A New Alignment In Diplomatic And Strategic Relations With Russia

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From Aslam Mizan
The dates Sept 4 and 5 are important to Malaysia as they signal an appropriate foreign policy approach in relation to Russia for the socioeconomic development of the nation.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Russia for the first time since taking office in 2022 to discuss important issues with president Vladimir Putin.
First off, it’s obvious that the purpose of this visit is to persuade Russia to welcome Malaysia as a new BRICS member. BRICS, whose combined market power accounts for 40% of the world’s population, offers Malaysia economic riches.
If Malaysia becomes a BRICS member, it will help Anwar advance a number of planned economic reform projects. Anwar recognises there are situations that may jeopardise Malaysia’s reliance on Western investment, particularly in light of global geopolitics. As a result, Malaysia requires a substitute to keep advancing the ongoing economic reforms.
To facilitate investment, Anwar’s group included investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz and Amirudin Shari, the menteri besar of Selangor, an advanced state in Malaysia. To quickly clear the path for foreign direct investment into Malaysia, Anwar identified a number of possible investors.
Anwar sees BRICS as a potent tool to ensure the well-being of the populace through sustainable and focussed economic development, not as a venue for confrontation or a means of identifying 
problems with the Western bloc.
Malaysia has wisely not sided with any bloc.
Diplomatic ties between this nation and Russia are still strong and date back to the 1960s.
Previous kings, Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, made trips to Russia in 1997 and 2005 respectively, showing the good diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Russia. Even Putin has made multiple trips to Malaysia.
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor’s achievement as the first Malaysian in space was made possible by Malaysia’s strategic and cordial ties with Russia.
The US and its allies, who observe that Malaysia is becoming more assertive in efforts to fortify diplomatic ties with Russia, will undoubtedly take this visit seriously.
The world has started to view the US and the West as hypocritical when it comes to handling numerous global issues and conflicts, particularly those involving Israel and Palestine, and Russia and Ukraine.
In the fight for those who are oppressed and persecuted, the West is no longer a moral reference point. Western resolutions and statements are viewed as empty rhetoric.
In this sense, Malaysia and other nations may view Russia as a more reliable ally than the US.
Following Anwar’s visit, the next step involves looking into academic, technical and vocational education and training, and cross-cultural opportunities in order to increase the technological, social, and cultural links between Malaysia and Russia.
Russia can provide exposure and knowledge transfer in the fields of technology, aviation and medicine, to Malaysian students.
Russia is considered a vital option for Malaysian students seeking further studies because of the higher cost of studies in the US and UK.
Therefore, it is evident that Anwar’s trip to Russia in connection with the Eastern Economic Forum, which is being attended by over 40 countries, is more than just a business trip.
Rather, it represents a new alignment in diplomatic, strategic and socioeconomic relations that will help turn Malaysia into a highly educated nation with significant economic potential in the near future.
The secret to closer and more significant ties between Malaysia and Russia is BRICS. - FMT
Aslam Mizan is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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