KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 – The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), was deeply honoured to host a high-profile courtesy visit from the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) delegation, led by His Excellency Kishida Fumio, Former Prime Minister of Japan.
The esteemed delegation comprised Honourable Members of the Japanese Parliament, His Excellency Shikata Noriyuki, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, senior representatives from key Japanese ministries, and Sugawara Minako, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Malaysia.
The delegates were warmly received by Professor Dr. Shamsul Sahibuddin, Acting Head of Campus, UTM Kuala Lumpur, along with Associate Professor Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain, Dean of MJIIT, and the MJIIT Executive Committee.
This visit reaffirmed the enduring Malaysia–Japan friendship and a shared commitment to a sustainable, decarbonized Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In his welcoming address, Prof. Shamsul emphasized that MJIIT established as a flagship Malaysia-Japan collaboration has, for over a decade, embodied Japanese engineering values and contributed significantly to regional academic and research excellence.
MJIIT’s core research areas, including green technology, hydrogen energy, waste-to-energy systems, and sustainable infrastructure, are highly aligned with AZEC’s mission to promote regional cooperation in low-carbon development and energy transition.
During the visit, the AZEC delegation toured several of MJIIT’s flagship research facilities, starting with the Algae and Biomass Research Laboratory. This lab focused on the application of microalgae in renewable technologies, playing a vital role in advancing biofuel development, carbon capture, and circular economy models.
The delegation also visited Euglena–UTM Satellite Lab, a collaborative initiative with Japan’s Euglena Co., Ltd. The lab conducts tropical biomass research with applications in biofuels, nutraceuticals, and sustainability innovations. It stands as a model of successful Japan–Malaysia research and development cooperation.
Additionally, Associate Professor Dr. Nurulakmar presented two strategic centres for potential collaboration, starting with the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC). The DPPC integrates engineering, technology, and community engagement to develop solutions for climate resilience and disaster risk management—a priority shared by AZEC in strengthening regional preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
The centre, the Malaysia–Japan Advanced Research Centre (MJARC), promotes interdisciplinary research and development and serves as a platform for joint innovation, pilot projects, and talent mobility between UTM and Japanese institutions.
This timely engagement represents a strategic milestone in fostering academic–policy synergy and advancing AZEC’s goals across ASEAN.
“May this visit serve as the beginning of a meaningful collaboration between AZEC and MJIIT. Together, we look forward to building strong partnerships and advancing impactful initiatives toward a low-carbon, resilient, and sustainable future for the ASEAN region.”
