As Brics lures Malaysia and Thailand in a ‘crumbling’ world order, is Asean OK?

Malaysia’s push to join Brics has largely been driven by Anwar’s broader rhetoric around championing the Global South and challenging perceived Western double standards, according to regional foreign policy experts.

The Malaysian prime minister has been vocal on issues that align with the overall Brics ethos, ranging from the need for multipolarity to diversified economic development, said Thomas Daniel, a senior fellow specialising in foreign policy and security studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia.

In a recent Facebook post, Anwar called for championing “the rise of the Global South” and fostering a world where “every nation has a seat at the table and a voice in shaping a collective future” – sentiments that dovetail with Bric’s positioning as an alternative to Western-led institutions.

Many Asean members also belong to other organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Indian Ocean Rim Association, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

“Membership of these organisations did not diminish the importance of Asean for its members and neither would Brics,” he said. “To imply otherwise is to reduce the agency, flexibility and resilience” of Asean.

Ayu Anastasya Rachman, head of the international relations department at Universitas Bina Mandiri in Indonesia’s Gorontalo province, said joining such a consortium of major emerging economies could provide better access to lucrative markets, increased foreign investment, and opportunities for collaborative infrastructure projects.

“Joining Brics can also be seen as a strategic move to diversify economic partnerships and reduce dependence on Western-led financial institutions,” she said, adding that Brics membership