How it all started... JAYA JUSCO is set up in Malaysia In 1984, Jaya Jusco Stores Sdn. Bhd. was established in Malaysia, in response to the Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir's request to help modernise the retail industry in Malaysia using the world's most advanced management expertise. Dr. Mahathir believed that the modernisation of the retail industry was crucial for the country's economic growth. Prior to this, in 1983 Dr. Mahathir visited Tokyo and met the then JUSCO Co., Ltd. President, Mr. Takuya Okada to discuss the proposition of bringing the JUSCO name to Malaysia. The talks ended on a positive note and Dr. Mahathir invited JUSCO to set up store in Malaysia. All this was part of Dr. Mahathir's Look East policy for Malaysia. Following this, a joint venture company was established in September 1984. There were three parties involved: JUSCO Co., Ltd., Japan, Peremba, a leading governmentowned property company and Cold Storage, a premier supermarket chain store. JAYA JUSCO's aim was to grow with the people of Malaysia through the transfer of expertise from Japan to Malaysia and human resource development, two factors which would contribute greatly to the progress of Malaysia.