Reflections upon Visiting Malaysia, 16 Years On
CHINO Keiko / Journalist
September 28, 2014
In late August, I visited Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Sixteen years had passed since my last stay, and I saw signs of development and change everywhere.
The Petronas Twin Towers, which had been under construction then, has since given up its title of being the world's tallest building to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Yet, its lower levels bustled with activity throughout the day, as visitors flocked to the flourishing shopping mall housing expensive western brands as well as local food courts. Families, couples and young people came to enjoy shopping, and their relaxed demeanor seemed to testify to the healthy state of the Malaysian economy.
The Twin Towers were constructed under contract by South Korean and Japanese companies, each taking responsibility for one of the towers. Media correspondents based in Singapore at the time, including myself, were given a tour up the tower while it was still covered in scaffolding, guided by the contractor on the Japanese side. When we got to the Skybridge connecting the two towers, one of the reporters voiced his concern about the reliability of Korean construction technology, mentioning how we would all go down together should their tower collapse. At that, the group had burst out in laughter.
With such memories, revisiting the Skybridge was an especially nostalgic moment for me. Of course, far from collapsing - it had been a joke even then - the South Korean economy forged ahead to raise its profile in Asia, and indeed in the world, outstripping even Japan in some areas. This is another major change that has come to pass.
Putrajaya, which lies on the way to the airport, had been a patch of wilderness at the time its development plan was announced. It stands today completely transformed as an impressive new federal administrative center. Its distance from Kuala Lumpur has been a drawback, however, and development of the city has apparently not progressed as smoothly as planned. Still, the sheer determination and dynamism that transformed the plains into a city is dazzling to the eyes of the Japanese, who are feeling frustrated by the slow pace of reconstruction after the 3/11 earthquake.
However, even more than these changes in the economy and scenery, what Japan should truly recognize is the fact that three decades since it was proposed in 1982, the Look East policy that had symbolized Japan's relationship with Malaysia is at a turning point.
Under the Look East policy of learning from Japan and South Korea launched by then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, the number of Malaysian students and trainees sent to Japan has grown to around 15,000. However, while this is a remarkable figure, it has not been fully appreciated or recognized in Malaysian society, since most former exchange students find employment at Japanese companies or start their own businesses upon returning to their country. There are former students who point out that things may have been different if some of them had chosen a political career.
The Look East returnees enjoy an excellent reputation of being studious, conscientious and highly skilled. Their experience in Japan is valued by foreign firms seeking recruits. Education in Japan provides them with credibility. While this is achievement enough to congratulate ourselves, it would be even better if Japan could motivate some of these individuals to become leaders of their country and society trough the Look East policy. Perhaps Japan and Malaysia should consider cooperating from this standpoint.
For me, this visit has driven home the realization that the times when Japan was considered special had indeed come to an end, not only in Malaysia, but in Asia as a whole. In the latest "Rebalance to Asia" discussion, the United States is not the only country that should be contemplating a return to Asia.
During my stay, The Star, a leading Malaysian newspaper, ran an interesting article. At a gathering of university students, one of the participants had asked Prime Minister Najib Razak: "Which country is Malaysia's preferred ally, China, or the United States?”
To this the Prime Minister replied: "It's not like choosing a football club. We don't have to make a choice between U.S. and China. We'll look at the strengths of both countries." He added that while Malaysia would remain friendly with the two global players, it would not support policies that were not right.
Back in April, Malaysia had reveled in the visit by President Barack Obama, the first U.S. president to pay a visit in half a century. "Everyone was so excited," an acquaintance told me. Prime Minister Mahathir had once provoked a major backlash by proposing an East Asia Economic Caucus that excluded the United States. Those days are now truly behind us. Meanwhile, during the times of Abdul Razak, the country's second prime minister and father of the current Prime Minister, Malaysia became the first Southeast Asian nation to recognize the People's Republic of China. Today, it is Malaysia's biggest trading partner.
Abdul's son Najib is certainly not anti-U.S. as Mahathir had been. However, that doesn't make him pro-U.S., either. China's shadow looms large over Malaysia, too.
Keiko Chino is Guest Columnist of the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
The Petronas Twin Towers, which had been under construction then, has since given up its title of being the world's tallest building to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Yet, its lower levels bustled with activity throughout the day, as visitors flocked to the flourishing shopping mall housing expensive western brands as well as local food courts. Families, couples and young people came to enjoy shopping, and their relaxed demeanor seemed to testify to the healthy state of the Malaysian economy.
The Twin Towers were constructed under contract by South Korean and Japanese companies, each taking responsibility for one of the towers. Media correspondents based in Singapore at the time, including myself, were given a tour up the tower while it was still covered in scaffolding, guided by the contractor on the Japanese side. When we got to the Skybridge connecting the two towers, one of the reporters voiced his concern about the reliability of Korean construction technology, mentioning how we would all go down together should their tower collapse. At that, the group had burst out in laughter.
With such memories, revisiting the Skybridge was an especially nostalgic moment for me. Of course, far from collapsing - it had been a joke even then - the South Korean economy forged ahead to raise its profile in Asia, and indeed in the world, outstripping even Japan in some areas. This is another major change that has come to pass.
Putrajaya, which lies on the way to the airport, had been a patch of wilderness at the time its development plan was announced. It stands today completely transformed as an impressive new federal administrative center. Its distance from Kuala Lumpur has been a drawback, however, and development of the city has apparently not progressed as smoothly as planned. Still, the sheer determination and dynamism that transformed the plains into a city is dazzling to the eyes of the Japanese, who are feeling frustrated by the slow pace of reconstruction after the 3/11 earthquake.
However, even more than these changes in the economy and scenery, what Japan should truly recognize is the fact that three decades since it was proposed in 1982, the Look East policy that had symbolized Japan's relationship with Malaysia is at a turning point.
Under the Look East policy of learning from Japan and South Korea launched by then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, the number of Malaysian students and trainees sent to Japan has grown to around 15,000. However, while this is a remarkable figure, it has not been fully appreciated or recognized in Malaysian society, since most former exchange students find employment at Japanese companies or start their own businesses upon returning to their country. There are former students who point out that things may have been different if some of them had chosen a political career.
The Look East returnees enjoy an excellent reputation of being studious, conscientious and highly skilled. Their experience in Japan is valued by foreign firms seeking recruits. Education in Japan provides them with credibility. While this is achievement enough to congratulate ourselves, it would be even better if Japan could motivate some of these individuals to become leaders of their country and society trough the Look East policy. Perhaps Japan and Malaysia should consider cooperating from this standpoint.
For me, this visit has driven home the realization that the times when Japan was considered special had indeed come to an end, not only in Malaysia, but in Asia as a whole. In the latest "Rebalance to Asia" discussion, the United States is not the only country that should be contemplating a return to Asia.
During my stay, The Star, a leading Malaysian newspaper, ran an interesting article. At a gathering of university students, one of the participants had asked Prime Minister Najib Razak: "Which country is Malaysia's preferred ally, China, or the United States?”
To this the Prime Minister replied: "It's not like choosing a football club. We don't have to make a choice between U.S. and China. We'll look at the strengths of both countries." He added that while Malaysia would remain friendly with the two global players, it would not support policies that were not right.
Back in April, Malaysia had reveled in the visit by President Barack Obama, the first U.S. president to pay a visit in half a century. "Everyone was so excited," an acquaintance told me. Prime Minister Mahathir had once provoked a major backlash by proposing an East Asia Economic Caucus that excluded the United States. Those days are now truly behind us. Meanwhile, during the times of Abdul Razak, the country's second prime minister and father of the current Prime Minister, Malaysia became the first Southeast Asian nation to recognize the People's Republic of China. Today, it is Malaysia's biggest trading partner.
Abdul's son Najib is certainly not anti-U.S. as Mahathir had been. However, that doesn't make him pro-U.S., either. China's shadow looms large over Malaysia, too.
Keiko Chino is Guest Columnist of the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
１６年ぶりのマレーシア訪問で考えたこと
千野 境子 / ジャーナリスト
2014年 9月 28日
８月末、１６年ぶりにマレーシアの首都クアラルンプール（KL）を訪れ、随所に発展と変貌ぶりを見た。
当時、建設中だったペトロナス・ツイン・タワーは世界一の座を既にブルジュ・ハリファ（ドバイ）に譲ったが、低層階は欧米の高級ブランドから地元のフード・コートまで入る一大ショッピングセンターとして終日賑わいを見せていた。買い物を楽しむ家族連れ、カップル、若者などそれぞれに落ち着いた暮らし向きが感じられ、マレーシア経済の堅調ぶりが伺えるようだった。
ところでツィン・タワーは２本のビルを韓国と日本が請け負い建設され、私も含め当時のシンガポール特派員は日本側建設会社の案内で足場が組まれたままのタワーに上ったことがある。途中、日韓ビルを繋ぐスカイブリッジで特派員の一人が「（韓国の建設技術は）大丈夫かなあ。あっちが倒れたら共倒れだよね」と言うと、一同ドッと笑ったものだった。
だからスカイブリッジ再訪には格別の感慨があった。倒れるどころか（もちろん冗談だったが）、韓国経済はアジアいや世界で存在感を高め、今や分野によっては日本を凌駕する。もう１つの大いなる変貌である。
計画発表時には単なる原野だった、空港への途中にあるプトラジャヤも見事、新行政都市に生まれ変わっていた。KLからの遠さが難点で発展は必ずしも順調とは言えないらしいが、３．１１からの復興に歯がゆさを覚える日本人には、原野を都市に変えてしまった意気込みとダイナミズムが眩しい。
こうした経済や景観の変貌もさることながら、日・マレーシア関係の象徴とも言える「ルック・イースト（東方）政策」が１９８２年の発足から３０年を過ぎて、転機を迎えていることこそ日本が強く認識すべきことのように思う。
マハティール首相（当時）の提唱で始まった日本と韓国の発展に学ぶ東方政策の下、日本に派遣された留学・研修生は約１万５千人に上る。大変な数だが、留学生の大半が帰国後、日系企業に就職するか起業して中小企業経営者になることもあって、実は社会全体への浸透度や知名度はまだまだである。留学生出身の政治家が出ていたら違ったのではないかと語る留学生OBもいる。
東方政策の留学生は勤勉で誠実、技術も確かと評判が良い。そのため外資系企業が採用の際に日本留学の経験を買う向きもあるという。日本留学が信用になっているわけだ。嬉しい話だが、そこに甘んじることなく、東方政策を通じて国や社会のリーダーを目指す人材を育成出来たらさらに素晴らしい。今後は日・マレーシアでそうした観点からの協力も考えられないだろうかと思う。
しみじみ感じたことは、マレーシアに限らずアジアで日本だけが特別な時代は終わったのだということである。アジア・リバランスでアジアへの再参入が問われているのは、何も米国だけではないのだ。
滞在中、地元有力紙「スター」に興味深い記事があった。大学生が集まった会議で参加者の一人が投げかけた「マレーシアの好ましい同盟国は中国か、それとも米国か」との質問に、ナジブ首相は次のように答えていた。
「好きなサッカー・チームを選ぶように単純にはいかない。われわれは米国か中国を選択してはいけない。両方の強みを注視しよう。マレーシアは２つのグローバル・プレーヤー（米中）と友好を維持する。しかし正しくない政策は支持しない」。
マレーシアは４月、米大統領としては５０年ぶりのオバマ大統領の訪問に沸き返った。「皆とっても興奮していたわ」と知人は言っていた。米国抜きの東アジア経済協議体（EAEC）を提唱し、猛反発を買ったマハティール首相（当時）の時代は、もう完全に過去になったと感じる。一方、ナジブ首相の父アブドラ・ラザク第２代首相の時代、マレーシアは東南アジアで最初に中国を承認した。そして今、最大の貿易パートナーである。
息子のナジブ首相は、もちろんマハティール氏のような反米ではない。しかし親米だけでもない。中国の影は大きい。
（筆者は産経新聞 客員論説委員。）
当時、建設中だったペトロナス・ツイン・タワーは世界一の座を既にブルジュ・ハリファ（ドバイ）に譲ったが、低層階は欧米の高級ブランドから地元のフード・コートまで入る一大ショッピングセンターとして終日賑わいを見せていた。買い物を楽しむ家族連れ、カップル、若者などそれぞれに落ち着いた暮らし向きが感じられ、マレーシア経済の堅調ぶりが伺えるようだった。
ところでツィン・タワーは２本のビルを韓国と日本が請け負い建設され、私も含め当時のシンガポール特派員は日本側建設会社の案内で足場が組まれたままのタワーに上ったことがある。途中、日韓ビルを繋ぐスカイブリッジで特派員の一人が「（韓国の建設技術は）大丈夫かなあ。あっちが倒れたら共倒れだよね」と言うと、一同ドッと笑ったものだった。
だからスカイブリッジ再訪には格別の感慨があった。倒れるどころか（もちろん冗談だったが）、韓国経済はアジアいや世界で存在感を高め、今や分野によっては日本を凌駕する。もう１つの大いなる変貌である。
計画発表時には単なる原野だった、空港への途中にあるプトラジャヤも見事、新行政都市に生まれ変わっていた。KLからの遠さが難点で発展は必ずしも順調とは言えないらしいが、３．１１からの復興に歯がゆさを覚える日本人には、原野を都市に変えてしまった意気込みとダイナミズムが眩しい。
こうした経済や景観の変貌もさることながら、日・マレーシア関係の象徴とも言える「ルック・イースト（東方）政策」が１９８２年の発足から３０年を過ぎて、転機を迎えていることこそ日本が強く認識すべきことのように思う。
マハティール首相（当時）の提唱で始まった日本と韓国の発展に学ぶ東方政策の下、日本に派遣された留学・研修生は約１万５千人に上る。大変な数だが、留学生の大半が帰国後、日系企業に就職するか起業して中小企業経営者になることもあって、実は社会全体への浸透度や知名度はまだまだである。留学生出身の政治家が出ていたら違ったのではないかと語る留学生OBもいる。
東方政策の留学生は勤勉で誠実、技術も確かと評判が良い。そのため外資系企業が採用の際に日本留学の経験を買う向きもあるという。日本留学が信用になっているわけだ。嬉しい話だが、そこに甘んじることなく、東方政策を通じて国や社会のリーダーを目指す人材を育成出来たらさらに素晴らしい。今後は日・マレーシアでそうした観点からの協力も考えられないだろうかと思う。
しみじみ感じたことは、マレーシアに限らずアジアで日本だけが特別な時代は終わったのだということである。アジア・リバランスでアジアへの再参入が問われているのは、何も米国だけではないのだ。
滞在中、地元有力紙「スター」に興味深い記事があった。大学生が集まった会議で参加者の一人が投げかけた「マレーシアの好ましい同盟国は中国か、それとも米国か」との質問に、ナジブ首相は次のように答えていた。
「好きなサッカー・チームを選ぶように単純にはいかない。われわれは米国か中国を選択してはいけない。両方の強みを注視しよう。マレーシアは２つのグローバル・プレーヤー（米中）と友好を維持する。しかし正しくない政策は支持しない」。
マレーシアは４月、米大統領としては５０年ぶりのオバマ大統領の訪問に沸き返った。「皆とっても興奮していたわ」と知人は言っていた。米国抜きの東アジア経済協議体（EAEC）を提唱し、猛反発を買ったマハティール首相（当時）の時代は、もう完全に過去になったと感じる。一方、ナジブ首相の父アブドラ・ラザク第２代首相の時代、マレーシアは東南アジアで最初に中国を承認した。そして今、最大の貿易パートナーである。
息子のナジブ首相は、もちろんマハティール氏のような反米ではない。しかし親米だけでもない。中国の影は大きい。
（筆者は産経新聞 客員論説委員。）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟