DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER VISIT TO JAPAN

Tokyo – Deputy Defence Minister, YB Senator Liew Chin Tong is in Tokyo for four days in his first ever visit to Japan.

YB Senator Liew Chin Tong met japan’s new Defence Minister Taro Kono in Tokyo, on 18th September 2019. Mr. Kono was recently appointed as the Defence Minister
on 11th September. He was formerly Foreign Minister since 2017. Liew is one of
Kono’s earliest foreign guests in his capacity as Defence Minister.

In the 40-minute meeting, Liew and Kono discussed several issues of mutual interests for the enhancement of Malaysia-Japan defence relations. Liew was accompanied by Malaysia’s Ambassador to Japan, Datuk Kennedy Jawan and Malaysia’s Defence Attache to Tokyo, Captain Mohd Izzudin Ahmad RMN.

Both Liew and Kono visited Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh
in May and July respectively. They shared similar concerns and hope to work together to improve the situations.

Liew emphasized that Malaysia-Japan defence relations should not be limited to
merely military equipment sales, but should also take on a longer term and deeper collaboration with Malaysian companies, given Japan’s already extensive
civilian/commercial supply chain presence in Malaysia. Such a collaboration should focus on dual use (civilian and military) production and will further help create mid to high end jobs in Malaysia.