Malaysia
MA LAYSIA
PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
STATEMENT BY H.E. DATUK SERI ABDUL RAHMAN DAHLAN
MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM
ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2017
Mr. Chairman,
Ministers,
Distinguished Delegates,
NEW YORK
18 JULY 2017
1. At the outset, I wish to align my statement with the statement made
by the representative of Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Mr. Chairman,
2. Malaysia is committed to realising the Agenda 2030 and the goals.
Indeed , Malaysia's development agenda has always been people-focused,
and it runs parallel to the aspirations of the SDGs.
313 East 43' Street
New York, NY 10017
Tel : {212) 986 6310
Fax: (212) 490 8576
Email : mwnewyorkun@kln.gov.my
Website: www.un.int/malaysia
1.··.·.•f .. ' ' ~~
c"
3. The Eleventh Malaysia Plan, 2016-2020 with its theme of "Anchoring
Growth on People" continues the Government's development focus of
balancing the needs of both the people economy and the capital economy.
The six strategic thrusts of the 11 MP - enhancing inclusiveness towards an
equitable society, improving well-being for all, accelerating human capital
development, pursuing green growth for sustainability and resilience,
strengthening infrastructure to support economic expansion and reengineering
economic growth for greater prosperity - mirror the 17 SDGs.
4. . Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, Malaysia has taken steps to
localise and implement SDGs, within the national context. In 2016,
Malaysia established a governance structure headed by the Prime Minister
for monitoring and reporting the SDGs; and is finalising the National SDG
Roadmap, which will constitute the main reference for SDG implementation
in Malaysia.
5. Given the time allocated, let me just share our progress with respect
to Goal 1 on poverty eradication and Goal 5 on Gender.
Mr Chairman,
SDG1: Poverty Eradication
6. In 1970, the incidence of poverty in Malaysia was 49.3%>. Malaysia
was among the few countries that rapidly realised the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) of halving poverty (from 16.5% in 1990 to
8.5% in 2000), long before the target year of 2015. As of 2014, Malaysia
has reduced the incidence of poverty to 0.6%, achieving low poverty rates
2
----·
· f.C
.{(
across ethnicity, gender and rural-urban stratum. Additionally, the
incidence of hard core poverty, which is also the food poverty line, is low at
0.2%.
7. Malaysia's approach to eradicating poverty has been premised on
providing access to education and skills development to all segments of
society, creating employment and income generating activities, providing
entrepreneurship support, facilitating participation in unit trusts and
investment schemes and ensuring basic infrastructure and amenities.
8. Malaysia has now expanded its measurement of poverty beyond
income and has introduced its own version of Multidimensional Poverty
Index (MPI) to take into account other dimensions of poverty, namely
education, health and quality of life.
9. Moving forward, Malaysia is committed to further uplifting the
incomes and quality of life of the bottom 40 (840) percent households. We
have targeted to double their mean monthly income (from RM2,537 in 2014
to RMS,270 in 2020. This is being pursued by enhancing their accessibility
to higher education and skills training, increasing their productivity through
modern technology and ICT, promoting social-based enterprises and
attracting investments into rural and B40 populated areas.
Goal 5: Gender Equality
10. On gender equality, in recognising the important role of women in
community and economic development, Malaysia has been consistent in its
3
efforts to promote women and girls' rights. The National Policy on Women
(1989) accords women equality of status and the same fundamental rights
given to men, as enshrined in the Constitution. The Plan of Action for the
Advancement of Women (2010-2015) was formulated to operationalise the
National Policy on Women to. further integrate women in development and r
elevate their status in society.
11. The Federal Constitution (Article 8(2)) was amended in 2001 to
prohibit gender discrimination. Malaysia has also ratified CEDAW, the
Cairo Programme of Action 1994, and the Beijing Platform for Action 1995
and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and
Child Pornography and the Vienna Plan of Action on Human Rights. Most
recently, Malaysia has formulated the Sexual Offences Against Children
Bill 2017 to offer greater protection to children. The 11 th Malaysia Plan will
focus on strengthening the family institution by creating a more conducive
working environment and increasing the number of women in decisionmaking
positions.
12. In this regard, various measures have been taken to encourage
women to return to the workforce, such as implementation of the minimum
wage beginning 1st July 2016, introduction of incentives to encourage the
establishment of child care facilities at the work place, career comeback
programmes and increasing maternity leave and flexible work hours.
Female labour force participation stands at 54% in 2016 and we target to
increase it to 59%> in 2020 Malaysia is also committed to implementing at
least 30 percent participation of women in decision-making positions. This
target has been achieved in the public sector and is work-in-progress in the
4
..
private sector. In 2015, the percentage of women in top management
positions in public listed companies stood at 26.3.
Conclusion
13. Allow me to conclude by saying that Malaysia is making significant
progress in implementing the SDGs and is committed to realise its full
implementation. The Government will deliver the SDGs in partnership with
non-governmental and civil society organisations, and the corporate sector.
While we acknowledge the challenges ahead, we recognise that the urgent
need to operationalise sustainable development for the greater good.
Malaysia also stands ready to work with regional and global partners to
ensure the realisation of Agenda 2030 and that no one is left behind.
5
PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
STATEMENT BY H.E. DATUK SERI ABDUL RAHMAN DAHLAN
MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM
ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2017
Mr. Chairman,
Ministers,
Distinguished Delegates,
NEW YORK
18 JULY 2017
1. At the outset, I wish to align my statement with the statement made
by the representative of Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Mr. Chairman,
2. Malaysia is committed to realising the Agenda 2030 and the goals.
Indeed , Malaysia's development agenda has always been people-focused,
and it runs parallel to the aspirations of the SDGs.
313 East 43' Street
New York, NY 10017
Tel : {212) 986 6310
Fax: (212) 490 8576
Email : mwnewyorkun@kln.gov.my
Website: www.un.int/malaysia
1.··.·.•f .. ' ' ~~
c"
3. The Eleventh Malaysia Plan, 2016-2020 with its theme of "Anchoring
Growth on People" continues the Government's development focus of
balancing the needs of both the people economy and the capital economy.
The six strategic thrusts of the 11 MP - enhancing inclusiveness towards an
equitable society, improving well-being for all, accelerating human capital
development, pursuing green growth for sustainability and resilience,
strengthening infrastructure to support economic expansion and reengineering
economic growth for greater prosperity - mirror the 17 SDGs.
4. . Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, Malaysia has taken steps to
localise and implement SDGs, within the national context. In 2016,
Malaysia established a governance structure headed by the Prime Minister
for monitoring and reporting the SDGs; and is finalising the National SDG
Roadmap, which will constitute the main reference for SDG implementation
in Malaysia.
5. Given the time allocated, let me just share our progress with respect
to Goal 1 on poverty eradication and Goal 5 on Gender.
Mr Chairman,
SDG1: Poverty Eradication
6. In 1970, the incidence of poverty in Malaysia was 49.3%>. Malaysia
was among the few countries that rapidly realised the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) of halving poverty (from 16.5% in 1990 to
8.5% in 2000), long before the target year of 2015. As of 2014, Malaysia
has reduced the incidence of poverty to 0.6%, achieving low poverty rates
2
----·
· f.C
.{(
across ethnicity, gender and rural-urban stratum. Additionally, the
incidence of hard core poverty, which is also the food poverty line, is low at
0.2%.
7. Malaysia's approach to eradicating poverty has been premised on
providing access to education and skills development to all segments of
society, creating employment and income generating activities, providing
entrepreneurship support, facilitating participation in unit trusts and
investment schemes and ensuring basic infrastructure and amenities.
8. Malaysia has now expanded its measurement of poverty beyond
income and has introduced its own version of Multidimensional Poverty
Index (MPI) to take into account other dimensions of poverty, namely
education, health and quality of life.
9. Moving forward, Malaysia is committed to further uplifting the
incomes and quality of life of the bottom 40 (840) percent households. We
have targeted to double their mean monthly income (from RM2,537 in 2014
to RMS,270 in 2020. This is being pursued by enhancing their accessibility
to higher education and skills training, increasing their productivity through
modern technology and ICT, promoting social-based enterprises and
attracting investments into rural and B40 populated areas.
Goal 5: Gender Equality
10. On gender equality, in recognising the important role of women in
community and economic development, Malaysia has been consistent in its
3
efforts to promote women and girls' rights. The National Policy on Women
(1989) accords women equality of status and the same fundamental rights
given to men, as enshrined in the Constitution. The Plan of Action for the
Advancement of Women (2010-2015) was formulated to operationalise the
National Policy on Women to. further integrate women in development and r
elevate their status in society.
11. The Federal Constitution (Article 8(2)) was amended in 2001 to
prohibit gender discrimination. Malaysia has also ratified CEDAW, the
Cairo Programme of Action 1994, and the Beijing Platform for Action 1995
and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and
Child Pornography and the Vienna Plan of Action on Human Rights. Most
recently, Malaysia has formulated the Sexual Offences Against Children
Bill 2017 to offer greater protection to children. The 11 th Malaysia Plan will
focus on strengthening the family institution by creating a more conducive
working environment and increasing the number of women in decisionmaking
positions.
12. In this regard, various measures have been taken to encourage
women to return to the workforce, such as implementation of the minimum
wage beginning 1st July 2016, introduction of incentives to encourage the
establishment of child care facilities at the work place, career comeback
programmes and increasing maternity leave and flexible work hours.
Female labour force participation stands at 54% in 2016 and we target to
increase it to 59%> in 2020 Malaysia is also committed to implementing at
least 30 percent participation of women in decision-making positions. This
target has been achieved in the public sector and is work-in-progress in the
4
..
private sector. In 2015, the percentage of women in top management
positions in public listed companies stood at 26.3.
Conclusion
13. Allow me to conclude by saying that Malaysia is making significant
progress in implementing the SDGs and is committed to realise its full
implementation. The Government will deliver the SDGs in partnership with
non-governmental and civil society organisations, and the corporate sector.
While we acknowledge the challenges ahead, we recognise that the urgent
need to operationalise sustainable development for the greater good.
Malaysia also stands ready to work with regional and global partners to
ensure the realisation of Agenda 2030 and that no one is left behind.
5
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