KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's interest in joining BRICS reflects its desire for a stronger voice on the global stage, and this aligns closely with Brazil's own ambitions for the Global South, says Brazilian Ambassador Ary Norton De Murat Quintella.
Quintella, speaking to the New Straits Times' Beyond the Headlines explained the importance of BRICS as a platform for emerging economies like Malaysia and Brazil to assert themselves internationally, especially in advocating for the Global South.
"BRICS is not anti-Western; it's about giving the Global South a louder voice," Quintella said.
He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sees BRICS as a means for Malaysia to amplify its voice in global discussions, especially on issues where developing nations often feel sidelined.
"When the prime minister declared that he would like Malaysia to join BRICS, I believe that that's what he has in mind, that he sees BRICS as one means for Malaysia to be able to have its voice heard in the world.
"It's a legitimate ambition for Malaysia to have its voice heard in the world," Quintella said.
The ambassador said that BRICS serves as a forum for countries like Malaysia and Brazil to push for more equitable global governance.
As Anwar prepares for his upcoming visit to Brazil for the G20 summit in November, the focus will be on strengthening Malaysia-Brazil ties and discussing shared priorities, including environmental cooperation, semiconductors, and renewable energy.
Quintella also highlighted the growing alignment between Anwar and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, both of whom share a vision for a more balanced global order.
Their upcoming bilateral talks are expected to be productive, building on years of collaboration between the two nations.
This visit marks the first time a Malaysian prime minister has visited Brazil since 2003, and it is anticipated to be a significant milestone in the partnership between the two nations.
With BRICS offering a platform for the developing countries to be heard, Malaysia's potential membership signals its growing influence and alignment with other emerging economies.
"There's a lot of anticipation for this meeting. It's going to be a very big meeting because there are 20 countries in the G20, and President Lula has invited about 8 countries, like Malaysia, to join the summit.
"So it's going to be quite a gathering. There'll be many leaders there. But, it's clear that Anwar Ibrahim and President Lula have a lot in common," Quintella said.