Malaysia submits an application for BRICS membership

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that his country has submitted an application to join the BRICS intergovernmental organization.

 “Malaysia sent a letter to Russia, in its capacity as head of the BRICS group, containing a request to join the organization,” RIA Novosti quoted Ibrahim as saying in a statement.

He expressed at the same time Malaysia’s readiness to participate as a member state or strategic partner.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, announced earlier that Russia and Malaysia are discussing establishing a unified Eurasian security system.

Russia assumed the presidency of the BRICS group for this year on the first of last January, and this coincided with the historical expansion of the organization, as it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa