The establishment of the razak sensei gallery at the sultan idris education university (upsi) not only serves to preserve the legacy of national educator:he establishment of the Razak Sensei Gallery at the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) not only serves to preserve the legacy of national educator, the late Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Hamid, aka Razak Sensei. It also serves as a symbol of peace and strengthens educational and cultural ties between Malaysia and Japan. Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Shikata Noriyuki said that the gallery serves as a bridge connecting the two countries through education, cultural dialogue, and the humanistic values that Abdul Razak advocated throughout his life.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the choice of Aug 6 as the opening date also holds deep significance. It coincides with the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, an event that claimed thousands of lives and profoundly changed Abdul Razak's life. 'His miraculous survival from the Hiroshima tragedy, and his courage in turning that painful experience into a lifelong commitment to peace and education, serve as examples worth emulating. His life story reminds us that education goes far beyond merely imparting knowledge. Education is a force that shapes character, fosters mutual respect, and helps build peaceful societies,' he said during his speech at the opening ceremony today of the Razak Sensei Gallery at the SITC Hall, Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus, UPSI.

Also present at the event were the late scholar's son Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Razak; and UPSI Strategic Department director Professor Dr Azmi Mohamed; UPSI Board of Directors member Datuk Seri Ahmad Burak; the UPSI Malay Civilisation Institute director Professor Dr Tajul Shuhaizam Said; and 40 students from the Teikyo Kuala Lumpur Language Centre. Shikata said that following his return to Malaya after World War II, Abdul Razak dedicated his life to the field of education. He became one of the pioneers in the teaching of the Japanese language and Japanese studies in Malaysia.

According to him, Abdul Razak's contributions went beyond nurturing a generation of educators and strengthening academic ties between the two countries. They also played a key role in the development of the 'Look East' policy, which remains one of the fundamental pillars of Malaysia-Japan relations. 'I hope that this gallery will serve as a source of inspiration for students, educators, researchers and the general public. It will encourage everyone to continue valuing education, to strengthen cultural dialogue, and to promote cooperation between the two countries in the future," he said.

Meanwhile, UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said that the establishment of the Razak Sensei Gallery was the result of the university's ongoing efforts to systematically preserve and document the legacy of this notable figure through intellectual discussions, research projects, and the preservation of historical materials. He said that the efforts began with the Razak Sensei Intellectual Forum in 2015. Subsequent research was conducted to ensure that the significant contributions made by the late Razak Sensei in strengthening educational and cultural ties between Malaysia and Japan would be remembered forever.

This gallery showcases 525 items from the late Razak Sensei's personal belongings, historical documents, photographs and valuable artifacts. 'Each collection on display holds its own historical value and tells stories of courage, sacrifice and remarkable fighting spirit,' he added.