Malaysia outlines priorities in BRICS cooperation, including digital economy, cybersecurity, climate policy and cultural ties
In an exclusive interview with TV BRICS, recorded on the sidelines of the International Security Forum, the Director-General of Malaysia’s National Security Council, Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, spoke about Malaysia’s priorities within its partnership with BRICS. He discussed a wide range of issues, including the strengthening of trade cooperation among member countries, as well as the use of artificial intelligence. In addition, he stressed the importance of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including UNESCO-led initiatives and broader collaboration across Southeast Asia.
In 2025, Malaysia joined BRICS as a partner state. The group pays great attention to strengthening peace, security, and international stability. Among the priority areas noted by the heads of state in Rio de Janeiro are countering terrorism, building a secure digital environment, and using space technologies for peaceful purposes. How should the work be structured for the achievement of these purposes?
We are very pleased that the members of BRICS agreed to accept Malaysia as a partner. As you know, the Prime Minister has said that BRICS is very important for Malaysia. President Putin called for a polycentric world back in 2025, and this is certainly something we agree with. BRICS has expanded very rapidly, and the focus areas you mentioned are indeed highly important.
In the era of digitalisation we are living in today, the clearest manifestation of this is, of course, the digital economy. In Malaysia’s case, around a quarter of our economy – approximately 24.5 per cent – is already digital, and we expect this figure to rise very rapidly to 30 per cent.
In this respect, BRICS countries have great potential, including in using the digital economy to strengthen trade among us. While we may not necessarily have a first-mover advantage, we do have the advantage of adopting digital technologies at a later stage and learning from existing experience.
Secondly, countering terrorism remains an important priority.
As for space exploration, Malaysia has been a space-faring nation for around 30 years. Russia is clearly far ahead in this field, and we look forward to strengthening cooperation with Russia in this respect.
In terms of institutional structures, we do not envisage the need for a very elaborate or expensive framework. At the end of the day, the priority is to enhance bilateral cooperation, and BRICS should serve as a platform for strengthening cooperation both among member states and within them.
With regard to cybersecurity, Malaysia has approved a Border Security Master Plan for 2026–2030. It is based on a smart digital system designed to monitor all types of borders – land, sea, and air. What role does artificial intelligence play in this system?
Artificial intelligence is central to this system, and the benefits are quite obvious, because the nature of border control across land, maritime, and air domains is very different. However, all three areas must be viewed and managed in an integrated manner.
There are many different types of radar systems, different forms of satellite imagery, and a wide range of on-site surveillance systems. Artificial intelligence is therefore incredibly important in bringing all of these elements together and enabling them to function effectively as a single system.
Its role is important not only in monitoring what happens at the borders themselves, but also in managing what takes place within the country after the border has been crossed. Border management must be seen as a continuum – it does not simply stop at the border. That is why artificial intelligence has such an important role to play in the overall border security system.
The government is currently developing a cybercrime bill. What impact is it expected to have?
Today, cybercrime takes many different forms, and we are currently in the process of introducing a new act to address these challenges. We hope to secure parliamentary approval during the next session. There are two key aspects to this effort. The first is the act itself, while the second involves addressing the wider environment and conditions that enable such crimes to occur in the first place.
Our cybercrime bill is therefore quite comprehensive, and it will work closely alongside other legislation already in place, including the Cybersecurity Act that was passed two years ago.
As for environmental issues, they also occupy an important place in Malaysia’s agenda. The government is currently developing its first inclusive National Adaptation Plan in order to prepare the country for the consequences of climate change. How is this system expected to work?
First, we have to address the basics, and the basics are public education. In Malaysia, we have been very fortunate because we have not experienced the adverse effects of climate change in the same way as many other countries, especially small island developing states. So, very frankly, the level of public awareness is not yet as high as I believe it should be.
Education is therefore the first major issue that we need to tackle. Secondly, we are quite fortunate because, for many years, the Malaysian government has demonstrated a commitment to environmental protection. At the Rio Summit in 1992, 34 years ago, the government already pledged that 50 per cent of our land area would remain under forest cover.
In other words, half of our territory would remain green. This was a clear commitment made by the government. I am very pleased to note that although the target was 50 per cent, our forest cover today actually exceeds that figure and stands at around 52 to 53 per cent. Rainforests are the lungs of the world in terms of converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, so we remain firmly committed in this regard.
UNESCO has launched a project on traditional arts in Indonesia and Malaysia. What impact could this initiative have on the protection of cultural heritage in the region?
I think this is certainly a very welcome initiative. We share a common cultural space. There are many traditions and cultural elements that can be found across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore as well, although there may be local variations in each country. The fact that all three countries are working together to promote this kind of approach is therefore extremely positive.
In practical terms, I believe this initiative will also help to strengthen tourism efforts across the three countries. Tourism is a very interesting phenomenon in Southeast Asia because it is both an area of competition and an area of cooperation. We compete in attracting more tourists to our respective countries, but at the same time we cooperate in encouraging those tourists to visit not just one country but all three. Tourism is therefore a particularly interesting field of cooperation in Southeast Asia, especially among these three countries.
How can BRICS countries further strengthen their cooperation in the field of humanitarian projects?
One area we can certainly look at is cultural preservation. There are many items in our part of the world which, frankly, are not preserved in the best possible way, and this is one area where we could focus greater attention. The second area is cultural education. The level of cultural education and awareness in Russia is far higher than it is in Malaysia.
I often tell friends in Malaysia that Russian literature, since the time of Pushkin, is truly one of the wonders of human imagination. Russian literature has maintained an unbroken line of great literary figures from the days of Pushkin – and probably even before – right up to the present day.
There are very few countries in the world that can claim this. It is reflected in the pride – the well-justified pride – that Russian people have in it as a foundation for building national consciousness and identity.
What is your favourite Russian writer or author?
Ivan Turgenev is the best. As a stylist, I think that, for someone of his time, he was probably at the cutting edge of literature, both in terms of form and the subjects he addressed, which I think were very serious.
African Times published this article in partnership with International Media Network TV BRICS
