Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	SUBANG, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	18/11/93 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW 
			FACILITIES OF THE JAPANESE SCHOOL 
			OF KUALA LUMPUR 


 
    I  would  like to offer my heartiest congratulations to
the Embassy  of  Japan,  Japan  Club,  JACTIM  and  everyone
involved  in  the  task  of  completing the new Kuala Lumpur
Japanese School building.
2.    I have been  made  to  understand  that  the  Japanese
education system, in line with the globalisation of Japanese
business,  is now being applied to 88 Japanese schools in 55
countries and two regions.    It  is  said  that  the  total
student   population   currently   number  over  18,000  and
approximately 70 percent of it is in Asia.  Japanese schools
are located in every ASEAN country, with  the  exception  of
Brunei,  with the population and size of the schools said to
rank in the top 10 worldwide.
3.    From these statistics,  it  is  clear  that  the  ties
between  Japan  and  the  ASEAN  countries  are  very close,
meaning therefore, that Japan has a  certain  role  to  play
within this region.
4.      Likewise,  this  new school building which boasts of
teaching facilities for over 1,000  students  is  especially
reflective  of the ever-closer relationship between Malaysia
and Japan.  It also reflects the important role of  Japanese
investors in this country.
5.    In retrospect,  the Look  East  Policy  introduced  in
1981 and the Foreign  Investment Act,  1986 were the impetus
for the  increase  in the  number of Japanese investors into
Malaysia.  And it was also  under  the Look East Policy that
the  number  of  Malaysians   studying  in  Japan  increased
dramatically.  From a mere 147 students  studying  in  Japan
in 1982, the number increased to 3,400 students and trainees
in 1992.
6.   Following the rising value of the Yen triggered by  the
Plaza  Accord of 1985 and in order to maintain international
competitiveness, Japanese businesses began  to  shift  their
operations   to  East  Asia.    Malaysia  became  especially
attractive with the introduction of the Preferential  Clause
for  Foreign  Investments  in September 1986.   This enabled
foreign  investors  to  own  up  to  100  percent  of  their
industries  in Malaysia.  With the increased investments the
number of Japanese  personnel  and  their  family  increased
dramatically.    Educational  facilities  for their children
became  essential.     When  these  facilities   were   made
available,  this  made  Malaysia  even  more  attractive  to
Japanese investors.
7.   Malaysia launched Vision 2020 in February 1991.    With
this  goal,  Malaysia  wants  to  achieve  the  status of an
industrialised country with a caring and wholesome  society.
I am sure there is a lot that we can learn from Japan.
8.    The setting up of this Japanese school in Kuala Lumpur
will  not  only  provide  Japanese  education  for  Japanese
children  in Malaysia, but it will enable cultural exchanges
to take place between the Japanese and  Malaysian  children.
Already  sports tournaments and cultural exchanges have been
organised in the Kia Peng and Taman Seputeh areas.  With the
appointment of  an  International  Exchange  Director,  such
exchanges will be enhanced.
9.   Apart from the Japanese School, I was informed that the
Japan  Club  is  considering  to  set up a Japanese training
centre for youth wishing to study in Japan.   A  specialised
technical  training  centre  at the old school site in Taman
Seputeh will be a  further  contribution  to  the  Malaysian
society.    With  this  development  I expect to see greater
progress in the relationship between the  Japanese  and  the
Malaysians in Malaysia.
10.    I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude
to Japan Club and JACTIM for  the  many  contributions  they
have made to the Malaysian society.
11.    I  now  take  great  pleasure to declare open the new
facilities of the Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur.
12.  Thank you - minasama arigato gozamashita (to  everyone,
thank you very much.)