The original of this article was written in Japanese and can be found here.

This year has seen vigorous exchanges between Japan and Malaysia. In particular, in conjunction with the World Expo currently being held in Osaka, numerous delegations from both the public and private sectors have visited Japan from Malaysia.

At the request of the Embassy of Malaysia in Japan, the Japan Malaysia Association (JMA) hosted meetings in April and May with two inspection delegations from the Malaysian House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) Special Select Committees. The meetings were jointly held with the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship League. An overview of each delegation and the meetings themselves is provided below.

Special Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation

On Tuesday, April 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., a meeting was held in the International Conference Room of the Second House of Representatives Members’ Office Building with a delegation of 11 people, including Malaysian Dewan Rakyat members belonging to the Special Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation, together with their accompanying staff.

The five Dewan Rakyat members visiting Japan as part of the Special Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation were:

• Dato’ Haji Ahmad Amzad, Chairman of the delegation (former Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; MP for Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu; Perikatan Nasional, opposition)
• Dato’ Larry Sng, Committee Member (former Assistant Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department; MP for Julau, Sarawak; Parti Bangsa Malaysia, government coalition)
• Dato’ Ngeh Koo Ham, Committee Member (former Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly; MP for Beruas, Perak; Democratic Action Party, government coalition)
• Rodiyah Sapiee, Committee Member (MP for Batang Sadong, Sarawak; Gabungan Parti Sarawak, government coalition)
• Dato’ Azman Nasrudin, Committee Member (MP for Padang Serai, Kedah; Perikatan Nasional, opposition)

From the JMA, President Keiji Furuya (also Chairman of the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship League), Chairman Takakazu Ogawa, Director Takashi Moribayashi, Executive Director Arai, and Deputy Director Yuma Kosuga attended, while Secretary-General Miyashita of the Parliamentary Friendship League also joined the meeting.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks by President Furuya, followed by greetings and an introduction of the committee members by Chairman Ahmad Amzad. After an overview of the JMA and its activities was presented, the two sides exchanged views on cooperation in environmental technology and related fields.

During the meeting, since two of the five visiting Dewan Rakyat members are elected from Sarawak, the delegation expressed appreciation for the JMA’s continuous tropical rainforest restoration activities, which have been carried out in Sarawak for 30 years.

The Special Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation is a bipartisan committee established in 2023 and comprises nine members of parliament.

The committee oversees the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, and the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities. Its work includes reviewing related legislation, scrutinizing and analyzing motions, drafts, petitions, and reports under the jurisdiction of these agencies, and carrying out tasks assigned to the committee by the relevant ministries and the Dewan Rakyat.

In 2023, the committee held 10 meetings, discussing a wide range of issues including rare-earth management, the management of Lynas waste, research and commercialization of Lynas waste, and threats to wildlife.

In September 2024, the committee visited Japan to study Japanese applications of AI in fields such as energy and water transition, science, technology and innovation, the environment, and forestry. Following its meeting with the JMA and the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship League, the Environment, Science and Plantation delegation also met with relevant ministries, companies, and the Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on the Environment before returning home on Friday, April 18.

Special Select Committee on Health

On Monday, May 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., a meeting was held in the International Conference Room of the Second House of Representatives Members’ Office Building with a delegation of six people — Malaysian Dewan Rakyat members belonging to the Special Select Committee on Health together with their accompanying staff.

The four Dewan Rakyat members visiting Japan as part of the Special Select Committee on Health were:

• Oscar Ling, Chairman of the delegation (MP for Sibu, Sarawak; Democratic Action Party, government coalition)
• Onn Abu Bakar, Committee Member (MP for Batu Pahat, Johor; People’s Justice Party, government coalition)
• Dato’ Ahmad Yunus, Committee Member (MP for Kuala Langat, Selangor; Perikatan Nasional, opposition)
• Dato’ Alias Razak, Committee Member (MP for Kuala Nerus, Terengganu; Perikatan Nasional, opposition)

From the JMA, President Keiji Furuya (Chairman of the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship League), Chairman Takakazu Ogawa, Director Takashi Moribayashi, Managing Director Arai, and Assistant Director Yuma Kosuga attended.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks by President Furuya, followed by greetings and an introduction of the committee members by the delegation representative. After Chairman Ogawa’s address and a briefing on the JMA’s overview and activities, the participants exchanged views.

The delegation noted that Malaysia is also moving toward an aging society and explained that, in preparation, the visit was intended to learn about Japan’s experiences and initiatives at each of the destinations on their itinerary. President Furuya described the Japanese government’s policies and approaches, and a lively exchange of views ensued. As the head of this delegation is elected from Sarawak, appreciation was again expressed for the JMA’s long-running tropical rainforest restoration efforts in the state.

The Special Select Committee on Health of the Dewan Rakyat is a bipartisan committee established in 2023 and comprises nine members of parliament.

The committee oversees the Ministry of Health and its agencies, scrutinizing and analyzing health-related bills submitted to parliament and investigating and reporting on all matters concerning health.

In 2023, the committee held 16 meetings, including discussions on the review of the smoking products control bill for public health, and submitted to parliament a report on the tobacco control bill for public health. In 2024, the committee focused on four main themes — healthcare financing, digitalization of the health system, the use of artificial intelligence in the health field, and the issue of population aging — and also examined Ministry of Health programs, including the management of antimicrobial resistance, as well as the Medical (Amendment) Bill. In 2025, it is working on issues such as the workload of public-sector personnel in the health sector, the use of artificial intelligence in health assessments, e-cigarette and vape use, non-communicable diseases, and the national health agenda.

Following its meeting with the JMA and the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship League, the delegation also visited relevant ministries, research institutes, and welfare facilities, and met with the Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Labour before returning home on Thursday, May 15.