Malaysia Joins Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty at G20 Summit

Rio De Janeiro, The Gulf Observer: Malaysia has officially joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative spearheaded by Brazil’s G20 presidency to accelerate efforts in eradicating hunger and poverty while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced Malaysia’s participation during the first session of the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty at the G20 Summit, emphasizing the country’s dedication to achieving the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

“By joining the Global Alliance, Malaysia is reaffirming its commitment to combating hunger and poverty, ensuring no one is left behind,” Anwar stated. He highlighted Malaysia’s progress under the Madani Economy Framework, which prioritizes strengthening governance, fiscal sustainability, women’s economic participation, digital transformation, and climate action.

As the ASEAN chair for 2025, Anwar expressed Malaysia’s readiness to support regional capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving resilience, governance, and poverty alleviation across Southeast Asia. “The fight against hunger and poverty is integral to human development and requires collaborative commitment. Together, we can create a world where hunger and poverty are eliminated, enabling all people to prosper,” he said.

Anwar also praised China’s success in eradicating poverty, describing it as an example worth studying while adapting to the unique socioeconomic contexts of individual nations.

Global Alliance Goals

Launched with 148 founding members—including 82 countries, the African Union, the European Union, and numerous international organizations—the Global Alliance seeks to expedite global efforts to address hunger and poverty. Its key targets include:

• Reaching 500 million people in low- and middle-income countries with income transfer programs by 2030.
• Providing high-quality school meals to over 150 million children in areas afflicted by endemic hunger and poverty.
• Mobilizing billions in funding through multilateral development banks for poverty alleviation programs.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, introducing the initiative, called hunger “the biological expression of social evils” and underscored the political will needed to overcome exclusion and inequality. “The Global Alliance will be a central legacy of Brazil’s G20 presidency,” Lula declared, urging member nations to prioritize the elimination of hunger as a path toward global peace and prosperity.

Malaysia’s G20 Engagement

Malaysia joins 16 other guest countries, including Chile, Qatar, Egypt, Singapore, Spain, the UAE, and Vietnam, at this year’s G20 Summit. This marks Malaysia’s first G20 attendance since 2015, when it participated as ASEAN chair.

Accompanying Anwar are Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, reflecting Malaysia’s strategic commitment to multilateral cooperation.

The G20 accounts for 85% of global GDP and represents two-thirds of the world’s population, underscoring its influence in driving the international agenda. Malaysia’s involvement in the Global Alliance solidifies its role in shaping policies to combat global inequalities and foster sustainable development.