MALAYSIAN students abroad, especially in Japan, are advised not only to pursue academic excellence but also to take advantage of opportunities to gain experience and positive values from the local community that can contribute to national development.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that students need to understand that education is not only shaped through higher education institutions alone, but is also influenced by society and the historical experience of a country.
“Make the most of your time here because Japan has many things to learn, and it will also influence our understanding of the MADANI concept.
“That is why we also emphasise the aspects of ethics and values because they are among the main thrusts of MADANI. These values require humanity and compassion, but at the same time, we must excel in modern economics, new technology and artificial intelligence (AI),” he said as reported by BuletinTV3.
He said this when answering questions from Malaysian students at a question-and-answer session after delivering a special lecture titled Human Values in Human-Machine Civilisation during a visit to the University of Tokyo, today.
He added that friendly countries like Japan have various things that can be utilized and the opportunities and exposure should be taken advantage of.
He said the government has high hopes that Malaysian graduates in the land of the rising sun can contribute to national development.
“We have many Malaysian graduates from Japan who have provided great service to the country.
“They not only help meet the needs of new industries related to Japan, but also contribute to national development through the experience and understanding gained while here,” he said.
It is understood that there are more than 2,000 Malaysian students currently studying in Japan.
Yesterday, Malaysian Ambassador to Japan, Datuk Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany, announced that Anwar's three-day official visit to Tokyo was also held ahead of the 70th anniversary of Malaysia-Japan diplomatic relations next year.
It is thus an important platform to further strengthen the cooperation that has been established for a long time. – June 9, 2026
