KJ puzzled by PM’s Russia trip, cites low trade value

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim went on a two-day trip to Vladivostok, Russia last week, where he met Russian president Vladimir Putin. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin is slightly puzzled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent trip to Russia, saying he is concerned about the costs and benefits of the move to forge closer ties with Moscow.

Khairy acknowledged Putrajaya’s ambition of balancing between the West and alternative blocs, such as by maintaining strategic neutrality between the US and China, two major trading partners of Malaysia.

He pointed out that trade with China and the US stood at RM450.84 billion and RM250.25 billion respectively in 2023.

(Given the trade value with these two countries) it’s understandable why we would want strategic neutrality with both Beijing and Washington,

 he said in the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast.

In comparison, the former Umno Youth chief said, Malaysia’s total trade with Russia was only RM14.22 billion last year.

“If we take the risk of angering the US because we want to go to a country where our trade value is nearly the same as the US, then maybe it’s worth it.

However, I’m trying to think whether or not — in terms of cost-benefit, risk-reward — this is a strategic move,

 he said.

Khairy added that the US was not neutral towards Russia, especially since the latter’s war with Ukraine, and considered both Moscow and its president Vladimir Putin 

as a problem

.

The former Rembau MP urged the government to exercise caution in bolstering ties with Russia, to prevent drawing a strong response from Washington.

“The point is, you cannot overplay your hand. When we are friendly with China, the US can understand because of the trade value. But when the value and whether it can increase aren’t clear, then you are overplaying your hand.

Although I agree we need to move away from Western dominance, Western hypocrisy and all that, we don’t want to invite a response from the US (if it isn’t worth it).

Anwar went on a two-day trip to Vladivostok, Russia, last week, where he met Putin. The two leaders were reported to have discussed, among other things, collaboration in areas such as aerospace and advanced technologies.

The prime minister also accepted Putin’s invitation to participate in the upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled for Oct 22 to 24 in Kazan, Russia. Malaysia had applied to join the grouping of emerging economies in July. - FMT