RIO DE JANEIRO: Malaysia has officially joined the Global Coalition Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative led by Brazil during its G20 presidency, aimed at accelerating efforts to combat hunger and poverty while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia's dedication to the 2030 Agenda, stressing the need to ensure that no one is left behind in the global fight against hunger and poverty.
"Our involvement in the coalition reflects our determination to address these critical issues," said Anwar during the 'Combating Hunger and Poverty' session at the G20 Summit.
"Through our Madani economic framework, we have made significant progress in enhancing the welfare of the people, strengthening governance, ensuring fiscal stability, increasing women's participation in the economy, advancing digital transformation, and committing to climate action."
As Malaysia prepares to chair Asean in 2025, Anwar also pledged to collaborate regionally to strengthen resilience, reduce poverty, and improve governance.
"The fight against hunger and poverty is fundamental to human development. Working together towards these shared goals will help create a world free from hunger and poverty, where everyone can thrive," he said.
Anwar also pointed to China's success in eradicating poverty as a model that could be adapted to suit the needs of different countries.
The coalition, which includes 82 countries and organisations like the African Union and the European Union, aims to support 500 million people in low-income countries with income assistance by 2030 and provide school meals for over 150 million children in need.
At the launch, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described hunger as "a biological expression of social injustice," urging the G20 to take decisive action.
"Hunger is a biological manifestation of social evil," Lula said, citing Brazilian geographer Josué de Castro.
"It results from political decisions that continuously exclude a significant part of humanity."
Malaysia, alongside 16 other countries including Chile, Qatar, Egypt, Singapore, Spain, the UAE, and Vietnam, is an invited participant at the G20.
This marks Malaysia's first appearance at the Summit since 2015, when it also participated as chair of Asean.