We interviewed a student, who has enrolled to perform research at the Tokyo Metropolitan University since October, 2012.

- Profile of my hometown: The things I like about my hometown and Tokyo

Malaysia, promoted globally through the tagline 'Truly Asia' cannot stand any more corrected. Malaysia defies all odds in being a wonderful country with every aspect of Asia in one place – be it places of visits, cultures and religions, food, people, languages, architecture and where traditional values and ultra-modern sleek development run side-by-side in synergy. In many aspects, Malaysia is what I like to call the conglomeration of Asia in one 'pot'. Kuala Lumpur, better known as KL, where I live is Malaysia's most populated city and designated the capital city of Malaysia. Residents of this hustling and bustling metropolitan city are colloquially known as KLites.
Malaysia and Japan share a very prosperous relationship; which is a contributing factor to my presence in Tokyo, today. For the past 30 years, Malaysia and Japan have been connected by a steady stream of people – each one attempting to look East (at Japan) themselves including myself. Many in search for the skills and work ethics that has made Japan synonymous with industrial, educational and economic success. Malaysia has benefited from the openness of the Japanese people; from their willingness to share the principles that inspired one of the great economic miracles of our age. For the newer generation of Malaysians like me, this gap has been effortlessly bridged: by the universities who opened their arms to Malaysian students such as what the Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU) has done for me, the companies that opened their offices to Malaysian graduates and the Japanese families who welcomed Malaysian students into their homes. I am profoundly touched by this gesture of kindness and openness; in fact, I said before embarking to Japan for my Phd, that if I become half Japanese by skills, values and professional ethics at the end of this journey, I would consider myself accomplished.

I love every aspect of Japan from the people I meet on my day to day studying and conducting research who are extremely helpful, kind and humble but most especially always willing to give a lending hand in my learning process including my professors (Professor Ming Yang and Professor Masami Sugamata, TMU) and the staff at the TMU who have gone out of their way to ensure that I live comfortably in Japan. I particularly admire the discipline and politeness of the Japanese people. The very punctual and well-connected train networks in Japan are admirably and which I have till date never seen anywhere else in the world.
I consider myself lucky, if not blessed to be in Japan to do my PhD and to learn the culture, ethics and traditional values of the Japanese people. I express my profound gratitude to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the people of Japan who have and will be part of my life in Japan - perhaps one of the most important milestones in my professional life.

- Motivation: The reasons I decided to study in Tokyo

While in service with WHO previously, I had the privilege of working with several Japanese colleagues. In fact, my work supervisor at that time was Japanese himself. I should like to mention his name, Dr. Takeshi Kasai (who now heads the WHO Office in Viet Nam) as he is perhaps one of the most dedicated, supportive and brilliant individuals I have ever met in life, later to become of the most significant individuals in my professional life. Among the reasons I decided to study in Japan, include, the work ethics and dedication of the Japanese people which I truly admire, the high standard of education, the economic progress of Japan and the modern research facilities and the amazing learning process which would soon become one of the most important periods in my professional life.
I had set my priorities before moving to Japan and that is of course to gain my PhD but at the very same time I hoped to embrace everything Japanese – including its culture, food, language, traditional values and professionally, its work ethics. Within the first few days of moving to Japan, I had the opportunity to experience the kindheartedness of the Japanese people including my professors and other staff at TMU including my classmates who were always willing to assist me in settling in comfortably. I don't know what could be more perfect than this.

- Asia and myself: My role in Asia

In line with this opportunity to study and complete of PhD in Tokyo with the support coming from the TMG, I am certain that I would be able to develop the competency and skills needed to create an impact on the burden of infectious diseases in the South East Asia region. I envision to implement the application of my research work in the development of advance, rapid and reliable diagnostic techniques to detect and prevent the outbreak potential of emerging infectious diseases especially in Asia, specifically in Member Countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) including of course towards strengthening of health systems and eliminating the use of 'importing' and 'exporting' country in the context of infectious diseases thereby ensuring national, regional and global health security.

- The message I would like to send through "Interaction Asia"：To my compatriot PhD students

This would perhaps be one of the most important, if not the most important, period of 3 years of your professional life. As such, use it wisely, study smart, work hard, yet have a work-life balance and remain guided by the wonderful people of Japan including your classmates, friends and professors.
I will forever be grateful to every single person who will be part and parcel of my life in Japan – an experience that will go down in my history of achieving great heights and a sense of complete accomplishment.