Malaysia prioritised for BRICS membership, says Anwar
Published on: Thursday, September 05, 2024
By: Bernama
Leaders of the BRICS member countries at their summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, last year. President Vladimir Putin has invited Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to this year’s summit in Kazan, Russia, from Oct 22 to 24. (EPA Images pic)
VLADIVOSTOK: Malaysia is among the countries prioritised for potential BRICS membership, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
In a discussion with Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday, Anwar said the focus was on whether Malaysia should join BRICS immediately or start as a partner country.
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"The important thing is that we are one of the countries given priority due to the invitation extended to non-member nations,"he said at a press conference on the final day of his two-day working visit to Russia.
Anwar said discussions with the prime ministers of China and India, as well as with Putin and the president of Brazil had all been positive.
"We are considering BRICS because we believe that the cooperation of Global South countries is highly beneficial,"he said.
Anwar also said Putin had invited him to the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, from Oct 22 to 24.
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"We are evaluating the possibility of attending or sending a representative, given the numerous external commitments next month,"he said.
He dismissed concerns about potential negative effects on Malaysia’s relations with the US and Europe as mere rhetoric, adding that Malaysia is independent and open to international cooperation.
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“Our approach is open and free in international relations, as evidenced by our interactions with Europe, America, China, India and now Russia.
"BRICS strengthens the Global South, offering us economic opportunities free from external pressures,"he said.
Established in 2009, BRICS initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.
In January, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates also joined as new members.
Together, BRICS members account for a cumulative gross domestic product of US$26.6 trillion, representing 26.2% of the world’s GDP, nearly equalling the economic strength of the G7 group.
The population of the BRICS nations is collectively 3.21 billion, which is expected to grow further with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE. Together, they have a population of 333 million.
This will create a market of about 3.54 billion people, or nearly 45% of the world’s population.
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