Talks with Putin for clearer picture on BRICS full membership, says envoy
Malaysia's status in BRICS is among the key topics to be discussed between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Russian president Vladimir Putin in their meeting on Tuesday. (Facebook pic)
MOSCOW : The meeting between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Russian president Vladimir Putin will help Malaysia gain a clearer understanding of how it can transition from being a partner country to a full member of BRICS.
This insight comes from Malaysia's ambassador to Russia, Cheong Loon Lai.
He said the organisation has not yet clearly defined the process by which a partner country can eventually become a full member.
Cheong said that Malaysia's status in BRICS could be among the key topics to be discussed between Anwar and Putin during their meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening.
'That has been one of the promises (made), whereby we will eventually move from the status of a partner country to be a full member,' he told the Malaysian media covering Anwar's official visit to Russia.
'As of now, I was told that there is still nothing defined in terms of the mechanism, or how they are going to go about it.
'There remains no clear framework of what the status entails or how it might lead to full membership. This is something that needs to be sorted out by the BRICS members themselves,' he said.
Nevertheless, Cheong said Putrajaya deeply appreciates BRIC's acceptance of Malaysia as a partner country.
Malaysia officially became a BRICS partner country on Jan 1, 2025, following the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October 2024, when Russia was chairing the group.
BRICS is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
Anwar's official visit to Russia started in Moscow today and ends on May 16.
The prime minister is scheduled to meet Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin tomorrow.
On May 15, he heads to Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, to attend the 16th International Economic Forum 'Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum'.
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