Malaysia to tread carefully before deciding on full BRICS membership, says Tok Mat

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will take a careful approach before deciding whether to become a full member of the BRICS bloc, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The Foreign Minister said while Malaysia values its engagement with BRICS, any decision on full membership must be made carefully to avoid compromising the country’s long-standing policy of neutrality.

“This means we must be very cautious in whatever we do, so that we don’t end up ‘trapping ourselves’.

“Even though there are clauses (under the Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the United States) stating that we are free (to decide), we still need to observe carefully and again, we must be cautious.

“For now, it is sufficient that Malaysia remains a partner country to BRICS,” he said in his winding-up speech of the Supply Bill 2026 for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 4).

Mohamad was responding to a question from Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang), who asked whether Malaysia was ready to become a full member of BRICS following the signing of the reciprocal trade agreement with the US.

On Oct 24, 2024, Malaysia was recognised as one of 13 nations officially added to BRICS – a bloc that collectively accounts for one-fifth of global trade – as a partner country.

BRICS refers to a group of emerging economies that originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Mohamad said there is not much difference between being a partner and a full member, except that partners cannot participate in voting or decision-making.

“We don’t want to create unnecessary tension before the situation is right for a full membership,” he said.

He added that BRICS, comprising among others Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represents a vast market with major trading opportunities for Malaysia.

“BRICS covers a wide and diverse market, and these countries are major trading partners. So there are many benefits, more good than harm, in engaging with them economically,” he said.

On Oct 27, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva voiced strong support for Malaysia’s aspiration to become a full member of the BRICS bloc.

He also described Malaysia as a natural partner with shared values and growing economic potential.