WANTING TO SEE A WORLD Get
Malaysia’s application to the BRICS serves as an additional platform from which it can expand its global reach as a center power and gain economic benefits.
In recent years, there have been significant problems involving OIC and ASEAN. The OIC, which has 57 people, is the second-largest organization after the UN. It claims to be the global voice of the Arab world, but it is actually going through a lot of changes as a result of geostrategic shifts in the Middle East, including changes under the leadership of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Abraham Accords that Israel and many Arab states signed in 2020 to bring normality to relationships.
How little has the OIC changed recently as a result of their inability to reach a consensus on the Gaza issue. Saudi Arabia hosted a particular mountain on Gaza between the OIC states and the Muslim League in November of last year, which was unable to agree on what they could do to stop the conflict. It could be seen as a loss, aside from a watered-down declaration that the fight must stop and allow humanitarian assistance to provide Gaza.
There are significant differences between ASEAN users regarding what the expansion of China means for the area. The ongoing conflict over claims in the South China Sea evidently demonstrates the units in ASEAN. Therefore, it is not surprising that Malaysia seeks out more international platforms to represent its interests.
Also, joining BRICS is a fairly easy affair. A free alliance provides a forum for discussion of close-knit and democratic consensus on global issues. Members do not have to shift any local laws to coincide with the organisation, unlike for example, joining the European Union, therefore countries who join BRICS do not have to do many internally.
A significant portion of the BRICS is also dedicated to South-South trade ( between the Global South ), with China serving as the main player. Joining the BRICS can be seen as a natural transition because Malaysia is currently a member of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which does need changing local laws.
Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, said in a recent discussion about joining the BRICS that” China’s increase has, brought us a glimmer of hope that there are checks and balances in the world.”