Malaysia Has No Interest in Siding With West Against Russia, Malaysian Prime Minister Says

"I mean, so our intention, our position is of course to find a ... resolution, not to take a side of the West against Russia. What benefit is this for us? Like the United States vis-a-vis China, we maintain good relations with both. Why compel us to take sides? Well, they create these potential problems because it is a different system," Anwar Ibrahim said on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"Well, we are very appreciative of the fact that [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin officially invited me to attend the BRICS meeting in Kazan next month. Our policy is of course to strengthen the global south. BRICS is a very important vehicle to strengthen that sort of collaboration among countries in the global south. Not necessarily in antagonism, but at least to contain the onslaught of other richer industrialized countries and to be able to at least withstand the pressure and together build up the force," he told the outlets.

"With Russia, I think the potential is there. We hope, now that we have talked to a lot of major companies in Russia, to come to Malaysia and increase, particularly tourism, that would be of benefit. And we are also making it easier for Malaysian tourists to visit Russia," Ibrahim said.

"The Russian experience is a bit different, because you are stronger, larger, and you have this strong resolve and a great history. Somehow or other, they are managing things better than many Western observers thought. That is true. We look at the economic figures, look at the agriculture production, the new technology, look at the banking system," Ibrahim elaborated.