Addressing the UN general assembly via a pre-recorded video, he said Malaysia was committed to overcoming the pandemic, but the “sad reality today is that the world is far from winning the war against Covid-19”.

While most vaccine producing nations as well as those that have the financial means have achieved some measure of success, the majority of the world’s population, mainly from middle income and least developed countries, remain unvaccinated.

However, the focus should not just be on vaccines as there were other aspects that required attention as well, he said. Public health should be regarded as a global public good rather than the exclusive domain of individual nations.

“Our common mission in these unprecedented times call us to recognise that humankind is one big extended family. We must ensure greater collaboration not just to end this pandemic but on an array of other health-related issues.”

It was in that spirit that Malaysia “referred to ourselves as Keluarga Malaysia”.

Ismail said Malaysia would not only bounce back but will thrive as the world emerges from the depths of the pandemic.

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