Malaysia’s bid to join BRICS is the right thing to do considering the changing global environment and Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN, said Wong Chun Wai, head of Malaysian Bernama agency.
This came in a statement by Chun Wai posted on the website of Malaysia’s state-run news agency Benama. He continued: “It is certainly the right thing for Malaysia to do as a global nation to seek formal membership in BRICS, the largest and most powerful geopolitical grouping. The scenery changes. However, Malaysia’s entry into BRICS will become even more important as she takes over the ASEAN presidency next year, which will certainly be very important given Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s stature and influence.”
Prime Minister Wang Chun-wai said Malaysia remembers that China has been its biggest trading partner for the past 40 years, adding that Kuala Lumpur had repeatedly said it would “not take sides in the US-China competition”. “
President Bernama also said: “At the same time, joining BRICS will undoubtedly lead to market expansion and could help reduce over-reliance on the US dollar in trade settlements and favor local currency transactions.”
According to him, Malaysia should remain on the waiting list to join BRICS, and he ended his speech by saying, “But considering the power of Malaysia and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, we will definitely receive great attention.”
