Japan keen to partner with Malaysia in strengthening capacity building under Look East Policy

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has the potential to become a regional hub for vocational and technical training to people of other countries in this region.

Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia Takahashi Katsuhiko in recognising this said as such Japan is keen to work with Malaysia to strengthen the country’s capacity building under the Look East Policy (LEP) framework.

He said after 40 years of success, it is time both sides explore new strategy to expand the LEP and its benefits further.

"Malaysia has now becoming so developed compared to 40 years ago when the LEP started. So one thing we want to work together is to use the vocational training institutions here to provide training not only for Malaysians but also people of other countries.

"I believe we are able to enhance on this expect so that Japan and Malaysia can work together to do good things to benefit to other countries in this region,” he told Bernama when met here, recently.

LEP, which was introduced in 1982 by then fourth prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and is the cornerstone of Malaysia-Japan relations eversince.

The policy which aimed to emulate exemplary Japanese work culture as well as technology expertise in developing the country had benefitted at least 26,000 Malaysians, who upon their returned from further studies in Japan contributed in various fields and played an important role as a bridge to connect the two countries.

In the human resource sector, Malaysia and Japan under the LEP had partnered to establish two training institutions namely Centre for Instructor and Advanced Skill Training (CIAST) in Shah Alam, Selangor and the Japan Malaysia Technical Institute (JMTI) in Penang, in 1983 and 1998 respectively, with the objective to equip locals with vocational, technical and industry expertise.

"We have no reason to slow down, rather, there are more that we can do for the sake of the two countries.

"I hope we can continue in line with what Malaysia and Japan have been working for in the framework of the LEP to build a stronger relations between our countries,” Takahashi said. - BERNAMA