Page 2 - IDFR - Flipping Book-Diplomatic Voice 4

PROFILE OF PROMINENT PERSON Dato’ Hussin Nayan Director General of IDFR does it need to do to ensure young diplomats are prepared to tackle on issues? First, it has to start with preparatory programme for ofcers new to Wisma Putra. Secondly, Wisma Putra needs ofcers who are ready with the basic foreign languages competencies, have the right aptitude, willing to learn new skills, not averse to working hard and is open-minded to learn and understand the reality of diplomatic life and adapt to the situations they are not used to at Wisma Putra or at posts abroad. Diplomatic life is very demanding, therefore it requires resilience, measured self-assertiveness and discipline ofcers. Based on your experience as an Ambassador and Senior Ofcer of the Ministry of Foreign Afairs, Malaysia, what advice would What was your reaction when you What would you like the Institute to you give to current and future frst learnt of your appointment as be in future? diplomats? the new Director General of IDFR? I hope IDFR will be assisted in its Never stop learning and be brave in I welcomed the appointment partly attempt to ofer new courses and voicing out one’s thoughts without because it fts in well with my own programmes covering the political, antagonising others. The ultimate preference to be associated with a economical and social cultural subjects objective of being a diplomat is to training or academic institution after especially on issues currently being infuence others to your line of thinking. retirement. I had made up my mind to debated at regional and international share whatever little knowledge and fora. The new knowledge and insight What was the biggest challenge you experiences from 37 years of service to gained by Wisma Putra ofcials have had to overcome and how has the nation. So, it was a case of “pucuk through participation at seminars and that afected your life today? dicita ulam mendatang” and I thank conferences organised by IDFR would God and Wisma Putra’s management better prepare them to face current and The biggest challenge for me to team who were aware of my strong future challenges. overcome was to appreciate the pro-training and pro-learning attitude. simple fact that human beings are not How do you see IDFR and the role created equal and in reality it afected As the new Director General, what it plays in contributing to Malaysia’s me in the way that I had become are some of your expectations at Foreign Policy? more tolerant, more patient and more IDFR? forgiving towards others. IDFR has a primary role to prepare I have known for awhile that IDFR Wisma Putra ofcials to serve the What was your best experience as had indeed contributed much to the nation more efectively in the execution a Malaysian diplomat? upgrading of skills and knowledge of of Malaysia’s foreign policy. Wisma Putra ofcers. My predecessors To be greeted and hugged by a refugee were quite creative and imaginative Malaysia is becoming an important upon noticing Malaysia’s lapel pin on in their approach in establishing player in ASEAN, the United Nations, my jacket, as a show of gratitude for programmes at IDFR. I hope to and other multilateral organisations, Malaysia’s support and assistance. continue that tradition with the hope and this means we need to develop That single incident was forever etched that ofcials especially from Wisma more skilled, professional and in my mind and is unforgettable. Putra would continue to get the quality charismatic diplomats. Since IDFR is training they required at IDFR. the training arm of the ministry, what 2 bulletin@idfr.gov.my DIPLOMATIC VOICE 3