Speaking at the 16th EAS, he said a new global health security architecture needed to be developed, one that was underpinned by shared commitment, collective responsibility, transparency and accountability.
“In view of the state of affairs that we are in, we need to relook at the international order,” he said.
The 16th EAS was attended by the 10 Asean member states, along with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US, as well as the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization.
It was held at the sidelines of the three-day virtual 38th and 39th Asean Summits and Related Summits, which began on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Brunei.
Ismail said the Covid-19 pandemic had adversely impacted all efforts at lifting human life, poverty eradication and access to quality education.
Safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines were developed in record time, but it was regrettable that their rollout turned out to be unfair and inequitable.
“Nationalism and geopolitical rivalry shaped the response of governments and international organisations during the pandemic as well as dictated the distribution of vaccines,” he said.
Ismail said it was evident that the pandemic had strengthened the case for multilateralism and in this regard, Malaysia fully supported the Asean leaders’ declaration on upholding multilateralism that was initiated by Brunei and adopted at the 38th Asean Summit.
Most importantly, he said a holistic recovery from Covid-19 required collective and concerted efforts of all countries as well as cooperation in multi-disciplinary areas of health and relevant socio-economic fields.
“Further, it needs countries with comparative advantage to assist those with less,” he said.
Plight of the Rohingya
Ismail also called for proportionate responsibility sharing, particularly among signatory countries of the 1951 Refugee Convention, to uphold and stand committed to their international legal obligations by receiving more Rohingya refugees for resettlement or relocation.
He said 57% of the total refugee population in Malaysia was made up of Rohingya.
Malaysia, although not being a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, had been rendering assistance and protection to refugees on humanitarian grounds, including in the areas of education and health, he said.
“Malaysia believes that continued international support, politically and on the humanitarian front, will bring direct, positive impact to the Rohingya and the stability of this region,” he said, adding that the situation of the Rohingya in Myanmar had not improved and they remained subjected to discrimination and violence.
The prime minister said Malaysia had also urged Myanmar to continue with efforts in delivering its commitment to begin and ensure effective repatriation of Rohingya and protect the rights of the returnees.
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