Covid-19 vaccine must be for all, PM tells Asian leaders

 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin spoke to East Asia leaders at a summit meeting held by video-conference. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has called on East Asia Summit participating countries to continue cooperating and to jointly address the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the leaders at a virtual summit meeting, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the pandemic called for political will and strong commitment by all parties.

Muhyiddin, who led the Malaysian delegation to the virtual meetings from Kuala Lumpur, said it is important to find vaccines and anti-viral medicines in order to prevent the virus from further spreading.

“It is also important that people around the world have access to these vaccines in an affordable, accessible and equitable basis. Unfair competition and monopoly of anti-viral medication and Covid-19 vaccine must be prevented, in line with the universal creed of right to health,” he said.

Touching on the situation in the Korean Peninsula, he said Malaysia remains consistent on three matters: the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, adherence to relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and the resumption of dialogue between the relevant parties.

The East Asia Summit comprises the 10 Asean members, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. - FMT