Malaysia Stresses Equity In Global Health, Climate At BRICS Summit
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia believes that vaccine access, strong public health systems and the regulation of global medical supply chains are central to both national stability and international security.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that when governments divert limited resources from essential services such as healthcare and clean water to service historical debts, financial systems designed to foster development instead hinder progress.
'Let us begin with a hard truth. In too much of the world, life expectancy remains shaped not by biology, but by income.
'The fact that a child's chance of surviving past the age of five is still largely determined by GDP per capita represents a failure for us all,' he said during his intervention at the 'Environment, COP30 and Global Health' session of the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit here today.
Malaysia, he said, welcomes the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.
'It reflects a clear understanding that disease cannot be meaningfully addressed without tackling the conditions that entrench it,' said Anwar.
The premier voiced Malaysia's support for deeper collaboration between BRICS and ASEAN to strengthen surveillance, accelerate knowledge transfer, and build resilience across borders.
He also reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to a credible and just low-carbon transition, highlighting the country's pledge to reduce emissions intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
13 minutes ago
- The Star
Asean's Zopfan revived thanks to China and Russia's support, says expert
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean's long-standing aspiration for a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) has gained renewed traction following China and Russia's readiness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Department of Political Science and Madani Studies lecturer Prof Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi stated that this development reflects Asean's commitment to advancing the Zopfan vision by balancing security, sustainability, and inclusive growth for future generations. He noted that China and Russia's readiness to join demonstrates that Zopfan is not just historical rhetoric but an evolving framework relevant in today's strategic landscape. "This move directly reinforces Zopfan, reducing the risk of nuclear escalation in a region increasingly exposed to great-power rivalry, especially in the South China Sea," he told Bernama ahead of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) on Tuesday (July 8). Zopfan, signed on Nov 27, 1971, by Asean member states in Kuala Lumpur, aimed to keep Southeast Asia free from external powers' interference, reinforcing Asean's commitment to regional neutrality and autonomy during the Cold War. Prof Zainal Abidin suggested that this development could boost the international credibility of the SEANWFZ Protocol and intensify diplomatic pressure on other Nuclear Weapon States (NWS), notably the United States, United Kingdom, and France, to reconsider their reservations and re-engage with the treaty. "Malaysia's neutral and principled foreign policy gives it the credibility to act as a trusted bridge-builder in such complex negotiations," he added, highlighting a broader shift in Asean's diplomatic posture. "This marks a key moment in what some are calling 'sustainability diplomacy', a redefined approach to peace and security that centres on long-term cooperation in environmental protection, green growth, and inclusive development, beyond just military or geopolitical strategies," he said. Despite Southeast Asia's nuclear-weapon-free status, Asean remains vulnerable to nuclear-capable deployments by external powers. "Asean leaders believe that securing universal NWS adherence is now more urgent than ever to protect Zopfan's spirit and safeguard Southeast Asia's stability and prosperity," he said. Prof Zainal Abidin proposed that Asean establish a regional compliance and monitoring mechanism in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), modelled on the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone's commission, to strengthen transparency and confidence-building. He emphasized that environmental protection is a key pillar of SEANWFZ, as the treaty prohibits radioactive waste dumping and strictly limits nuclear energy activities, reinforcing intergenerational equity and the region's ecosystems' health. Malaysia's Asean 2025 Chairmanship theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability" aligns with global concerns such as climate change, equitable development, and peace, linking SEANWFZ to broader issues like environmental protection and social justice. Malaysia has worked diligently through Asean committees and diplomatic channels to ensure smooth logistics and focused discussions for this year's meeting, particularly on sensitive issues such as monitoring and enforcing the treaty. He added that Malaysia could use its leadership in green technology, clean energy, and equitable economic growth to demonstrate how sustainability-anchored diplomacy can shape regional peacebuilding more holistically. "This is different from past Asean meetings that kept security and development in separate boxes. Now, Malaysia is helping Asean think across sectors, combining peace and sustainability in new ways," he said. Prof Zainal Abidin expressed that Malaysia's leadership could transform the AMM into a milestone event, not only for peace and denuclearisation but for the rise of sustainability diplomacy as a defining approach for Asean's efforts in balancing geopolitics, the environment, and development. The 58th AMM and related meetings, scheduled from July 8 to 11, are expected to gather about 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from Asean, Timor-Leste, Asean dialogue partners, Asean Regional Forum (ARF) participants, sectoral dialogue partners, and Asean Secretariat senior officials. Malaysia is hosting the AMM as part of its fifth Asean Chairmanship, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. - Bernama
Sinar Daily
29 minutes ago
- Sinar Daily
Rosmah wins RM100,000 in defamation case over black magic allegation
The court ordered interest of five per cent per annum on the judgment sum to be imposed from the date of judgment until full satisfaction of the award. 08 Jul 2025 12:14pm Datin Rosmah Mansor - BERNAMA FILE PIX KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court today ordered a TikTok account holder to pay damages of RM100,000 to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in a defamation suit filed by the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh ordered Ku Muhammad Hilmie Ku Din, 35, to pay the amount to Rosmah, after finding that the plaintiff had successfully established her entitlement to damages for defamation. "This court finds a global award in the sum of RM100,000 for general and aggravated damages. This court has decided not to award exemplary damages. "The claim for exemplary damages is not allowed as there is no cogent evidence before this court to support such an award," he said during the decision for the assessment of damages today. The proceeding was held online. The court ordered interest of five per cent per annum on the judgment sum to be imposed from the date of judgment until full satisfaction of the award. Ku Muhammad Hilmie Ku Din, 35, was also ordered to pay costs of RM20,000. In his judgment, Shahrir said the court found that the defamatory allegations levelled against Rosmah impute her involvement in supernatural practices and associate her with spiritual entities. "These imputations constitute an attack on her character in the domains of religious integrity and moral standing. "In a societal context where religious values and moral propriety carry significant weight, such allegations assume a particular seriousness and have the potential to cause distinct reputational harm,' he said. Shahrir said he had considered the judicial trend towards moderation in damages, describing it as compensatory in nature and not intended to be punitive. MORE TO COME
The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
FM Mohamad to lead AICHR and SEANWFZ meetings at 58th AMM
KUALA LUMPUR: The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) officially begins today with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Interface Meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will lead the discussions, fresh from accompanying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on official visits to Italy, France, and Brazil. The meeting will gather ASEAN foreign ministers, Timor-Leste's foreign minister, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, and AICHR representatives. Key topics include recent human rights developments across the region. Mohamad will also chair the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission, focusing on progress in implementing the SEANWFZ Treaty's Plan of Action. Discussions will cover Timor-Leste's potential accession and efforts to secure commitments from Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) to the treaty's protocol. Later, a trilateral meeting involving Malaysia, Brazil, and the ASEAN Secretariat will take place, attended by senior ASEAN officials and Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community Datuk Astanah Abdul Aziz. Held under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' the 58th AMM will feature 24 ministerial-level meetings, including engagements with ASEAN Dialogue Partners. Approximately 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from ASEAN member states and partner nations, will convene at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from July 8 to 11. - Bernama
