KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia hopes to enhance economic cooperation opportunities via the BRICS intergovernmental organisation as an alternative to reducing dependence on traditional markets such as the United States and increasingly active European countries.
In saying this, Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz added that it has been increasingly active in introducing new unilateral trade policies and rules that are challenging for developing countries such as Malaysia to comply with.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and its four newest members, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Tengku Zafrul said that the government is aware that depending on traditional markets presents risks to developing economies in the long term.
“To realise its vision of a sustainable economy, Malaysia needs to reinforce economic cooperation with its current trade partners, penetrate new high-impact markets, and establish economic partnerships with non-traditional trading partners.
“However, the government will always ensure its neutral and non-aligned policy with any economic power is not jeopardised, and good investment and trade relations with traditional trade partners such as the US, European Union, and the United Kingdom will be continued,” he said in a reply posted on the Parliament’s website yesterday.
He was responding to Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s (PN-Larut) question on Malaysia’s stance on BRICS to reduce dependency on the US and European markets.
On June 13, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced Malaysia’s intention to join BRICS during an interview with Chinese media outlet Guancha.
“With a cumulative population of 3.54 billion and a vast reserve of raw materials, as well as an economy totalling US$26.6 trillion (RM123.93 trillion) or 26.2% of global gross domestic product, the BRICS economic block is a new mega-market that needs to be penetrated to develop and improve Malaysia’s economy,” MITI added. – July 18, 2024