that those mired in poverty
are the marginalized groups that include the disabled and the dispossessed.
No country in the world can afford to ignore the human potential and capacity
of everyone for the full and equal development of their societies. Experiences
of past decades certainly bear testimony in this regard.
3. The World Summit for
Social Development, held in Copenhagen in 1995 was the most significant international
endeavour to forge a global consensus and commitment to address poverty eradication.
Our leaders, including the Prime Minister of Malaysia, have pledged to support
the decisions and programmes agreed to at Copenhagen to eradicate poverty through
national actions as an ethical, social and economic imperative of mankind.
4. This Special Session
on the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development to review and appraise
the implementation of the recommendations of the Summit is not only timely but
also accountable for the commitments made earlier. Its theme, Achieving
Social Development for All in a Globalizing World,
is most appropriate and apt. In this new millennium, we need to reaffirm our
commitment to address social progress, social justice, the betterment of the
human condition and social integration. We should all endeavour towards realizing
an integrated world community that provides everyone the opportunity to have
a better life. As we all know, despite the best efforts of governments in developing
countries to ensure an enabling environment for social development, including
expansion of productive employment and social integration, certain aspects of
unfettered globalization have made these goals difficult to achieve.
5. Globalization has made
us more aware of how interconnected we are and how similar our challenges are
in social development. Globalization has been inevitably hastened with the rapid
development in transportation and communications and with increasing accessibility,
it has also facilitated movement of capital, goods, people and ideas across
borders. Naturally, this has
brought about the realization that while nations and people may look and feel
different, all share the same hopes and fears on the human condition. In fact,
new challenges beyond the capacity of any one country to address have emerged
which makes enhanced international cooperation imperative to successfully address
challenges that are the downside of globalization.
6. Globalization is not
just about the liberalization of trade and the financial sectors. It is, in
fact, an omnibus concept, encompassing every aspect of our interaction involving
goods, services, people and ideas. States have to contend with the causes and
effects of globalization, both positive and negative upon their societies as
well as its impact on their social and economic well being. Although globalization
has brought prosperity to some societies, if it is not addressed comprehensively
and with due diligence, it will not lead to the creation of an enabling environment
for income equalization through the fair distribution of wealth for the vast
majority of the world's population, especially those in the developing countries.
7. Globalization has also
brought about higher expectation among our peoples and the role of the United
Nations as a forum to address it and its consequence upon societies. As the
premier international institution for global cooperation, the United Nations
remain the most appropriate forum for us to find common ground for joint actions
to address common global concerns and problems. The endeavour of the United
Nations itself, as stated in its Charter to, "employ international machinery
for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples," has
become a blueprint and guide for international, regional and national programmes
for economic and social development.
Mr. President,
8. In spite of the Copenhagen
Declaration and Programme of Action before us,
poverty and income inequality has yet to be effectively addressed. In fact,
it has worsened in
many parts of the world. In many countries, even with seemingly encouraging
economic growth, the positive impact has been negated by runaway population
growth, thus affecting real income. This is not conducive to sustained economic
growth, social development and harmony between states. At the beginning of this
new millennium, poverty remains our greatest challenge. Reality has shown that
we have yet to adequately meet the needs for decent standard of living, food,
housing, literacy and education, health and employment for our societies. More
than a billion people still live in extreme poverty. More than 150 million children
are unable to go to school. At least 50 million children are mentally or physically
impaired because of inadequate nutrition. The population of the world is growing
at the rate of about 80 million a year. The income gap between the rich and
poor is widening. Less than a quarter of the world's population consume three
quarters of its raw materials. Social violence against minorities, women and
children continue unabated all over the world. The scourge of drugs, transnational
crime and killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS all do not stop at borders and is
spreading rapidly. Incidence of teenagers committing crimes from petty theft
and- vandalism to gangsterism, rape and fire arm possession are on the increase.
In this context, we should all reflect on the issue facing us - whether the
benefits of globalization can offset these equally pertinent social issues since
these challenges are beyond the capacity of any one state to counter on its
own.
9. Nonetheless, in the face of these challenges, we should not be deterred by the social condition of people bogged in the morass of poverty. We should not feel hopeless of the misery of human tragedy brought about by conflicts and natural disasters. We need to sustain the dialogue and cooperation to create an enabling environment for sustainable growth for productive employment, social integration and eradication of poverty. There is a need for more sensitivity and greater cooperation in- addressing social development, particularly, in tailoring appropriate programmes to meet the needs of the target groups that are not in the mainstream of social development.
Mr. President,
10. In Malaysia, we already
have in place a well-established policy to eradicate poverty since 1971. Subsequent
national development plans have maintained its focus on this goal with time
bound targets, specific strategies and to particular target groups. The identified
target groups are mainstreamed by affording them access to micro-credit, low
cost housing and training for gainful employment. These programmes were somewhat
affected when Malaysia experienced an economic contraction in the middle of
1997. Fortunately, the economy has rebounded. We have managed to overcome the
situation as Malaysia has strong democratic governance, solid economic fundamentals
and growth, making substantive social development possible. It is also constantly
upgrading its human resource development for labour flexibility and promotion
of employment opportunities continues to be a priority in Malaysia. It is a
necessity for social cohesion and protection, especially for marginalized groups.
Full employment is possible through Malaysia's pursuit of both economic growth
policies and equitable distribution goals - growth with equity. The necessary
reforms instituted by the government on social development are possible as they
receive the support of the people given the broad democratic mandate the government
has.
11. Malaysia is aware that
addressing social development issues call for greater cooperation at all levels
and in that regard, it has consistently involved all related national agencies,
regional and international organizations, nongovernmental organizations as well
as the private sector in its social development endeavours. Regular sharing
of information, expertise and resources between state and non-state actors are
encouraged and practiced in devising new approaches in addressing social issues.
12. Malaysia associate
itself fully with the concern of developing countries, particularly
the Non-Aligned Movement, the G-77 and ASEAN on social
development issues.
We see regional efforts, undertaken by regional groupings, such as ASEAN in
social development as important building blocks for social development at the
international level. Regional efforts such as this can foster favourable international
economic environment and revitalize international cooperation, not only in terms
of direct investments, but also aid without conditionalities. Malaysia has also
undertaken programmes through its Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme
in the context of south-south cooperation in sharing our experiences on development
policies, issues and management.
13. Malaysia welcomes the
contributions of members of the civil society in social development and would
like their further involvement in social development process to supplement and
complement governments' efforts. Malaysia recognizes that it is to the advantage
of states to mobilize the expertise and resources of civil society for economic
and social development nationally and globally.
14. In this century, while
the role of international, regional, and nongovernmental organizations are pertinent
to complement and supplement the national governments efforts to address social
development issues, the state remains primary in ensuring the success of social
programmes for development. Only states can effectively institute measures to
realize the goals of the global programme. The global plan of action can only
succeed if states honour their commitment for concerted localization of the
global aspirations.
Mr. President,
15. I wish to emphasize
that Malaysia is committed to the goals and aspirations of the Copenhagen Declaration
and Plan of Action. We are well aware of the challenges ahead. We are renewing
our determination here to address and resolve these issues. We remain ready
to cooperate with all to
meet the aspirations
of our people for their social well being and security. My delegation looks
forward to work with all delegations in the deliberations to address the issues
before us.
Thank you Mr. President.