The perils and promise of the emerging multipolar world
The StarJun 16
Report: Malaysia Set to Join BRICS
Image copyright: Sean Gallup/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Chinese media on Monday that the Southeast Asian country will soon start the formal process of joining the BRICS group of emerging economies.
In an interview with Guancha, Anwar said that the decision to join the bloc had already been made and that Kuala Lumpur was now awaiting "the final results from the government in South Africa."
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Malaysia's desire to join BRICS highlights the tectonic shifts in the global balance of power and the dawn of the multipolar age. Western economies used to dominate the world order, but now the BRICS are surpassing the G7 in terms of global economic output and continuing to reshape international relations in favor of the Global South. The hegemony of the West is finally over, and Anwar's statements, therefore, reflect economic pragmatism and strategic foresight.
Pro-establishment narrative
While Malaysia may plan to join BRICS, this doesn't reflect the full picture of current trends. The headlines fail to mention the rising significance of the US market for ASEAN countries amid ongoing China-US trade tensions and economic shifts. For instance, Malaysia's exports to the US recently increased while exports to China declined. The US is still the most powerful country in the world, and Malaysia, an ASEAN country, shouldn't jeopardize its future due to ideological concerns.