Published: October 11, 2012
By Kamarul Yunus
Over the past 30 years, young Malaysians have travelled to Japan and South Korea to attend universities, complete training courses and take up secondments with companies.
Many have returned home to work in businesses or started out on their own. All have brought with them skills, knowledge and experience, and in turn enriched the Malaysian economy.
Take Akmal Abu Hassan, a halal food industry entrepreneur, as an example.
After graduating in Malaysia, Akmal continued his studies in Japan, before joining the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi. There, he learnt about the Japanese and international business environment, before returning to Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
The prime minister was sharing some insights into the success and outcome of the Look East Policy with the conference participants. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the policy.
"I was told that we could now enjoy halal 'wagyu' beef in certain restaurants in Japan as a result of this effort," he quipped.
During the conference, Najib also highlighted the success of Lim Wee Kee from Kedah, whose software company won the prestigious "Researcher of the Year" award from the Japanese government, the first foreign-owned company to receive the award.
Lim, who graduated from Fukuoka's Institute of Technology, had worked for a Japanese corporation before setting up his own software company.
Five years ago, his firm won the researcher award from the Japanese government for its contribution to innovation.
Today, Lim's company employs Japanese, Malaysians, Indonesians and Filipinos, providing jobs and experience to the next generation of young information technology professionals.
Najib said the Look East Policy made these successes possible, just as it did for thousands of other Malaysians, but it was always about more than individual opportunities.
"Yes, a prime objective was to ensure Malaysia's young people absorbed the skills and work ethics of their Eastern counterparts. But the Look East Policy also awakened Japanese industry to Malaysia's potential," he said.
Najib said over the past three decades, Japanese investment supported 2,360 projects in Malaysia, with major companies such as Mitsubishi, Honda, Sony, NEC, Toyota and Matsushita putting down their roots in the country, and have since expanded and diversified their operations.
"Initial forays into petroleum, chemicals and metals led to more advanced electronics manufacturing and services.
"But if the investment of the past 30 years tells the story of Malaysia's industrial modernisation, then the investments under way now tells us something about Malaysia's future.
"Today, Japanese investors continue to respond strongly to our initiatives to promote new and emerging technologies, high value-added industries and sectors with significant research and development opportunities," he said.
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