Joining hands for global resilience
RIO DE JANEIRO: Developing nations should no longer be considered marginal players in the global system as the Global South has risen to possess its own strength in technology, trade, leadership and world morals, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said today, BRICS has moved beyond political rhetorics and is in fact a coalition of political power, economy and civil society that moves together in demanding for a global system that is more fair and just.
'BRICS' uniqueness lies in the active participation of the private sector, women, youth and society, making the struggle not just an elite cause but a movement that is collective, inclusive and resilient,' he said at the BRICS Business Forum yesterday.
The Prime Minister said that as Asean Chair, Malaysia shares this aspiration.
'We in South-East Asia fight for multilateralism, strengthen intra-Asean trade and pioneer the use of local currency in cross border transactions.
'This is a concrete move towards a financial system that is more stable and free of unilateral domination,' he said.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Anwar said BRICS and Asean members must also strengthen strategic cooperation, including boost trade and investment with developing nations.
'I also call for major reforms towards global institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organisation to reflect current realities and the need of developing countries, and not be trapped in an obsolete post World War II structure,' he said.
BRICS 2025 Summit, said the Prime Minister, should not be merely a continuity of past efforts, but rather, be the point of new beginnings.
'With political leadership that is visionary, public sector that is progressive and unity among the Global South, we have a real opportunity to re-shape the global landscape,' he said.
Anwar landed here last night, the third and final leg of his official visit and working trip to three cities.
At Galeao Air Force Base here, he was received by the Acting Head of Mission of Malaysia to Brazil Datuk Mohammad Ali Selamat and Brazil's Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture Secretary Ambassador Laudemar Goncalves de Aguiar Neto.
Anwar arrived at 5.41am local time (4.41pm Malaysian time) yesterday after a 12-hour flight from Paris where he completed a two-day official visit.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, is in Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Trump threatens extra 10% tariffs on BRICS as leaders meet in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO: President Donald Trump said the U.S. will impose an additional 10% tariff on any countries aligning themselves with the 'Anti-American policies' of the BRICS group of developing nations, whose leaders kicked off a major summit in Brazil on Sunday. With forums such as the G7 and G20 groups of major economies hamstrung by divisions and the disruptive 'America First' approach of the U.S. president, BRICS is presenting itself as a haven for multilateral diplomacy amid violent conflicts and trade wars. In opening remarks to the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva drew a parallel with the Cold War's Non-Aligned Movement, a group of developing nations that resisted joining either side of a polarized global order. 'BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement,' Lula told leaders. 'With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again.' In a joint statement released on Sunday afternoon, the group warned the rise in tariffs threatens global trade, continuing the group's veiled criticism of Trump's U.S. tariff policies. Hours later, Trump warned he would punish countries seeking to join with the grouping. 'Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Trump did not clarify or expand on the 'Anti-American policies' reference in his post. Trump's administration is seeking to finalize dozens of trade deals with a wide range of countries before his July 9 deadline for the imposition of significant 'retaliatory tariffs'. BRICS nations now represent more than half the world's population and 40% of its economic output, Lula noted in remarks on Saturday to business leaders, warning of rising protectionism. The original BRICS group gathered leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as members. This is the first summit of leaders to include Indonesia. More than 30 nations have expressed interest in participating in the BRICS, either as full members or partners. GROWING CLOUT, COMPLEXITY Expansion of the BRICS has added diplomatic weight to the gathering, which aspires to speak for developing nations across the Global South, strengthening calls for reforming global institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the International Monetary Fund. 'If international governance does not reflect the new multipolar reality of the 21st century, it is up to BRICS to help bring it up to date,' Lula said in his remarks, which highlighted the failure of U.S.-led wars in the Middle East. Urging the BRICS to take the lead on reforms, Lula reflected on the G20 summit hosted in the same locale last November: 'In a short period of time, the international scene has deteriorated to the point that some of the initiatives we approved then would no longer be possible now.' Stealing some thunder from this year's summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping chose to send his premier in his place. Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending online due to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Still, several heads of state were gathered for discussions at Rio's Museum of Modern Art on Sunday and Monday, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, there are questions about the shared goals of an increasingly heterogeneous BRICS group, which has grown to include regional rivals along with major emerging economies. In the joint statement, the leaders called attacks against Iran's 'civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities' a 'violation of international law.' The group expressed 'grave concern' for the Palestinian people over Israeli attacks on Gaza, and condemned what the joint statement called a 'terrorist attack' in India-administered Kashmir. The group voiced its support for Ethiopia and Iran to join the World Trade Organization, while calling to urgently restore its ability to resolve trade disputes. The leaders' joint statement backed plans to pilot a BRICS Multilateral Guarantees initiative within the group's New Development Bank to lower financing costs and boost investment in member states, as first reported by Reuters last week. In a separate statement following a discussion of artificial intelligence, the leaders called for protections against unauthorized use of AI to avoid excessive data collection and allow mechanisms for fair payment. Brazil, which also hosts the United Nations climate summit in November, has seized on both gatherings to highlight how seriously developing nations are tackling climate change, while Trump has slammed the brakes on U.S. climate initiatives. China and the UAE signaled in meetings with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Rio that they plan to invest in a proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions about funding conservation of endangered forests around the world.
Malaysiakini
15 minutes ago
- Malaysiakini
German businesses remain confident in M'sia amid global uncertainties
Most German companies in Malaysia remained highly confident in the country's business environment, according to the latest World Business Outlook Spring 2025 Survey. The survey, conducted by the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC) revealed that 91 percent of German businesses rate their current business situation in Malaysia as 'good' or 'satisfactory', underscoring sustained optimism despite a volatile global economic landscape.
Focus Malaysia
16 minutes ago
- Focus Malaysia
PSM hails Rafizi's team of 9 PKR MPs who break rank by calling for RCI to avert judiciary crisis
PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has applauded former PKR deputy president and Pandan MP and Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli for having opened the door to the notion that every elected MP is entitled to his/her own conscience vote of not to toeing their party's line if the situation warrants it. Such action of breaking rank from the party whip is an important democratic right of an elected MPs which is hardly practiced in the Malaysian democracy as party reps are bound by party discipline, according to PSM deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan 'Currently it seems thatr only (Pasir Gudang MP) Hassan Karim leverages his conscience vote,' observed Arutchelvan in a reaction to the Rafizi-led nine PKR MPs (including himself) calling for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to probe allege irregularities in the appointment of senior judges, including the Chief Justice. 'While I concur that party discipline is essential for a party yet on serious issues of public interest such as the freedom of judiciary, it is essential for MPs to vote according to their conscience or have a mechanism in their own parliamentary set-up to seek feedback from their electorate.' The nine PKR MPs also formally requested that proceedings and an inquiry be conducted by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform, including top government officials to testify. They are Rafizi; Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Kik Ahmad; Subang MP Wong Chen; Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail; Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan; Balik Pulau MP Datuk Bakhtiar Wan Chik; Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh; Sungai Siput MP S. Kesavan; and Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar. Stressing as to why it is essential and critical that the Malaysian judiciary is independent and robust, Arutchelvan added: 'We also need to have the long overdue separation of the Attorney-General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor which is said to be sitting in the cabinet but not put to parliament yet. 'With all these matters pending, we hope all MPs in the Parliament vote with their conscience to safeguard our pillars of democracy. We have walked this path before and we hope the current PM will adhere to these aspirations.' – July 7, 2025 Main image credit: Malay Mail
