13-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia engaging BRICS on roadmap to full membership
MOSCOW: Malaysia is seeking further clarification from BRICS on the framework and future direction of its newly acquired partner country status, as the grouping of emerging economies continues to define its internal mechanisms.
Malaysia's ambassador to Russia Datuk Cheong Loon Lai said while Malaysia appreciates being accepted as a BRICS partner, there remains no clear framework for what the status entails or how it might lead to full membership.
"We have been inquiring, where exactly do we stand as a partner, as compared to being a member," Cheong said at a press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official engagements in Moscow.
"This is something that needs to be sorted out internally by BRICS. In our discussions with them, there has not yet been a defined mechanism on how a partner country would eventually be absorbed as a full member.
"What we understand is that there is a promise, or at least an intention, that partner countries could eventually become full members. But as of now, no mechanism has been defined," he added.
Malaysia officially became a BRICS partner country on Jan 1, 2025, following the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October 2024.
The status was conferred while Russia was chairing the group, which currently include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The bloc recently expanded to admit new full members and partners, as part of its strategy to strengthen South–South cooperation and challenge Western-dominated multilateral systems.
"We would like to once again extend our thanks to the grouping for accepting us as a partner," Cheong said.
"It's important to note that this was not just a decision by Russia, it is a collective decision of the group. But our entry was formalised (as BRICS partner) when Russia held the chair."
Cheong's comments come as Malaysia seeks to balance its non-aligned foreign policy with deeper economic and strategic ties to rising powers in the Global South.
Anwar had first indicated Malaysia's interest in BRICS in mid-2024, stating that the bloc's goals aligned with Malaysia's push for multipolar engagement and inclusive global governance.
In July 2024, Malaysia formally submitted its expression of interest to join BRICS.
At the Kazan Summit in October, the grouping announced the expansion of its framework to include new "partner countries", with Malaysia among them.
While full membership may be on the horizon, it remains unclear when and how Malaysia will transition from its current BRICS partner status to full membership.
Indonesia became a full BRICS member on Jan 6, 2025, following approval at the Johannesburg Summit in August 2023.
