Malaysia as a Brics partner: Grow with all, with a focus on Asean first — Phar Kim Beng
SEPTEMBER 4 — Malaysia’s partnership with Brics should be understood through a simple principle: grow w...
Malaysia's partnership with Brics should be seen as growing together with all members, while not blindly aligning with any one nation. Focus should remain firmly on Asean, with Kuala Lumpur taking advantage of Brics' meetings and collaborative initiatives without feeling obligated to agree with every Brics position. This flexible arrangement suits Malaysia's history of non-alignment and wise economic diplomacy.
Becoming a Brics partner does not have to be Malaysia's final goal; instead, it can be a period for preparation, assessment, and getting familiar with the institution. Malaysia can later decide, if it sees fit, to take the next step towards full membership. Indonesia's experience provides a relevant example, as Jakarta first held back before ultimately deciding to become a full Brics member in January 2025, following a presidential change.
Malaysia can follow a similar cautious approach, cooperating first and then evaluating the benefits and obligations before becoming a full member when the strategic conditions are right. Brics should enhance Malaysian economic diplomacy, rather than replace existing relationships.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
