Impak Gelombang Kedua Dasar Pandang ke Timur terhadap Perubahan Struktur dan Budaya di Malaysia dan Rantau Asia Tenggara (The Impacts of The Second Wave Of The Look East Policy on Structural and Cultural Changes in Malaysia and the Southeast Asia Region)

Abstract

Dasar Pandang ke Timur (DPT) telah dilaksanakan pada tahun 1982 dengan dua matlamat utama. Pertama, usaha meningkatkan kemahiran, kecekapan, pengetahuan serta menerapkan nilai-nilai yang positif dari Jepun dan Korea dalam etika kerja. Kedua, bertujuan untuk meningkatkan daya pengeluaran dan mutu kerja. Kertas ini membahaskan impak gelombang kedua DPT yang diandaikan saling menguntungkan antara Jepun-Malaysia berbanding gelombang pertama yang pemberatnya lebih kepada Malaysia. Kajian ini telah mengutip data primer menggunakan teknik temubual intensif dan kumpulan focus dengan keseluruhan jumlah informan seramai tiga belas (13) orang yang mempunyai pengalaman secara langsung dengan perlaksanaan DPT. Data kualitatif ini dianalisis menggunakan pembinaan tema hasil temubual tersebut. Teori kitaran dasar diaplikasi bagi membuat penilaian terhadap tahap keberhasilan perlaksanaan DPT dalam mencapai objektifnya. Hasil kajian memaparkan, selain etika kerja, factor budaya dan amalan nilai-nilai murni masyarakat Jepun, kesetiaan kepada majikan adalah amalan yang mengukuhkan kualiti kerja. Hasil kajian membuktikan DPT kurang Berjaya dalam mengadaptasikan budaya dan nilai kerja Jepun ke dalam diri rakyat Malaysia. Namun begitu, DPT berjaya membuat perubahan struktur dengan pelbagai amalan sistematik di tempat kerja seperti amalan 5S, Kawalan Mutu Kerja (TQM), sistem perakam waktu dan pengenalan penggunaan tanda nama. Sementara itu, Gelombang Kedua DPT dapat memperlihatkan usaha kerjasama serta ‘spill over’ hubungan MalaysiaJepun yang memberi impak positif kepada negara-negara jiran di peringkat rantau Asia Tenggara. Kajian ini berupaya membuktikan perlaksanaan DPT di Malaysia sehingga kini masih relevan kerana DPT bukan sahaja membawa manfaat kepada Malaysia, malah Jepun serta negara-negara di peringkat rantau.

Kata kunci: Dasar Pandang ke Timur; Gelombang Kedua; Implementasi; Implikasi; Rantau

Abstract

The Look East Policy (LEP) was implemented in 1982 with two main objectives. First, efforts to improve skills, competencies, knowledge, and apply positive values from Japan and Korea in work ethic. Second, it aims to improve productivity and quality. This paper discusses the impacts of the second wave of LEP, which is assumed to be mutually benefcial between Japan-Malaysia and the frst wave, which weighs more on Malaysia. This study has collected primary data using intensive interview techniques and focus groups with a total number of informants of thirteen (13) people who have direct experience with the implementation of LEP. These qualitative data were analyzed using the construction of themes due to frequency and similarity of meaning on cultural and work ethic questions. Policy cycle theory is applied to evaluate the success of LEP’s implementation in achieving its objectives. The results show that in addition to work ethic, cultural factors and practices of reasonable values of Japanese society and loyalty to the employer, are common practices that strengthen the quality of work. The study results prove that LEP is less successful in adapting the work culture fully into Malaysians. Nevertheless, LEP has succeeded in making structural changes with various systematic practices in the workplace, such as 5S practices, Quality Control (TQM), time recording systems, and name tags. Meanwhile the Second Wave of DPT shows cooperation efforts as well as ‘spill over’ Malaysia-Japan relations which has a positive impact on neighboring countries in the Southeast Asian region. This study is able to prove the implementation of LEP in Malaysia until now is still relevant because LEP not only brings benefts to Malaysia, but also Japan and other countries at the regional level.

Keywords: Look East Policy; Second Wave; Implementation; Implications; Regional