PETALING JAYA: Malaysia can learn from the efficiency and effectiveness of Japan’s city planning and public transportation, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong after a courtesy call with Japan’s newly-appointed State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Kokuba Konosuke.
“Kokuba also shared with us the success of the Shinkansen, Japan's premier HSR system since it started operations in 1964, especially from the safety aspect as it has attained an astonishing zero-accident rate in over six decades of operation,” said the Ayer Hitam MP, who was part of the Malaysian Parliamentary select committee of the House of Representatives on Infrastructure, Transport and Communication (JKPK IPK) delegation who paid a courtesy call to Etoh Taku, the chair of the Special Committee on Disasters of Japan’s House of Representatives.
“It was a privilege during this hour-long courtesy call to study the best practices by Japan in its implementation of Smart City Plan, Public Housing Project and Shinkansen Lines or the High-Speed Railway lines (HSR),” he added.
Dr Wee then said that it has also been insightful to see how Japan has incorporated many elements to promote sustainable development and address future challenges in these initiatives.
“Known for being highly efficient, organised, systematic and considerate, the Japanese do not only focus on convenience in its deliberation process but also on making public infrastructure more human-centric to offer a better quality of life,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Sept 27).
The delegation was led by JKPK IPK chairman Yusuf Abdul Wahab, who is Tanjung Manis MP.
Others in the delegation were Klang MP Ganabatirau Veraman, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah and Jerantut MP Khairil Nizam Khirudin.
