Kuala Lampur, Sept. 4 -- Malaysia's partnership with Brics should be understood through a simple principle: grow with all, align blindly with none. Invariably, focus on Asean first.

Malaysia officially became a Brics partner country on January 1, 2025.

This gives Kuala Lumpur access to the grouping's meetings and cooperative initiatives without making Malaysia a full member or binding it to every Brics position.

It is a flexible arrangement suited to Malaysia's tradition of non-alignment and pragmatic economic diplomacy.

Partnership need not be Malaysia's final destination.

It can serve as a period of preparation, evaluation and institutional familiarisation.

As and when Malaysia determines that full membership serves its national i...