PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today expressed hope of seeing the branches of Japanese universities in Malaysia so that Malaysian students would not only be exposed to Japan’s education system, but also learn its culture.

He said Malaysia had sent many students to Japan but the rising costs made it very difficult to send more.

“We thought the best way is to have Japanese universities in Malaysia. We have been trying to get Japanese universities to open branches in Malaysia; unfortunately, the law doesn’t allow them to do that (for now). 

“As you know, we have Australian and American universities in Malaysia, but no Japanese university,” he said in his commemorative speech after he accepted an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Tsukuba University at its Tokyo campus in Japan, yesterday.

The doctorate was presented by the university’s President Prof Kyosuke Nagata.

Dr Mahathir is on a three-day working visit to Japan.

He said it was important to have Japanese universities in Malaysia so that Malaysians could learn the Japanese character or value system and working ethics.

“Under the Look East Policy, we sent lots of students to study here, and even to work here so as to learn about Japanese work ethics and value system. Without a value system, we will never make progress even with good education. We have also introduced the Japanese system of education at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

“Coming to Japan, of course, used to be quite cheap, but when the yen value was pushed up by three times, it became very expensive to send students here,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said he hoped Tsukuba University would consider setting up a branch in Malaysia.

“This would enable more Malaysian students to study (at a Japanese university) because the cost would be much lower. Malaysia can become the centre for other people in the Asian region to study at a Japanese university without coming here (Japan). These people are poor. The cost of living in Japan is high. I hope this university will eventually have a branch in Malaysia, teach in Japanese language, teach Malaysians about Japanese culture.”

Dr Mahathir said he was interested in education as he believed it enabled a country to develop more quickly.

“But mere knowledge is not enough… we need good character. If you have good knowledge but bad character, the results might be bad. You might apply the knowledge in a way not beneficial to you or the country.

“It is important when acquiring knowledge, we also acquire the right character, that gives positive results. And I noticed this on Japan, the character of the people contributed much to the progress (of the country).”

The prime minister said the citizens of many countries including Malaysia lacked the Japanese attitude. 

On the Look East Policy that he introduced in 1982 with the principal goal to shift the focus of relation from the West towards the new rising Asia, specifically Japan, and help drive industrialisation in Malaysia, Dr Mahathir said the policy was not just about acquiring knowledge, but learning the value system, lifestyle and ethics of eastern people.

“We have seen many eastern countries making rapid progress and catching up with the West, that their products were able to compete. Many eastern countries, as a result, became very rich and powerful.” – Bernama, November 6, 2018.