Suzuki lauded for his contributions
[img]http://bp0.blogger.com/_qPGNuFEUkDI/RkTxBdcJZSI/AAAAAAAAAEw/atBBvNeP6Ng/s320/suzuki.jpg[/img]
THE contributions of Tan Sri Kazumasa Suzuki, who died last Saturday, were not limited to Japanese investments in Malaysia.

He had also contributed a lot to providing scholarships to Malaysian students in Japan, wrote Utusan Malaysia columnist Hata Wahari.

He identified Suzuki as the man who was responsible for drawing Japanese investors to the country in support of the “Look East” policy.

Suzuki, who arrived here in 1968 to work for Mitsui & Co Ltd, was the founder and president of the Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry of Malaysia.

“His capability to attract Japanese investors to the country showed that they did not only respected Suzuki but also proved that Malaysia had a lot to offer to the world and played an important role in the Asian region,” Hata said.

Former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Sham Sani described Suzuki as a corporate figure who was well respected by the Japanese business community here.

“All his life, Suzuki never complained of tiredness in bringing more industries from Japan to Malaysia.

“He even introduced the Japanese way of making bread to Malaysia through the setting up of The Loaf with (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Langkawi last year,” he said.

Alumni Look East Policy president Za’ba Youn said that one of the biggest contributions of Suzuki to students who studied in Japan was to ensure that all of them found jobs at Japanese companies in Malaysia.

“He also proved to Japanese companies that Malaysians had the capability to work,” he added.

The columnist expressed regret that Suzuki could not celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Malaysia on Aug 31.