Search

The Look East Policy (LEP) was implemented in 1982 with two main objectives. First, efforts to improve skills, competencies, knowledge, and apply positive values from Japan and Korea in work ethic. Second, it aims to improve productivity and quality. This paper discusses the impacts of the second wave of LEP, which is assumed to be mutually beneficial between Japan-Malaysia and the first wave, which weighs more on Malaysia. This study has collected primary data using intensive interview techniques and focus groups with a total number of informants of thirteen (13) people who have direct experience with the implementation of LEP. These qualitative data were analyzed using the construction of themes due to frequency and similarity of meaning on cultural and work ethic questions. Policy cycle theory is applied to evaluate the success of LEP's implementation in achieving its objectives. The results show that in addition to work ethic, cultural factors and practices of reasonable values of Japanese society and loyalty to the employer, are common practices that strengthen the quality of work. The study results prove that LEP is less successful in adapting the work culture fully into Malaysians. Nevertheless, LEP has succeeded in making structural changes with various systematic practices in the workplace, such as 5S practices, Quality Control (TQM), time recording systems, and name tags. Meanwhile the Second Wave of DPT shows cooperation efforts as well as 'spill over' Malaysia-Japan relations which has a positive impact on neighboring countries in the Southeast Asian region. This study is able to prove the implementation of LEP in Malaysia until now is still relevant because LEP not only brings benefits to Malaysia, but also Japan and other countries at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the transition of Japanese administration to Thailand and its impact on the Malay elite in Kedah, 1942-1945. The scope of this article covers the era of Japanese administration in Kedah and after Japan handed over Kedah administration to Thailand on 18th October 1943 until the end of Japanese defeat in 1945. Later, Thailand voluntarily handed over administration in the Northern Malay States to the British on 15th August 1945. Qualitative methods were used to produce this article by analyzing primary sources such as government files, newspapers, maps, documents and others. The results of the study found that the changes in the Japanese administration and the Thai government in Kedah have affected the Malay elite in Kedah. The position of the Sultan is not recognized unless it is used as a religious symbol for the people. Similarly, with other elites, most of them fled because they did not want to cooperate with Japan. After the administration was handed over to the Thai government, the position of Kedah’s elite was not difficult compared to the Japanese administration. Administrative power was returned to the public administration. Montri Spa was created and the power of the Sultan as head of state was restored. The Thai government only acted to continue what the British had done with the advice of a Thai adviser stationed in Kedah. Everything discussed in the meeting and the decisions taken should be minute to the High Commissioner of the Army in Bangkok. In conclusion, the change of administration from Japan to Thailand in Kedah has had a direct impact on the Malay elite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses The Kerian irrigation Scheme and its impact on the paddy farmers' economy aspect in Kerian, Perak (1906-1941). The opening of Kerian Irrigation Scheme in 1906 had actually helped in the widening of the cultivating area and increase the paddy production as had been discussed in the previous writing. However, the problem lies in the details on the impact of the preparation of the irrigation scheme on the economy aspect of the paddy farmers were thorough, especially with the enforcement of "The Kerian Irrigation Enactment, 1905". In order to address the issue, this article uses both methods, namely, qualitative and quantitative methods. This article finds the costs borne by the paddy farmers kept on increasing due to the higher cost of land rental and the settlement to the irrigation scheme as a result of the enforcement of "The Kerian Irrigation Enactment, 1905". However, the paddy production was not totally exceeding or at least at par with the average requirement required by the British administration due to weather and pests' attacks. In short, from the economy aspect, the lives of the paddy farmers were not improved with the existence of the irrigation plan because of the increasing paddy cultivating costs borne by the paddy farmers. The time scope for this article begins in 1906 because The Kerian Irrigation Plan was fully opened for the use of the people in Kerian and ended in 1941 due to Japan colonisation. The primary source referred to are the official British colonial records such as Reports on the Krian Irrigation Scheme, Annual Report on Social and Economic Progress of the People of Perak and Report of the Rice Cultivation Committee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading habits are often associated with an increased cognitive level. However, book genre can also affect the cognitive level. This is because different book genres can be attributed to different types of knowledge and tendency towards a specific book genre can be viewed as a preference towards a specific type of knowledge. Research on Malaysians' interest and the tendency towards book genre and type of knowledge can be investigated using the publication data of each book genre and its prices. The objective of this research is to analyse and compare the book publications and the average price of each book's genre in Malaysia with those of Japan. Comparison was done based on book categorisation genre strategy to 12 book genres. Based on Monte Carlo simulation method data, Malaysians are attracted to book genres on language, literature and science. While the Japanese are more interested in the book genres of social sciences and hobbies/art. The similarity between Malaysian and Japanese societies are that both societies also favour book genre of literature. However, it is possible that the themes of literary genre in Japan and Malaysia are very different. The result of this study can be used to identify the differences between Malaysian and Japanese reading habits as well as for formulating strategies to change Malaysian reading habits towards the style of Japanese reading habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UMNO, one of the longest standing dominant-party regimes in the world, was brought to its knees in the historic Malaysian 14th General Election (GE14). This article analyses the chronology that led UMNO to its defeat in the context of political learning. It argues that each cause presented as contributing factor to its fall in GE14 have already been repeatedly mentioned since 1999. As a long-surviving dominant party, UMNO had the opportunity to learn from numerous defeats of other dominant parties. One of the closest examples, which struck a chord with UMNO, was the defeat of the prominent conservative party in Japan, LDP, in 2009. While UMNO itself acknowledged the causal effects that led to the ousting of regimes similar to itself, UMNO remained oblivious in its domestic approach by narrowly adopting and applying these lessons only for the purpose of public consumption, instead of for its own internal reform. The gap between actual and artificial lessons in UMNO's method of political learning arguably became a factor in its unexpected defeat in GE14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]