USM PENANG, 4 February 2022 – The Minister and Deputy Chief of the Mission at the Embassy of Japan, Malaysia, Araki Kaname accompanied by the Consul-General, Orikasa Hiroyuki, Consulate-General of Japan in Penang paid a visit to the Japanese Cultural Centre (JCC KUFS-USM) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recently.

During the short visit, the Director of JCC KUFS-USM, Soeda Masatoshi explained about the activities organised by JCC KUFS-USM and the paradigm shifts on organising online cultural activities with Japanese institutions since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

Since the Malaysian government adopted the Look East Policy (LEP) in 1982, the year 2022 marks the 40th Anniversary of Look East Policy.

 

Both parties were enthusiastic in discussing the possibility of holding an international event to commemorate the anniversary.

The 40th Anniversary is a great opportunity to publicise the significant role of LEP in promoting mutual understanding, friendly cooperation and global engagement in various fields between Malaysia and Japan.

Aside from that, Professor Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian from the USM School of Social Sciences was also present during the meeting and provided a briefing on the course structure for the Bachelor of Japanese Liberal Studies programme, which will be offered for undergraduates soon at the School of Social Sciences.

Since the Malaysian government adopted the Look East Policy (LEP) in 1982, aiming at social and economic development in Malaysia through learning from Japan, over 26,000 promising Malaysian youth have come to Japan for study and training.

From left; Mr. Soeda Masatoshi, Mr. Araki Kaname, Mr. Orikasa Hiroyuki, and Prof. Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian

They have been active in the frontlines in various fields back in Malaysia, playing an important role as a bridge to connect the two countries.

Under the cooperation between the two governments, the fruit of the LEP is not just limited to Malaysians who study in Japan. It has expanded to include development of infrastructure and human resource and resulted in Malaysia’s economic growth and prosperity.

Text: Shafinaz Md Ismail (JCC KUFS-USM)/Editing: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin