Approximately 130 participants had taken part in an academic conference ’Malaysia-Japan Historical Relation: From History to a New Kizuna’ which were held in Le Meridien Hotel Putrajaya.

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) as the main organiser has taken a proactive action by driving the collaboration with 8 other entities through a platform for intellectual dialogues at multiple levels of the society in order to provide new dimension input together in the Look East Policy which will be reinstated by the current government.

The following institutions and organisations had also contributed to the success of the conference: Ambang Asuhan Jepun of Universiti Malaya (AAJ, UM), Pusat Bahasa Teikyo Malaysia (PBT), Japan Associates Degree, Malaysia-Japan Higher Education Program (MJHEP), Malaysia Japanese Language Instructors Society (MAJLIS), Alumni of Look East Policy Society (ALEPS), Omoiyari Institute (OI), Keiken Talk (KT), Katana Circle (KC), and Cakap Jepun of Michi Global Resource (CJ).

The distinguished speakers are Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abd Razak, the Rector of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM); Professor Hisao Takekuma from Kyushu University of Japan; Dr. Mohd. Zulkefeli Mat Jusoh (International Medical University, IMU); Dato’ Zulkifli Abd. Malek (Pusat Bahasa Teikyo); Encik Zulfiqar Zainuddin (ALEPS), and Encik Edward Lee (Yayasan Jepun Kuala Lumpur). 

“It targets academics, researchers, policymakers, policy think tank, and administrators in fields relating to Malaysia and Japan as presenters and invited speakers from Japan. The conference is open to all academics, NGO/NPO who are involved in Malaysia-Japan collaborations, and students from higher education institutions, and all other parties who are interested in the Look East Policy,” Dr. Zoraida Mustafa explained in her capacity as the Project Director.

As part of the event, the Japanese translation of the book ‘Razak Sensei Pemangkin Jalinan Malaysia-Jepun’ (the original book in Malay was published by Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka) was launched by Minister Hiroyuki Orikasa, Deputy Chief of Mission.

This book was published by Penerbit USIM with cooperation from Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka (DBP) as well as Japan Foundation with additional new chapters from Puan Hariza’s interviews  with Dr. Kazuko Oniki, Dean of SANNO University;  and Prof. Dr. Taiji Hotta from Hiroshima University.