New global reality, economic imperative behind Malaysia's wish to join Brics

Deeper trade and investment ties that aid growth key to Anwar’s strategy to win voters

- Shannon Teoh

Malaysia's declared desire to join the Brics grouping most recently espoused during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Kuala Lumpur on July 28 - is deepening concerns over whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is leaning away from Western powers.

In his 20 months in power, Datuk Seri Anwar has staunchly condemned the United States and other allies of Israel over the prolonged conflict in Gaza, and repeatedly defended Beijing against "China-phobia".

He has also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as an "outstanding leader”.

Mr Anwar first expressed his government's intent to join the expanded Brics - a grouping of Global South and East nations set up in 2009 by founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and then South Africa a year later ahead of Chinese Premier Li Qiang's June 18 visit, which was much celebrated in Malaysia.

Mr Li, the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Malaysia in nearly a decade, officiated with Mr Anwar the ground-breaking of the Gombak terminal of the China-backed 665km East Coast Rail Link on June 19, the capstone of a trip to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations that saw the signing of 14 bilateral agreements.

But this does not mean Kuala Lumpur is discarding its long-held position of being non-aligned, said a senior official in the Prime Minister's Office.

He told The Straits Times that seeking Brics membership was part of an overall strategy of "getting a seat on as many tables" as possible.

The official noted how the government was supportive of Washington's proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity and wants to join the Western-controlled Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).