Malaysia and Russia: A Growing Affinity

According to Oh Ei Sun from the Singapore International Institute, Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen its ties with Russia are highly dependent on “the level of economic interaction between the two countries.” This is not an easy feat for Malaysia, as its desire to obtain more assets from Russia, for example, is hindered by the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions (CAATSA) act, which prevents Malaysia from considering acquiring more Russian aircraft. However, two years after this was voiced by this individual, it turned out to be wrong.

The Anwar-led government took a bold step to strengthen ties with Russia, as reflected in the meeting between Anwar and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia on September 4, 2022, as part of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). The meeting between the two leaders was notable, given the Western bloc’s efforts to isolate Moscow. The desire to join the Moscow-led BRICS group and Beijing-led group will undoubtedly solidify Malaysia’s stance.

In Vladivostok, Putin voiced concerns that trade between Malaysia and Russia is only around USD 3.5 billion, which is still considered low. During the working visit, Anwar also met with Deputy Mufti Rushan Hazrat Abbyasov and Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of the Republic of Tatarstan, to explore cooperation in education, Islamic affairs, food security, and advanced technology.

Is Anwar’s Move a Success and Risk for Malaysia?

This is because the visit may elicit a response from Western trading partners, apart from placing Malaysia in a precarious position due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Notably, a Malaysian firm, Jatronics, was said to have been sanctioned by the United States government for supplying semiconductors to Russia.

It is crucial to recall that the visit was made after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the US when he was in Kuala Lumpur. Lavrov continued to emphasize that Russia’s actions are aimed at supporting the ASEAN bloc, and this is different from the approach of the US and NATO, which is so invasive and aggressive.

So, Is Malaysia’s Love for Russia Right?

The Anwar administration has repeatedly emphasized its foreign policy, which is based on independence, pragmatism, and balance with all countries from East and West. In Vladivostok, Anwar also expressed a lack of interest in taking sides in any conflict, citing a desire not to take sides and not to complicate the situation in any region.

In many cases, Malaysia has consistently taken the side of Palestine during the West Bank’s Asian crisis, which is, to some extent, inadvertently supporting the opposing bloc of the United States, the United Kingdom, and NATO. As an adage, Russia and China are seen as more sympathetic to Palestine, which is considered an oppressed group.

Potential Areas of Cooperation

There are three areas of cooperation and economic development between the two countries.

Firstly, solidarity with the global Islamic community will make Muslims in Malaysia more inclined to explore opportunities with the Tatarstan region, Russia. Last year, the President of Tatarstan, Alexey Pesoshin, enthusiastically announced at the 15th International Forum “Russia-World: Kazan Forum 2024” that trade between Russia and member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has increased by 37% and now totals over USD 156 billion. Other notable areas include the exploration of the halal industry and the development of Islamic banking institutions in Russia. Malaysia has offered Russia a carving in the Islamic financial sector, where the introduction of Islamic banking in Russia will facilitate joint projects while attracting large investments from major Islamic countries, especially in the Tatarstan region, which has a predominantly Muslim population.

Secondly, the field of cybersecurity and data security, covering the development of technology, infrastructure, and related regulations, is also attractive for further development. The head of First Group, Alexey Poroshin, for example, proposed that Russian cybersecurity companies help Malaysian businesses in areas where they are less competitive, to develop technology, infrastructure, and regulations related to the same. The Chairman of the Asean Business Advisory Council, Nazir Razak, sees significant opportunities for cooperation in the fields of digital trade, artificial intelligence, carbon market, venture capital, and national security. This was mentioned during the Asean Business Forum “World of Opportunities” Russia-Asean last year.

Thirdly, education is another area that requires closer attention to solidify cooperation between Russia and Malaysia. This is still seen as not fully satisfactory, although Malaysia and Russia have signed eight memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in education in 2023, covering the fields of research collaboration, curriculum development, and technology transfer. This cooperation also focuses on promoting the Russian language in Malaysia and the Malay language in Russia.

Trade Figures

In 2023, trade between Russia and Malaysia increased by 11% to USD 3.11 billion, compared to USD 2.79 billion in 2022 (USD 1 = RM 4.45). Malaysia’s export to Russia also increased by 13% to USD 619.3 million in 2023, while Russia’s export to Malaysia rose 10.8% to USD 2.49 billion. Meanwhile, Russia’s import from Malaysia increased to USD 2.05 billion in 2023 from USD 1.4 billion in 2022.

Kursus Intensif Bahasa Melayu (KIKBM)

The Institute of Malay and Tamadun Malaysia (Atma), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is currently hosting nine Russian students from the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow. These students are pursuing a master’s degree in Malay language and Malaysian studies under the supervision of Dr. Mohd Faizal Musa. This program is named KIKBM, or the Intensive Malay Language and Malaysian Studies Program, which was first established by the Consortium for Indonesian and Malay (Cotim) in 1999.

The Russian students at Atma have shown a strong interest and mastery of the Malay language. They are undoubtedly an asset for the Malaysia-Russia connection in the future.

This article is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent FMT.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What is the current state of trade between Russia and Malaysia?
+ The total trade value between Russia and Malaysia increased by 11% to USD 3.11 billion in 2023 compared to USD 2.79 billion in 2022.
* What are the potential areas of cooperation between Russia and Malaysia?
+ The potential areas of cooperation include solidarity with the global Islamic community, cybersecurity and data security, and education.
* What is the significance of the KIKBM program?
+ The KIKBM program is an intensive Malay language and Malaysian studies program that aims to promote the Malay language in Malaysia and the Malay language in Russia.