"I don't think it's a paradigm shift per se, but it's more a reassertion of the long-standing policy of strategic autonomy or at least this aspiration to maintain strategic autonomy, both within Malaysia itself and within ASEAN in general," she said.

Speaking on Bernama TV’s The Nation programme recently, Roknifard said Malaysia has consistently preferred to remain neutral rather than align itself with any major power bloc, while Russia's pivot towards Asia has created new opportunities for engagement with ASEAN.

She said Russia, which is facing growing economic dependence on China following the Ukraine conflict, is also seeking to diversify its trade and political partnerships, with Malaysia emerging as one of its gateways into ASEAN.

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On bilateral trade, Roknifard cautioned against focusing solely on percentage growth, saying the overall trade volume between Russia and ASEAN remains relatively small compared with Russia's trade with China and neighbouring Belarus.

"It's very good when they talk about trade and percentage... although we need to see what was the baseline compared to what this increase has been, and I think the prime minister also said there that we need to be completely honest here, that our trade interactions are quite insignificant in comparison," she said.

She said key areas with untapped potential include advanced manufacturing, energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and selected defence technologies, particularly drones, counter-drone systems, surveillance technologies, and radar systems.

Commenting on discussions to expand trade using the ringgit and the Russian ruble, Roknifard said the proposal was practical as part of a broader effort to diversify payment systems, although sanctions and the ruble's limited liquidity remained a challenge.

She added that alternative payment mechanisms such as China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) could help facilitate transactions.

On Russia's offer to guarantee long-term supplies of petroleum, oil, and gas, Roknifard said the move comes at a time when ASEAN countries are increasingly concerned about energy security following recent tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

"So, providing for the stability in those markets is highly important for ASEAN and I think all the members are very much interested in that," she said, noting that the attendance of ASEAN leaders at the recent ASEAN-Russia Summit reflected the region's growing focus on energy security.

Roknifard also welcomed closer cooperation between Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Russian energy giant Rosneft, saying corporate-level partnerships could outlast political leadership changes and provide greater continuity in bilateral cooperation.

"I think it's a very good move... whatever area they decide to cooperate on, these corporate interactions tend to outlast any sitting government. So, that guarantees us some sort of continuity beyond the current prime minister," she said.

She said cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced agriculture, and pharmaceuticals could also strengthen Malaysia's technological capabilities while supporting food security and supply chain resilience, adding that Russia's expertise in agriculture and fertiliser production could become valuable during future disruptions.

Roknifard said deeper engagement with Russia ultimately reinforces ASEAN centrality by giving member states greater flexibility to pursue their national interests while juggling relations with all major powers.

"Yes, it only enhances the idea of ASEAN centrality, but of course Malaysia needs to tread very cautiously, not to upset its all other partners, because we value our relationship with China, with the European Union, with the United States, and of course within ASEAN itself," she said.

-- BERNAMA