LOOKING EAST ONE MORE TIME
Now that Dr Mahathir has returned to helm the country, Japan is all set to be a role model for Malaysia, again
WHEN Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad first launched his Look East Policy in 1981, I had left the Attorney-General’s Chambers for some time and was thinking of leaving my legal practice to enter academia. I was then in my early 40s and was looking for something new and exciting to do, and I thought the prime minister’s idea of learning the value system of the Japanese as well as their work ethics was splendid.
I am a believer in both ideals (always do your best and take pride in your work) and regard the oft-repeated saying that “Malaysians are lazy” as complete nonsense. During the late 60s when I was spending my years as a law student in England, it was a Malaysian student who repeatedly gained the top spot in the Bar examinations — destroying the myth that Malaysians are stupid and lazy. I believe that if we give them a worthy challenge and a clear direction, Malaysians can and will excel.
Over the years, however, that Look East Policy seemed to have lost its lustre and relevance as other policies were introduced by the changing leadership at the centre. When Dr Mahathir made his recent visit to Japan (his first visit there as the seventh prime minister of Malaysia), the unexpected happened. The Look East Policy has now been rejuvenated and reinvented.
Speaking to the Japanese media after he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on June 12, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia and Japan “will rejuvenate and upgrade the Look East Policy to deepen collaboration and strengthen business competitiveness between both countries”.
He said the two countries could benefit much from working closely with each other in education, training and investment (among other areas).
Expressing his happiness that Japan welcomed Malaysia’s Look East Policy again “in the new era” ahead, Dr Mahathir said the two countries can strengthen their relationship, promote investment and expand opportunities for both Malaysian and Japanese business people in both countries.
Referring to the favourable reponse by Japan “to study Malaysia’s request” for yen credit to alleviate the financial problems faced by the country, Dr Mahathir said that the resolution of its debt problems would enable Malaysia to “once again be a good market for Japan and Japanese investments in Malaysia”. It would turn out to be a win-win situation for both countries.
Speaking at the 24th Annual “Future of Asia Conference” in Tokyo (hosted by Nikkei Asian Review), Dr Mahathir explained that when he formulated the Look East Policy more than three decades ago, “Malaysia was very backward, very poor… It had no technology, no skills in business, no capital. We saw the growth in East Asia, and we decided that we had a lot to learn from Japan, Korea and China”.
In its comments on that earlier version of the Look East Policy, a news portal said that the “true inclination of the policy was towards Japan”, but because of “war atrocities” Dr Mahathir had chosen the word “East” to incorporate Korea and Taiwan. It was a slogan for closer ties with Asian nations and seemed to fit well with his other policy, Buy British Last.
Dr Mahathir had explained at that time that he wanted Malaysia to adopt some principles from Japan. He was looking at Japan Inc. and wished to establish its local version (Malaysia Inc.) so that both the public sector (government) and the private sector could work together to achieve a common economic goal.
He wanted Malaysians (like the Japanese and the Koreans) to become diligent, hardworking, loyal, and have the communal spirit and perseverance to achieve the same development of these countries. The Malaysian government then began sending students and workers to training institutes and companies in Japan and Korea to learn the East Asian way.
The Look East Policy resulted in increased investments into Malaysia from Japan and Korea, and several big construction projects were awarded to Japanese and Korean companies. The Dayabumi Complex (situated across the road in front of the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur) was built by Takenaka-Kumgai, and a cement plant in Perak was built by Mitsui. The Penang Bridge project was awarded to a Korean construction company, Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company.
The first national car project (under Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, Proton) began as a joint venture between the Heavy Industry Corporation of Malaysia and Mitsubishi.
The second car project was launched much later when Daihatsu concluded a joint venture with Malaysia companies to create the successful Perodua.
Proton ceased to become a Malaysian car when the controlling share in the company was sold recently to Geely Automobile Holding, a Chinese company.
KL’s iconic building, Petronas Twin Towers, completed on March 1, 1996, was built by Hazama Corporation (Tower 1) and Samsung Engineering & Construction and Kukdong Engineering & Construction (Tower 2). From 1998 to 2004, the Twin Towers was the world’s tallest building until it was surpassed by Taipei 101.
Two weeks ago, when speaking to reporters in Langkawi, Dr Mahathir stated that he planned to “reignite” the Look East Policy in his visit to Japan to attend an annual conference scheduled on June 11 and 12. He has done that, and it is now up to the governments and the people of both countries to keep the reignited flame alive.
The Look East Policy resulted in increased investments into Malaysia from Japan and Korea, and several big construction projects were awarded to Japanese and Korean companies.
The writer formerly served the Attorney-General’s Chambers before he left for practice, the corporate sector and, then, academia