PETALING JAYA: Malaysia can become a “partner country” of BRICS before its participation in the economic bloc is finalised, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.
“There is a possibility that Malaysia’s application to join BRICS will take some time, but our good relations with member countries make it possible that we can become a ‘partner country’,” Bernama reported him as saying during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question by Howard Lee (PH-Ipoh Timor) on the process for BRICS membership.
Anwar said participation in BRICS would not conflict with Malaysia’s foreign policy, adding that Putrajaya takes into account the current global economic situation, which is no longer wholly unipolar or dependent on the strength of the US.
He also said Malaysia has no intention of interfering in the domestic and political affairs of member countries, and is focussed on trade, economy and expanding networks.
Anwar said the nation does not fully agree on many issues with other countries, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict or trade competition in the World Trade Organization.
“(However) that is no reason for us to cut ties,” he said.
Anwar added that BRICS countries such as China and Russia have established close ties with Malaysia despite their differing political systems.
“Some countries in BRICS such as South Africa or India also practise democratic systems closer to ours. There is no reason why Malaysia and the other countries in Asean that have applied to join BRICS should be worried, as their membership is mainly for trade purposes,” he said.
Anwar was replying to a supplementary question by Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) who asked if the government had examined the implications of Malaysia’s membership in BRICS given the differences its member countries have with Malaysia in terms of economy, politics and society.
