KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 – Malaysia’s good relations with the member countries of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will enable Malaysia to become a “partner country” soon with the trade grouping, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said in that context, Malaysia will be known as a BRICS “new partner country” before Malaysia finalises its participation.
“There is a possibility that Malaysia’s application to join BRICS will take some time, but with good relations with member countries, there is a possibility that we can become a ‘country partner’ as (part of) a BRICS partner country model or as a new partner country.
“In discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MITI (Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry), and the council of ministers, we feel that there is wisdom and a need for us to be together in this new BRICS framework,” he said during the minister’s question time at the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
He also said that the participation does not conflict with Malaysia’s foreign policy and that the government takes the approach of an independent country and that it is important to establish relations with all parties.
“We also take note of the current economic situation where economic strength is no longer unipolar depending on just one big country, the United States,” he added.
Anwar said preliminary assessments showed that Malaysia’s participation in BRICS has the potential to gain various benefits, particularly in improving trade and export performance, as well as strengthening the country’s economic resilience.
On June 18, Anwar confirmed that he had expressed the intention to join BRICS to the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
BRICS was established in 2009 as a cooperation platform for emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China with South Africa joining the group in 2010. In January 2024, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined the organisation as new members.
