Latest news with #OrderoftheRisingSun
The Star
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Brunei's longest-serving ambassador to Japan honoured
Former ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan Pengiran Datuk Paduka Idriss Pengiran Temanggong Pengiran Mohammad, conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver star, with Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam Kikuta Yutaka. - Photo: Borneo Bulletin/ANN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Former ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan Pengiran Datuk Paduka Idriss Pengiran Temanggong Pengiran Mohammad was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver star of the Japanese Government in a ceremony at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan on Friday (July 18). Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam Kikuta Yutaka awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver star. Idriss in his acceptance speech conveyed his gratitude and deepest honour on the conferment. Kikuta Yutaka in his remark paid tribute to Idriss for his contribution in deepening the bilateral relations and exchanges between Brunei Darussalam and Japan. Idriss is the longest serving ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan, having held the position from 1987 to 1996. During his nine-year tenure, he made significant contributions to foster strong relations between both countries. He also played a pivotal role in facilitating high level visits including the visit of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to Japan in 1989 for the funeral ceremony of Emperor Showa and for the Enthronement ceremony of His Majesty the Emperor Akihito in 1990. He also contributed to the launch of the Royal Brunei Airlines regular direct flight to Japan and worked closely with the two governments towards the conclusion of an agreement between Brunei and Japan on air services. The agreement was signed in 1993. The Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 as Japan's first decoration and is a prestigious order that honours people in Japan and abroad who have made outstanding achievements in various fields of society. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
Malaysian Reserve
16-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Azman Hashim: Scaling challenges, shaping finance
KUALA LUMPUR — With over 60 years of experience in the banking industry, Tan Sri Azman Hashim (picture) stands not only as an icon of Malaysian finance but also as a remarkable businessman, passionate sportsman, avid singer and dedicated philanthropist. Azman scaled Mount Kinabalu in 2023 at age 84, describing his achievement as both a physical and symbolic journey. 'Life, after all, is a series of mountains – some literal, others metaphorical,' he told Bernama. 'That climb reminded me that with preparation, determination and belief, we can still overcome great challenges regardless of age,' Azman added. That same mindset, he said, drove him to establish his accountancy firm, Azman & Co, later acquire Arab-Malaysian Merchant Bank and build AmBank Bhd. 'Age should never be a barrier to purpose. If you stay curious and committed, there's always another summit to reach,' he said. He emphasised that passion is what brings balance and perspective, which have profoundly shaped his approach to leadership, not merely as a business function, but as a responsibility to serve others. A Legacy of Recognition and Service Recently, Azman, who is chairman of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB), was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chartered Banker Institute, UK. He noted the award reflected not only his journey, but the collective progress at AICB in raising the standards of professionalism and integrity in Malaysia's banking industry. 'Banking goes beyond just numbers. It is about trust, responsibility and our duty to serve society with purpose and integrity. 'This recognition is a tribute to the many incredible individuals I have had the privilege of working with over the past six decades, from regulators to industry peers, colleagues and partners,' he said. Azman hopes the recognition inspires others, especially the younger generation, to embrace lifelong learning, lead with strong values and contribute meaningfully to the future of the financial industry. Previously, he also received prestigious honours from Japan and Australia – most notably, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, from His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan (1987) and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, from the Japanese government (2021), along with the Medal of the Order of Australia from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia in 2008. Charting the Financial Journey Azman began his career in 1955, studying in Perth, Australia, and qualifying as a chartered accountant and chartered secretary at Messrs O L Haines & Co. before the age of 21. In 1960, he joined Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), before starting his own company under the name Azman & Co in May 1964. The company later became known as Azman Wong Salleh & Co. He left the company in May 1971 to join Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) as executive director and later served at Kwong Yik Bank Bhd from December 1980 to March 1982. In 1982, Azman acquired Arab-Malaysian Merchant Bank and transformed it into the AmBank Group, where he served as chairman until his retirement in 2022. Azman has been a member of the Institute of Bankers Malaysia (IBBM) since 1983 and was elected as chairman in 2009. IBBM was later renamed AICB in 2014. Leadership Through Crisis The 1998 Asian financial crisis was one of Malaysia's most turbulent financial chapters. 'Currency speculation led to a sharp depreciation of the ringgit, the stock market collapsed, interest rates soared and liquidity dried up. Many businesses and individuals suffered, and AmBank was not spared,' he recalled. What carried AmBank through was a firm belief in resilience, composure under pressure and an unwavering commitment to doing what's right, he said. 'I've always believed that in a crisis, you need to lead with clarity, courage, and calm. 'These experiences reminded me that adversity builds character. It taught us to be prepared, prudent and to focus on long-term sustainability over short-term gains,' he said. AICB and the Future of Banking Since joining AICB in 1983 and becoming chairman in 2009, Azman has been instrumental in transforming AICB into a leading professional body with over 37,000 members across more than 20 countries in Asia. Under his leadership, AICB also strengthened its position as a key partner to BNM and financial institutions in driving industry-wide competency standards. 'AICB partnerships with respected global institutions are vital in raising the bar for Malaysian bankers. Aligning ourselves with institutions like the Chartered Banker Institute in the UK allows us to benchmark against the best in the world. 'It ensures our qualifications are internationally recognised and respected. This provides global opportunities for our bankers, enabling them to work, collaborate and compete on a wider stage,' he said. Since 1980, over 39,000 banking professionals have benefited from AICB's qualifications. Today, AICB counts over 800 Chartered Bankers in 13 countries, including Singapore, India, and the Maldives, a testament to the growing importance of ethics and future-readiness in banking. 'The Chartered Banker qualification is about more than acquiring technical expertise. It cultivates judgment, ethics, and a deep understanding of the trust we hold as financial professionals. 'It sets a gold standard – one that helps ensure that the people leading our financial institutions are competent, professional, and committed to reinforcing public trust in the profession. It's a foundation for building a more reputable, responsible and resilient financial future for Malaysia and beyond,' he said. Building the Workforce of Tomorrow Working alongside the Asian Institute of Insurance and the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia, AICB spearheaded the Future Skills Framework (FSF) to map out emerging job roles and in-demand skills across the financial sector. The framework identifies 161 relevant job roles and 157 in-demand skills for the next three years, potential career development pathways, and nearly 1,000 capacity-building programmes. 'My advice to young bankers is to stay curious, keep learning and always hold yourself to the highest standards of integrity. The financial world needs not just smart minds but principled professionals. 'The pace of change may be fast, but values remain timeless, which is why initiatives like AICB's Chartered Banker qualification are so vital. It is designed not only to equip professionals with knowledge but also to instil a deep respect for ethical standards,' he concluded. — BERNAMA
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Bach welcomes future Japan bid once issues such as corruption are addressed
olympics Outgoing International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said Thursday that Japan is "very much welcome" to bid for another Summer or Winter Games, once issues such as corruption surrounding the staging of past events are addressed. Sapporo dropped its bid for the 2030 Winter Games in October 2023 following bid-rigging and bribery scandals linked to the 2020 Tokyo Games, which were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the northern city subsequently unable to convince a skeptical public of the bid's merits. "A future hosting bid is welcome if we can be sure on the IOC side that these Japanese business practices, this kind of corruption, is over and has been addressed," Bach, who will become the IOC's honorary president for life in June, said in an interview with Kyodo News. "We understand what happened there within Japan because of the business practices of some Japanese business also hope that this leads to a clarification and adaptation of Japanese business practices." Bach said Japan remains a major presence in the Olympic movement, noting its continued role as host of various international tournaments across sports, including the Asian Games next year, as well as the success of its athletes, who won its overseas record of 20 gold medals and 45 overall at the Paris Games last summer. Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013, said he believes all parties involved recognized that his decisions during a tumultuous period, marked by doping scandals, a pandemic and international conflicts, were made with good intentions. "I could help the Olympic movement to overcome so many challenges and where I could make it possible for the athletes to have the Olympic Games," he said. "I was in the position you need to be as an IOC president." "Sometimes I was a little bit tough or too tough on one or the other because I absolutely wanted to get there and was demanding a lot...(but) they always realized that it was done in good intention and that it was done to accomplish the IOC mission." Welcoming the idea of Japan bidding to host the new Olympic Esports Games, Bach said the highlight of his tenure came after the closing ceremony in the French capital, when he realized the Olympic Agenda had been fulfilled by delivering a "sustainable, urban, young, joyous" games. Bach, who received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun at Tokyo's Imperial Palace on Friday, voiced strong support for his successor, Kirstie Coventry of Zimbabwe, who is poised to become the first female and first African IOC president following her election in March. "I know that she has this very clear compass of the Olympic values," Bach said. "She has been elected because she has the professional and the human qualities to be a very good president of the IOC and lead the Olympic movement in an even better future. "Therefore, I'm really very at ease and very, very confident." © KYODO
08-05-2025
- Politics
Ex-U.S. Defense Official Nye, Expert on Japan, Dies at 88
News from Japan World May 8, 2025 11:03 (JST) Washington, May 7 (Jiji Press)--Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Joseph Nye, who was emeritus professor at Harvard University and a Japan expert, died on Tuesday at age 88, the university said Wednesday. In the 1990s, Nye proposed the "soft power" concept for boosting international influence by attracting other countries with unique values, culture and foreign policies. Nye was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the Japanese government in 2014 for his contribution to the Japan-U.S. alliance. After graduating from Princeton University in 1958, he obtained his doctorate in political science from Harvard University in 1964. He served as dean of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government between 1995 and 2004. Nye occupied the post of deputy undersecretary of state for security assistance, science and technology from 1977 to 1979, and then assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs between 1994 and 1995 under the administration of President Bill Clinton. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Rakyat Post
05-05-2025
- Business
- Rakyat Post
Jeffrey Cheah Conferred Order Of The Rising Sun By Emperor Of Japan
Subscribe to our FREE Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah has been conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The government of Japan announced the award of this prestigious honour during the 2025 Spring Imperial Conferment in recognition of Cheah's services in promoting academic exchanges and strengthening economic relations between the peoples of Malaysia and Japan. READ MORE: I am deeply honoured and humbled by the conferment of this prestigious award by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, recognising not only my personal efforts and accomplishments but also those of my Sunway and Jeffrey Cheah Foundation teams. Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Cheah also paid tribute to Japan's resilience, innovation and discipline in the post–World War II era, where it emerged as a global leader across multiple business industries. It is these very qualities that have inspired me and continue to guide the work we do at Sunway and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Since its inception in 2010, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, building upon the legacy of the Sunway Education Trust Fund established in 1997, has awarded more than RM892 million in scholarships and grants as of 2024, advancing its mission to make quality education accessible and affordable to as many deserving students as possible. Sunway's collaboration with Japanese partners includes its joint venture through Hitachi Sunway Information Systems, delivering advanced IT solutions across ASEAN, while working together on energy management and cybersecurity initiatives. In addition, Sunway works with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in offering its vibrant and integrated Sunway City Kuala Lumpur township as a testbed for Japanese entrepreneurs and start-ups to tap into the Southeast Asian market. On the education front, Sunway University has established active collaborative partnerships with more than 20 Japanese universities, with eight more in the pipeline, focusing on research collaboration, technological innovation and student exchange programmes. These student exchange programmes build upon and further strengthen the people-to-people connection which has been fortified through years of academic exchange, where tens of thousands of Malaysians have studied, trained, and worked in Japan and vice-versa. In 2024, Cheah became the first Malaysian to be conferred the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, which carries the title 'Sir,' for his extraordinary achievements and services to education, healthcare and philanthropy, which include forging high-level links with a number of UK institutions, including University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Lancaster, the Royal College of Physicians, the Chevening Scheme, ACCA as well as ICAEW. READ MORE: In 2008, Cheah was appointed by Australia's Prime Minister an Officer of the Order of Australia – one of the country's most prestigious and highest recognitions conferred to a non-citizen, in recognition of his contribution in building bilateral relations between Malaysia and Australia through education. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
