In his maiden address, virtually, at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) this morning (Malaysian time), Muhyiddin said the UN has done well in promoting social and economic development but has somewhat failed to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”.

He said the world body now, more than ever, has to be better equipped with the continued support of member states to respond to some of the most glaring problems the world is facing.

The time is right for the UN to take stock of its achievements, improve on its weaknesses and remove all obstacles that prevent its continued progress, he said.

On Covid-19, Muhyiddin said the UN must ensure that a vaccine, once found, is accessible to all nations and peoples without any discrimination.

“We must remember that since Covid-19 does not discriminate, our response should not, too,” he said.

He said the deadly virus has taken so many lives and has exposed the true capacity and effectiveness of healthcare systems. The socio-economic impact has also been severe.

The high-level meeting of UNGA, which was also to commemorate the world body’s 75th anniversary, was held virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Muhyiddin spoke from his office in Putrajaya.