Malaysia’s BRICS candidacy a strategic economic move, says Brazilian envoy

 

Brazil’s ambassador to Malaysia Ary Quintella dismissed the notion that BRICS is an anti-Western group. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Malaysia’s interest in joining the BRICS group of emerging economies is a strategic economic decision, says Brazil’s ambassador to Malaysia.

In an interview on the Bernama TV programme 

The Nation

, Ary Quintella said BRICS membership would also amplify Malaysia’s voice in the international arena.

When the Malaysian prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) announced that he wanted Malaysia to join BRICS, he was not making a political statement. He was making a strategic economic decision,

 said Quintella.

I believe that BRICS helps in making your voice heard. Being a BRICS member makes you able to convey your voice more effectively,

 he added.

He also dismissed the notion that BRICS is an anti-Western group, pointing out that it is primarily seen as a platform for economic and trade advantages.

Quintella said that while countries might benefit politically from BRICS membership, Brazil did not see it as a political group.

He said that Brazil welcomed Malaysia’s push to become a member of BRICS and personally believed Malaysia fulfilled all the requirements to join the grouping.

During the programme, the ambassador also addressed the notion that BRICS membership was essential for trade between member countries.

Instead, he said being in the same group facilitates dialogue and promotes more opportunities for meetings and exchange of opinions.

I have been asked by some Western observers here, ‘Do you need to be in BRICS in order to trade with the other BRICS members?’ No, you don’t,

 he said.

China is already our biggest trading partner, and it would be (the same) even if China or Brazil were not members of BRICS.

He noted that Malaysia, despite not being a BRICS member yet, shares concerns with other Global South countries about inequality on the international stage.

I believe that Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Anwar are two very strong voices from the Global South expressing those concerns,

 he said.

The world should be a more equal place, and the Global South’s concerns should be heard more.

In July, Anwar said that Malaysia had sent an application letter to join the BRICS intergovernmental organisation to Russia, which is the BRICS chair.

Established in 2009, BRICS initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.

The alliance now encompasses almost 46% of the world’s population and 36% of global GDP following the admission of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates into the grouping at the beginning of the year. - FMT