AN announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in June 2024 about the possibility of Malaysia joining the BRICS economic bloc has sent shockwaves through South-East Asia’s geopolitical landscape. The move, echoed by Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, with Vietnam and Indonesia potentially following suit, could also herald a significant shift in the region's higher education sector.
BRICS, often seen as a counterweight to the established Western-led world order, has gained considerable traction in recent years. Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (which joined in 2010, a year after the bloc's founding), the bloc expanded in 2023 to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. This formidable economic and demographic powerhouse, representing over four billion people (45% of the global population) and occupying 30% of the world's landmass, aims for a stronger global voice and a more prominent role in shaping geopolitics.
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