KUALA LUMPUR: The just-concluded five-day official visit of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, and the Malaysian parliamentary delegation to Japan successfully strengthened diplomatic relations between the two countries, particularly involving parliamentary cooperation.
Johari said the visit, at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Fukushiro Nukaga, fostered cooperation for knowledge exchange to enhance the capacity of members of Parliament and their staff.
“I had the opportunity to visit the National Diet Library, which houses six million publications, half of which are digitised. Their library design is remarkable, providing comfort not only to MPs but also to the public.
“I think we can bring back this (library idea) immediately and proceed to plan for the development of a more functional and beautiful Parliament library, and this plan is already in mind,” he told Bernama.
Others in the delegation included Parliament’s International Affairs Special Select Comm
ittee member Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru MP); Environment, Science and Plantation Special Select Committee member Vivian Wong Shir Yee (Sandakan MP); and Nation Building, Education and Human Resource Development Special Select Committee member Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (Jempol MP).
Johari also explored and expanded cooperation in agriculture following his visits to the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation (NARO) and the Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) in Tokyo.
During his meeting with researchers, Johari discussed alternatives to rice, such as cassava, to enhance agricultural productivity.
His meeting with Japan’s Minister for Digital Transformation Kono Taro yielded interest in exchanging expertise in developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology ethically and safely for the benefit of both countries.
In Kyoto, Johari expressed Malaysia’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Kyoto Prefecture vice-governor and Kyoto City deputy mayor, Hironor
i Furukawa at a dinner event.
Johari was also honoured to stay at the Kyoto State Guest House, which serves as an official accommodation for state guests.
ing the official visit, Johari explored the use of heavy ion therapy technology in cancer treatment at the Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Centre (HIMAK), the first facility of its kind in Osaka.
Given that cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in Malaysia, he emphasised the importance of exploring such treatments.
Johari and the Malaysian parliamentary delegation safely returned to Malaysia this morning.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
