BUKIT MERTAJAM (June 18): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday confirmed that he has expressed Malaysia’s wish to join the intergovernmental organisation BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Accordingly, he said, Malaysia will go through the process to enable the country to join the intergovernmental organisation.

“For the past two months, the Foreign Ministry has been appointed to conduct a study on our policy decision to join BRICS. We will go through the process to enable us to join BRICS.

"I have spoken to the President of Brazil about such a wish," he told reporters after attending a Hari Raya Aidiladha kenduri of his old acquaintance Hamzah Mat Isa at his residence in Mengkuang Semarak here Tuesday.

BRICS was established in 2009 as a cooperation platform for emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China with South Africa joining the group in 2010.

In January 2024, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates joined the organisation as new members.