KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia will maintain its status as a partner nation to the BRICS economic bloc, opting against full membership for now, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He was answering a question from Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) about Malaysia’s potential full membership in BRICS and its implications on existing trade commitments, particularly with the United States.

“We have to be cautious in whatever we do next so that we don’t end up trapped or tied down by our own commitments.

“Although the clauses suggest that we are free, we must remain observant and cautious in our approach,” Mohamad said in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said that Malaysia could be constrained by future trade commitments if the country joins BRICS fully, due to trade clauses with the United States.

“Back in July, United States President Donald Trump warned that any country joining BRICS could face an additional 10 per cent tariff.

“Malaysia has also signed a comprehensive trade agreement with the United States, and under Clause 5.33, if Malaysia enters into a new bilateral or preferential economic agreement with BRICS, it would be considered as jeopardising essential US interests,” he said.

Mohamad said Malaysia must avoid being bound by future trade deals that may restrict its flexibility in engaging with global partners.

He added that maintaining BRICS partner status allows Malaysia to benefit from trade and cooperation opportunities without being tied to bloc-level decisions.

Deeper Concerns Over Labour and Global Alignment

While the parliamentary exchange centred on tariffs and geopolitics, it also reflected Malaysia’s deeper unease over how shifting alliances could reshape its economic and labour positioning.

Malaysia’s potential alignment with BRICS, a bloc seen as championing de-dollarisation and Global South cooperation, comes as it continues to balance ties with Western economies, particularly the United States.

The concern raised in Parliament echoed a broader anxiety: that trade or geopolitical commitments could limit Malaysia’s flexibility in managing migration flows, workforce policies, and regional partnerships.

Labour Balancing Act

Malaysia’s trade strategy is increasingly intertwined with its labour market. The country remains dependent on foreign workers from South and Southeast Asia with 2.47 million active, legally registered workers as of late 2024, according to figures tabled in Parliament.

Sectors such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture and domestic services remain heavily reliant on low- and semi-skilled migrants.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) noted in its 2024 labour brief that Malaysia continues to face structural dependence on migrant labour, especially in industries central to its export economy.

At the same time, Malaysia is trying to reposition itself as a digital and innovation hub under the Malaysia MADANI framework.

This involves attracting high-skilled professionals and encouraging talent mobility through programmes tied to the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and clean technology.

Stronger alignment with BRICS economies could deepen cooperation with labour-supplying countries such as India and Indonesia, but might complicate engagement with Western-led investment and education networks.

Malaysia risks narrowing its talent and labour pipelines if its geopolitical positioning appears to favour one bloc over another.

ASEAN’s Shared Dilemma

Across ASEAN, other nations are similarly managing ties between rival global partners.

Indonesia maintains close cooperation with China, one of BRICS’ founding members, while continuing to seek Western investment in its downstream industries.

Thailand and Vietnam are also strengthening trade with BRICS-linked economies while preserving US and EU market access.

When Malaysia joined BRICS as a partner nation in October 2024, officials clarified the move was meant to diversify economic opportunities, not to pivot away from traditional partners such as the United States or the European Union.

This reflects ASEAN’s long-standing strategy of maintaining neutrality, preserving multiple trade and migration corridors rather than being bound to a single geopolitical camp.

Balancing Openness and Restraint

For now, Malaysia’s decision to remain a BRICS partner rather than pursue full membership allows it to keep its trade and talent channels open.

It also gives policymakers the space to observe how global economic blocs evolve before making commitments that could reshape migration governance or labour dependencies.

In an increasingly fragmented global economy, Malaysia’s approach may be less about hesitation and more about preservation, maintaining access to both migrant labour supply chains and international talent mobility networks.

By keeping its options open, Malaysia signals a pragmatic stance: one that seeks growth without sacrificing flexibility. In diplomacy, as in labour, adaptability remains its strongest currency.