Prime Minister Anwar’s Bold Move

In a recent revelation, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, announced the country’s intent to join the BRICS, an influential group of emerging economies. This announcement was made during an interview with the Chinese media outlet, Guancha.

The BRICS, an acronym derived from its founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has been expanding its membership in a bid to challenge the Western-dominated world order. Last year saw the inclusion of several countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates, with over 40 countries expressing interest in joining.

“We have made our decision and will soon initiate the formal procedures… we are currently awaiting the final results from the South African government,” stated Anwar, as per a video interview posted by Guancha on Sunday. His comments were later confirmed by a representative from his office on Tuesday.

However, during the interview, Anwar did not delve into the specifics of the application process.

This announcement comes just before a scheduled three-day visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, which is part of the celebrations marking the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China. Several agreements are expected to be signed during Li’s visit, including the renewal of a five-year trade and economic cooperation agreement.