KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian educator and cultural exchange advocate Gary Tang Kok Lian has received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for his longstanding contributions to strengthening relations between Malaysia and Japan, particularly in education, business and cultural exchange.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Shikata Noriyuki said Tang was one of two Malaysians selected for the 2026 commendation, which was awarded to 159 individuals and 67 groups worldwide for their outstanding achievements in international affairs.
“With his remarkable vision and leadership, Mr Gary Tang has made significant contributions in advancing Japan-Malaysia cooperation across education, culture, business and many other fields,” he said at the presentation ceremony held at his official residence on Oct 17.
Shikata said Tang’s ties with Japan began in 1983 when he studied Japanese at Kokusai Gakuyukai, one of the predecessor organisations of the Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO), before graduating in Management Information Systems from the University of Electro-Communications in 1988.
He said Tang had played a pivotal role in promoting study opportunities in Japan among Malaysian youth since becoming president of the Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) in 2018, particularly through the annual JAGAM Japan Education Fair, which attracted 35 Japanese educational institutions and around 1,500 students and parents in 2026.
Shikata also highlighted Tang’s efforts to expand scholarship opportunities, including the Daihatsu JAGAM Scholarship launched in collaboration with Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd in 2024 to support Malaysians pursuing studies in Japan and help develop future talent for both countries.
In business cooperation, Tang, as a governor of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA), led the launch of the ASCOJA Business Advisory Board in September 2026 to strengthen connections between Japanese companies and the ASEAN market. In cultural exchange, JAGAM has co-organised the Pavilion x JAGAM Matsuri at Pavilion Bukit Jalil since 2025, featuring traditional Japanese performances and cultural activities.
As Malaysia and Japan approach the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, Shikata expressed confidence that people-to-people exchanges would become increasingly important, and hoped Tang and JAGAM would continue to inspire Malaysian youth to study in Japan and expand cooperation in education, business, innovation and culture.
In his acceptance speech, Tang said the commendation reflected the support and cooperation of his family, mentors, colleagues and partner institutions, for their encouragement throughout his journey.
Tang travelled to Japan in March 1983, before receiving his STPM results, and enrolled at Kokusai Gakuyukai, now associated with the Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO).
He later joined the Malaysia Students Association in Japan, serving as its president in 1986 to support fellow Malaysian students.
Tang said two Japanese values had particularly shaped his outlook: sonkei, or respect, and kansha, or gratitude. He described them as important principles in education, culture and personal relationships.
He pledged to continue promoting closer relations between the two countries and building more bridges of friendship and cooperation for future generations.
-- BERNAMA