PETALING JAYA: It is time for education to be part of the "Look East Policy 2.0", says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

       She said some 26,000 Malaysians have been to Japan for education or training over the last four decades, and as the two countries share long-standing ties, there must be continuous improvement for Malaysia to develop in times of rapid change.

       “As such, I think it is time for us to push the idea of education being part of the Look East Policy 2.0.

       “This can be elaborated through the themes of Internationalisation of Malaysian Higher Education, Development of Sustainable Human Capital in the Post-Covid-19 Era, and Continuous Transfer of Technology and Knowledge," she said at a ceremony to celebrate 40 years of Malaysia's Look East Policy on Tuesday (Feb 8).

       “Malaysia and Japan's relations should be seen as part of Asean-Japan relations, with Japan as an important dialogue partner (for the grouping).

       “Malaysia and Japan’s education relationship can contribute towards achieving the bigger objective of Global Asean, forming part of Asean Vision 2025,” she added.

       The Look East Policy was introduced in 1982 by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his first tenure as prime minister, as part of a search for models of development in Asia as an alternative to Western examples.