Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who will represent the country, said the voice of the Western Pacific will be brought to the world assembly, and expressed his gratitude for the unanimous nomination during the regional committee meeting for the Western Pacific Region (WPR).

“Thank you to all the @WHOWPRO countries for unanimously nominating Malaysia as vice-president (VP) for the WHA 2022. We will bring the voice of the Western Pacific to the world assembly especially on the principles of equity, solidarity and accountability,” he said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Meanwhile, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said it was a great honour for Malaysia to be accorded the vice-presidency of WHA, and that this would be an opportunity to pursue a bigger role in the global health arena.

“Today I am pleased to announce that at the 72nd World Health Organization (WHO) regional committee meeting in Himeji, Japan, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin has been unanimously nominated by Western Pacific member states as VP of the upcoming 75th WHA.

“WHA comprises 194 member states and it is the highest decision-making body of WHO.

“Malaysia was given due recognition for its active role on the global health platform in the 69th WHA in 2015 and again in the upcoming 75th WHA in 2022 representing all 37 member states from WPR,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook today.

He added that Malaysia was also currently serving on the executive board of WHO until 2024.