Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2026
2026/9/24
on 24 September 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the recipients of the Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2026.
The Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation is initiated with the aim to recognise and honour individuals and organisations that have made tremendous contribution to promote friendship between Japan and other countries.
This year, the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation will be conferred to 2 Malaysian individual under the Embassy’s jurisdiction. Those representing a wide range of backgrounds were selected on the basis of their outstanding contribution to promotion of exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Malaysia.
The recipients are as follows:
(1) Mr. Tang Kok Lian, President of Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM)
Mr. Tang has served as the President of Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) since 2018 and has been involved in deepening exchanges among former Malaysian students of Japan and in fostering broader interest in studying in Japan.
Mr. Tang established a JAGAM scholarship to expand opportunities for Malaysian students to pursue studies in Japan. Since 2019, Mr. Tang has led the JAGAM Japan Education Fair (JJEF) annually, enabling students and parents to meet directly with Japanese universities, Japanese language schools, and other institutions; by the 2026 edition, the fair had grown to attract over 1,500 visitors.
As an ASCOJA Governor (ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni), Mr. Tang has also promoted business matching between Japanese companies and JAGAM members, while leveraging ASCOJA networks to strengthen linkages between Japan and the broader ASEAN region.
In addition, Mr. Tang actively supports homestay and student exchange programs between Japan and Malaysia, thereby broadening the base of mutual understanding. He also provides ongoing career-path counseling for Malaysian juniors who studied at Japanese universities and other institutions, supporting their post-graduation and post-return career development.
Furthermore, he has expanded JAGAM-organized cultural events, including Bon Odori, into larger platforms for cultural outreach, contributing significantly to the dissemination and promotion of Japanese culture in Malaysia.
(2) Mr. Isrami Bin Ismail, President of the Alumni Look East Policy Society (ALEPS)
Mr. Isrami Bin Ismail was appointed Vice President of the Alumni Look East Policy Society (ALEPS) in 2012 and became President in 2022. Since then, he has been actively involved in strengthening networks and promoting exchanges among alumni who studied in Japan under the Malaysian Government’s Look East Policy.
He has also worked to foster greater interest in Japan among Malaysian youth and encourage them to consider studying in Japan. Through ALEPS, he has organized education fairs, Japanese-language speech contests, and other Japanese language and education-related programs. He has also initiated Japan-themed sports and cultural events that contribute to the development of Japan-friendly and Japan-literate communities in Malaysia.
In addition, Mr. Isrami has organized homestay programs for Japanese students, providing them with opportunities to experience authentic Malaysian local culture, community life, and traditions. These programs help promote mutual understanding and grassroots exchanges between the younger generations of Malaysia and Japan.
Through these people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Mr. Isrami has also actively contributed to strengthening bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan. His efforts include supporting sister-city exchanges and cooperation between Subang Jaya City (MBSJ), Malaysia, and Hioki City, Kagoshima, Japan, as part of broader efforts to deepen ties between local communities in both countries.
In 2023, when ALEPS celebrated its 40th anniversary, Mr. Isrami helped bring together more than 700 participants and further strengthened collaboration with the business, academic, and industrial sectors, contributing to the continued development of a broad Malaysia–Japan network.
The Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation is initiated with the aim to recognise and honour individuals and organisations that have made tremendous contribution to promote friendship between Japan and other countries.
This year, the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation will be conferred to 2 Malaysian individual under the Embassy’s jurisdiction. Those representing a wide range of backgrounds were selected on the basis of their outstanding contribution to promotion of exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Malaysia.
The recipients are as follows:
(1) Mr. Tang Kok Lian, President of Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM)
Mr. Tang has served as the President of Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) since 2018 and has been involved in deepening exchanges among former Malaysian students of Japan and in fostering broader interest in studying in Japan.
Mr. Tang established a JAGAM scholarship to expand opportunities for Malaysian students to pursue studies in Japan. Since 2019, Mr. Tang has led the JAGAM Japan Education Fair (JJEF) annually, enabling students and parents to meet directly with Japanese universities, Japanese language schools, and other institutions; by the 2026 edition, the fair had grown to attract over 1,500 visitors.
As an ASCOJA Governor (ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni), Mr. Tang has also promoted business matching between Japanese companies and JAGAM members, while leveraging ASCOJA networks to strengthen linkages between Japan and the broader ASEAN region.
In addition, Mr. Tang actively supports homestay and student exchange programs between Japan and Malaysia, thereby broadening the base of mutual understanding. He also provides ongoing career-path counseling for Malaysian juniors who studied at Japanese universities and other institutions, supporting their post-graduation and post-return career development.
Furthermore, he has expanded JAGAM-organized cultural events, including Bon Odori, into larger platforms for cultural outreach, contributing significantly to the dissemination and promotion of Japanese culture in Malaysia.
(2) Mr. Isrami Bin Ismail, President of the Alumni Look East Policy Society (ALEPS)
Mr. Isrami Bin Ismail was appointed Vice President of the Alumni Look East Policy Society (ALEPS) in 2012 and became President in 2022. Since then, he has been actively involved in strengthening networks and promoting exchanges among alumni who studied in Japan under the Malaysian Government’s Look East Policy.
He has also worked to foster greater interest in Japan among Malaysian youth and encourage them to consider studying in Japan. Through ALEPS, he has organized education fairs, Japanese-language speech contests, and other Japanese language and education-related programs. He has also initiated Japan-themed sports and cultural events that contribute to the development of Japan-friendly and Japan-literate communities in Malaysia.
In addition, Mr. Isrami has organized homestay programs for Japanese students, providing them with opportunities to experience authentic Malaysian local culture, community life, and traditions. These programs help promote mutual understanding and grassroots exchanges between the younger generations of Malaysia and Japan.
Through these people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Mr. Isrami has also actively contributed to strengthening bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan. His efforts include supporting sister-city exchanges and cooperation between Subang Jaya City (MBSJ), Malaysia, and Hioki City, Kagoshima, Japan, as part of broader efforts to deepen ties between local communities in both countries.
In 2023, when ALEPS celebrated its 40th anniversary, Mr. Isrami helped bring together more than 700 participants and further strengthened collaboration with the business, academic, and industrial sectors, contributing to the continued development of a broad Malaysia–Japan network.