UMNO Youth pushes to abandon BRICS talks ahead of key assembly

A bold move to ditch BRICS divides UMNO as leaders weigh alliances. Will the party’s grassroots reshape Malaysia’s foreign policy—and its own future?

, and Administrator

2026 January 3 . 11:18 PM

1 min read

There are group of people holding placards and walking. These are the trees. I can see small... — There are group of people holding placards and walking. These are the trees. I can see small bushes. This is the banner. I can see a building with name boards attached to it. These look like cars. I think these are the current polls.

UMNO Youth pushes to abandon BRICS talks ahead of key assembly

UMNO Youth has called for Malaysia to halt all discussions and projects tied to the BRICS association. The proposal will be presented at the party's annual conference on January 14. Meanwhile, tensions within the party have risen over its political alliances and future direction.

On January 3, UMNO Youth held a special convention titled ‘Hala Tuju Umno, Sama Ada Kekal Atau Keluar Dari Kerajaan’ (UMNO’s Direction: Stay or Leave the Government). The event gathered grassroots opinions on whether the party should remain in coalition with Pakatan Harapan.

The youth wing also announced plans to push for a resolution at the upcoming general assembly, demanding the government abandon BRICS-related negotiations. However, any proposal must first be reviewed by the party's supreme council before reaching the assembly floor. UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan stressed that major decisions—including potential talks to revive the Muafakat Nasional pact with PAS—require approval from both the supreme council and the general assembly. He also cautioned DAP leaders to avoid statements that could provoke UMNO’s grassroots supporters. The general assembly runs from January 14 to 17, following a supreme council meeting where key proposals will be assessed.

The upcoming assembly will determine whether UMNO Youth’s BRICS resolution progresses. The party’s leadership must also address internal debates over its political partnerships. Decisions made in the next two weeks will shape UMNO’s stance on both foreign policy and domestic alliances.