Japan’s Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno praised the Sultan Nazrin Shah PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre for its vocational training and return-to-work model.
IPOH: Japan’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno has expressed admiration for the Sultan Nazrin Shah PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre for its comprehensive approach to rehabilitation, which includes vocational training and consultation to help patients return to work and society.
Ueno said he was particularly impressed by the centre’s efficient and effective rehabilitation services, which go beyond physical recovery to prepare patients for their eventual return to employment and community life.
“I was so impressed because this facility not only provides rehabilitation, but does so in a highly efficient and effective manner.
“We were also very surprised that, besides rehabilitation, vocational training is also provided, as well as consultation to support their return to society and work,” he said during an official visit to the centre today.
Also present were Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata, Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, PERKESO board member Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini and the centre’s executive director Datuk Dr Hafez Hussain.
Ueno described the centre as a highly advanced, state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility, saying centres of such scale and with such a strong focus on rehabilitation were rare even in Japan.
He was also pleased to see Japanese technology and equipment being utilised at the centre, including the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) rehabilitation technology developed by a Japanese start-up company.
The centre has more than 60 units of HAL, he said, hoping that the technology could be introduced to more rehabilitation facilities in Malaysia so that more patients could benefit from it.
Meanwhile, Mohd Annuar said he hoped Ueno’s visit would pave the way for stronger Malaysia-Japan cooperation in rehabilitation technology, equipment and human resource development.
“The Japanese minister’s visit should go beyond a one-off engagement and serve as a catalyst to strengthen ties between the rehabilitation centre and relevant institutions in Japan, not only in equipment but also technology and manpower,” he said.
Mohd Annuar also expressed appreciation that Ueno had made the five-hour journey from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh while in Malaysia for the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings.
“We are very honoured. It shows that PERKESO has gained recognition and attracted the minister’s attention.
“We would also welcome students or physiotherapists from Japan to spend several months here. Such exchanges would enrich our knowledge,” he said.
The Sultan Nazrin Shah PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre in Meru Raya began operations in July 2025 and has been recognised as Southeast Asia’s largest neuro-robotic and cybernetic rehabilitation centre.
From 2025 to August this year, 75.11 per cent of patients who underwent rehabilitation at PERKESO centres nationwide successfully returned to work.
They included patients with musculoskeletal injuries, occupational diseases, spinal cord injuries and non-communicable diseases such as stroke.