JAPAN’s ambassador Takahashi Katsuhiko said that Malaysia has the potential to become a regional hub for vocational and technical training to people of other countries in this region.
As such, Japan is keen to work with Malaysia to strengthen the country’s capacity building under the Look East Policy (LEP) framework.
“Malaysia has now become so developed compared to 40 years ago when the LEP started. So, one thing we want to work together on is to use the vocational training institutions here to provide training not only for Malaysians but also people of other countries,” Bernama reported Takahashi as saying.
“I believe we are able to enhance this aspect so that Japan and Malaysia can work together to do good things to benefit other countries in this region.”
He further noted that after 40 years of success, it is time for both parties to explore new approaches for further extending the LEP and its benefits.
Malaysia’s then-fourth prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad introduced LEP in 1982, and it has remained the cornerstone of Malaysia-Japan relations ever since.
Furthermore, about 26,000 Malaysians which sought to imitate the Japanese work culture and technological expertise in order to develop the country benefited from the policy.
In order to equip the locals with technical, vocational, and industry knowledge, Malaysia and Japan collaborated to establish two training institutions, the Japan Malaysia Technical Institute (JMTI) in Penang and the Centre for Instructor and Advanced Skill Training (CIAST) in Shah Alam, Selangor, under the LEP, in 1983 and 1998 respectively.
“We have no reason to slow down, rather, there is more that we can do for the sake of the two countries,” Takahashi added.
“I hope we can continue in line with what Malaysia and Japan have been working for in the framework of the LEP to build stronger relations between our countries.” – Dec 14, 2022
Main photo credit: Bernama
