Malaysia begins formal procedures to join the BRICS economic union

SHAH ALAM – Malaysia will begin formal procedures to join the economic union led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa or better known as BRICS soon.

Citing a NEWS.AZ report, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, the government has taken the appropriate decision regarding the matter.

“We will launch the official process soon. Now we are waiting for the final decision, a response from the South African government,” he said in an interview with Guancha, a publishing company based in Shanghai, China.

Anwar added that he had previously held discussions on BRICS expansion with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The BRICS group has seen two waves of expansion since its emergence in 2006.

In 2011, South Africa along with Brazil, Russia, India and China were the original participants in BRIC.

However, in August 2023, six new members, including Argentina were invited to join the association, Buenos Aires changed its mind at the end of December last year.

Five new members, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia officially joined the group on January 1, 2024.