The Government of Japan has awarded The Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project of Japan to the Malaysia-Japan Research Centre (MJRC), Universiti Malaya. The grant presentation ceremony was held in Universiti Malaya where the Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, H.E. Mr. Takahashi Katsuhiko presented the mock cheque to the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, Professor Dato' Ir. Dr. Mohd. Hamdi Bin Abd. Shukor.
The Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (GCGP) by the Government of Japan, offers non-refundable financial assistance to support the implementation of cultural and higher education projects conducted by non-profit organizations such as NGOs, local authorities, research and higher education institutions that are active at the grass-roots level.
GCGP also helps bridge cooperation between Japan and other countries in the pursuit of cultural understanding and exchanges. H.E. Mr. Takahashi congratulated the MJRC and UM for their enormous efforts and cooperation, and was very happy to announce that the MJRC is the seventh Malaysian organization to have received this grant since its introduction in the year 2000. This time the grant, amounting to USD76,063 (RM304,255), was given for the development of facilities in the MJRC building so that it may serve as a hub centre for Japan studies in Malaysia.
The Japanese government is delighted that this cultural grassroots grant presentation coincides with the memorial year of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia, and the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy. Furthermore, the University of Tsukuba, a leading Japanese public research university which has produced three Nobel Prize laureates, will establish its first overseas campus in the same building as the MJRC.
H.E Mr. Takahashi also deeply appreciated the strong leadership and engagement of Professor Dato’ Ir. Dr. Mohd Hamdi, who attained his Doctor of Engineering degree from Kyoto University, towards the long-lasting friendship and the solid bond of the two nations and people.
Professor Dato' Ir. Dr. Mohd. Hamdi also expresses his most heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and the Japanese government for their continuous support towards UM and for choosing MJRC to receive the grant in the memorial year of the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy. MJRC has been actively promoting Japan Studies in Malaysia, through publications, seminars, workshops, academic exchanges, joint researches and collaborations with various Japanese institutions.
Prof. Mohd Hamdi also looks forward to the setting up of the University of Tsukuba’s overseas campus and its future collaborations with the MJRC and UM. Under the present leadership of the Head of MJRC, Dr. Jamila Binti Mohd, who is also an alumna of the University of Tsukuba and has vast experience in the Japanese language and culture fields, it is hoped that MJRC will be further developed into a prominent centre for Malaysia-Japan joint research and studies, as well as a Japanese cultural centre in this country.
Source: https://bit.ly/41Dmxq3