Responding to a question by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang), Mohamad (BN-Rembau) said it was necessary for the government to consider the impact of such visits on other nations.

“Although we have good ties with Russia, an official visit by the prime minister needs to be planned properly as the current geopolitical situation is very fluid. We cannot accept every invitation.

“The foreign ministry has advised the prime minister to scrutinise every invitation carefully, because we do not want to be caught in complex global politics and create problems in our relations with other countries.

“We are a trading nation. We cannot afford for others to view us as leaning towards the right or left. We want to be friends with everyone. This is the basis of our foreign policy, which is diplomacy, with trade our top priority,” said Mohamad.

The minister also said that Putrajaya is presently in talks with Brazil over joining BRICS in the hope of joining the intergovernmental organisation by the time Malaysia assumes the Asean chairmanship next year.

In response, Wan Fayshal asked why Malaysia was not in talks with Russia, the current BRICS president,  over the matter.

He said Russia’s minister in charge of Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission had told him when they met in St Petersburg that Moscow was looking to strengthen its relationships with Central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union.

“The main door we need to knock on is Moscow’s, not Brazil’s. We need to have a meeting. It’s okay if it’s on the sidelines (of another international event),” he said.

Wan Fayshal said Malaysia should also engage the Eurasian Economic Union in preparation for taking over as Asean chair next year.

Brazil has been slated to take over the BRICS presidency from Russia next year.