THE Penang Chung Hwa Confucian Alumni Association (CHCA) and the Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) today to set up a “bridge” for Malaysian students to study in Japan as well as to provide an advisory role in securing a scholarship and other information related to studying in Japan.
CHCA president Datuk Goh Teng Whoo said his association has managed to raise RM154,000, including a RM15,000 contribution from the state government through Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said CHCA temporarily froze its ‘Benevolent and Education Fund’ during the Covid-19 pandemic and reactivated it at the beginning of this year to offer financial aid to needy students following the reopening of international borders recently.
“Our association is rewarding Chung Hwa Confucian School students and members’ children every year for their outstanding academic performance since 1985. Thousands of ringgit have been paid out.
“Three years ago, to enhance this mission, our association established a ‘Benevolent and Education Fund’, to offer financial aid to those needy and deserving students from Chung Hwa Confucian School.
“CHCA will continue to look for more similar alliances to provide more options and opportunities for our Malaysian students and to generate more talented citizens to help develop our country.
“We hope with this initiative and small effort, we can encourage and generate more talent pool to the society and also to support our Penang State government’s vision of Penang 2030,” Goh said during his speech at its premises in Burmah Road.
JAGAM president Gary Tang Kok Lian said his association was honoured to collaborate with CHCA in the project, adding that the office bearers are serving as volunteers to give back to society.
“Japanese education covers from A to Z, not only in universities but also from vocational or technical institutions to colleges.
“It covers all layers of students. The backbone of the Japanese industry is the blue-collar group.
“Japanese government scholarships are offered without bonding or repayment and every year, they offer 25 post-graduate scholarships and a certain number of undergraduate scholarships to Malaysian students based on meritocracy.
“And I want to say that the Japanese government recognises UEC (Unified Examination Certificate); and so are China, Taiwan and Singapore. A lot of people do not know that Japanese education recognises UEC.
“Education is very important to groom the next generation of leaders,” Tang said in his speech.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was the guest of honour at the signing ceremony, praised the two parties’ initiative for a worthy cause that would help to expand the talent pool.
“Recognising that talent is our most precious asset, the State Government, through InvestPenang, Penang Skills Development Corporation, and its other agencies, is always dedicated to strengthening and broadening Penang’s talent pool.
“This is carried out through a variety of initiatives, namely the affordable housing for knowledge workers, Penang Internship Subsidy Programme, My Penang, My Workplace campaign, the Penang Future Foundation scholarship, and collaborations with industry players, TVET institutions and institutions of higher learning, among others.
“In short, Penang’s strong talent pool is definitely one of the key competitive edges that the state values and will continue to uphold by upskilling, attracting and retaining talent in Penang. As such, I am glad that this initiative today compliments the state’s efforts in promoting and supporting talent development in Penang,” Chow said in his speech.
He also said Japan has been a prominent foreign investor in Penang since the 1970s. In fact, two out of the eight samurais that launched Penang’s industrial journey originated from Japan, namely Clarion Malaysia and Hitachi.
Penang, Chow added, is currently home to more than 120 Japanese MNCs, including over 70 of them in the manufacturing industry.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Penang state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, acting consul-general of Japan in Penang Inui Hiroyuki and Penang Japanese Association secretary-general So Takayoshi.
Representing JAGAM at the signing ceremony were Tang, JAGAM South Branch chairman John Leong Thiat Eng, JAGAM Northern Branch chairman Shaun Chiam Khai Seong, JAGAM Japan Branch chairman Datuk Steven Tan Hui Guan and JAGAM Japan Branch vice-chairman Dr Goh Chee Seong while representing CHCA were Goh, CHCA deputy president Datuk Lim Chee Tong, vice-president Dr Tony Koay Boon Hooi, CHCA head of education Dr Ngo Seong Boon, CHCA Central Region Branch vice-president Dr Chiam Tzeh Yew.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Chow and Inui.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Law Suun Ting