BANGKOK, March 30 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia is launching another bid to become a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), at the 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), which is taking place here.
Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming is attending the four-day forum with more than 1,300 representatives from 51 countries. The APFSD was organised by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
This is the second time that Malaysia has submitted a proposal to join the Executive Board of UN-Habitat, after its last attempt in 2019. Malaysia has never had a board seat.
Nga said Malaysia is aiming to be a member of the Executive Board of UN-Habitat that represents Asia-Pacific.
The election will be held at the United Nations Habitat Assembly, scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from June 5 to 9.
Malaysia’s nomination as a member of UN-Habitat Executive Board is important as it reflects Malaysia’s commitment in mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA), as an effort to realise the SDG11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
“We are here at APFSD in Bangkok to convince our counterparts to support Malaysia’s campaign as member of the Executive Board,” he told Bernama in an interview.
The 10th APFSD is currently being held from March 27-30 with the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels in Asia and the Pacific”.
Malaysia’s membership in the UN-Habitat Executive Board will provide it with the opportunity to articulate its vision, aspirations and goals alongside the international community, particularly in championing multilateralism and collectively with the wider membership of the UN-Habitat.
It would also provide an opportunity for Malaysia to be involved in setting the direction of the UN Agency as well as the design of its programmes, at the same time ensure that the interests of Malaysia and that of the Asia Pacific region are taken into consideration in efforts to realise the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN-Habitat is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.
UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanisation and human settlement matters within the UN system. The agency works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanisation as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.
— NNN-BERNAMA
