Question time: We need to expand and diversify our markets, says Mohamad in Parliament yesterday. — Bernama
MALAYSIA’s role in other international cooperation will not be affected by her being a partner country in BRICS, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the position does not “water down” Malaysia’s role in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), among others.
“Just recently, Malaysia was invited to participate in the Apec and G20 Summits.
“Here (on these platforms) we also voiced out the obvious gap between developed countries and the Global South.
“Instead of developed countries pointing the finger, we should all come together and resolve matters like climate change and global warming,” he said in response to a question by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas).
Mohamad said being a partner country in BRICS also expanded the country’s economy.
“We take a de-risk policy. We don’t have to rely too much on our traditional markets because if anything happens to them, we will fall on our backs.
“We need to expand and diversify our markets,” he explained.
In a supplementary question, Ahmad Fadhli asked about Malaysia’s goal in joining BRICS and how the country positioned itself within the bloc while not being perceived as being against other blocs.
Ahmad Fadhli also wanted to know how Malaysia would bring its status as a BRICS partner country towards Asean countries, noting how the region also had economic platforms like Apec.
To this, Mohamad said Malaysia is not yet accepted as a full BRICS member, but once it is done, the matter will be brought to Parliament.
He also said BRICS is not like a pact and there is no convention or treaty to be signed and adhered to.
“It is more towards amplifying the Global South’s voice,” he said.
On Oct 24, Malaysia was recognised as one of 13 nations officially added to BRICS as a partner country, a bloc that collectively accounts for one-fifth of global trade.
Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the BRICS group welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as new members during the bloc’s summit in August last year.
It was established in 2009 as a cooperation platform for rapidly developing economies.
BRICS now contributes to a quarter of the global economy, accounts for one-fifth of global trade and represents about 40% of the world’s population.
