Malaysia to Join BRICS

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

What BRICS Is (and Isn’t)

  • Several commenters note BRICS began as a Goldman Sachs marketing acronym for fast‑growing economies, not as a designed political bloc.
  • Some see the organization as largely symbolic or “a joke”: weak as a security or trade consortium, with most real action via bilateral deals.
  • Others argue it has grown into a tangible institution: headquarters, regular summits, a development bank, and liquidity mechanisms.
  • Expansion to include more states is viewed by some as diluting coherence and making it more like APEC: broad, vague, and consensus‑bound.

China, India, Russia, and Internal Tensions

  • China is seen as the main driver; expansion is interpreted by some as cementing it as a Chinese geopolitical project, especially as Russia becomes increasingly dependent on China.
  • India and China are described as rivals with border clashes, mutual visa and tech restrictions, and difficulty doing business directly.
  • Some argue India uses Russia as a mediator with China and as a counterweight within BRICS; others think India’s influence is waning.
  • Several note BRICS members (India–China, China–Russia in Central Asia, etc.) have divergent interests that limit unity.

De-dollarization, Sanctions, and the Petrodollar

  • Strong debate on whether sanctions on Russia show the power or the vulnerability of the dollar system.
  • One camp: dollar dominance is intact or even strengthened; Russia’s struggles using ruble/rupee and reliance on yuan show alternatives are costly and constrained.
  • Another camp: weaponization of the dollar and “petrodollar” pushes countries to seek alternatives; BRICS is seen as part of that response, even if immature.

Malaysia’s Role and Regional Context

  • Malaysia’s interest in BRICS is linked to a broader Global South/Islamic world turn toward China, despite issues like Uyghurs or South China Sea disputes.
  • Some note ASEAN as a model: loose, sovereignty‑respecting, durable, and gradually reducing US influence.

Attitudes Toward BRICS and the West

  • Western skepticism often highlights governance, rights, and instability in BRICS states.
  • Counter‑arguments stress Western hypocrisy: coups, interventions, “development” that feels exploitative, and support for controversial wars, all driving interest in non‑Western frameworks.