Syed Nizamuddin Bin Sayed Khassim

Opinion | Malaysia’s Brics bid affirms, rather than abandons, its diplomatic values

Having to navigate great power rivalries for decades, Kuala Lumpur’s inclination towards shaping a multipolar world order is nothing new

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A pedestrian walks past a mural in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 1, 2023. While Malaysia has expressed support for joining Brics, it maintains close ties with the United States. Photo: EPA-EFE

Syed Nizamuddin Bin Sayed Khassim

Published: 5:30am, 28 Jun 2024Updated: 6:03am, 28 Jun 2024

Malaysia’s anticipated accession to Brics has sparked considerable discussion among political analysts. Has Malaysia forsaken its strategic posture in favour of aligning more closely with China? This perspective misinterprets Malaysia’s long-standing strategy of hedging and the implications of what joining Brics would mean for the country.

While Malaysia aspires to join Brics, it is also a member of the United States-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. Furthermore, Malaysia and the United States conduct joint military exercises.

Additionally, Malaysia is part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In an increasingly divisive and seemingly bipolar world, Malaysia’s nuanced world view is easily cast aside despite its regional relevance.

Malaysia may have openly expressed reservations about the Aukus alliance – comprising Australia, the US and the UK – but it continues to strengthen defence ties with all three Aukus states, two of which are also FPDA members.

Malaysia’s history of hedging wasn’t always evident. Initially, the nation was established under the auspices of, and defended by, Western powers. The formation of Malaysia in 1963, which was brokered by the British, led to a conflict with Indonesia. Jakarta viewed the new nation as being a British puppet state.

Faced with this onslaught, Malaysia owed its precarious existence to the might of the Western powers. Malaysia survived, backed by the UK and aided by the US, which held an antagonistic view towards then Indonesian president Sukarno.