Page 30 - IDFR-Diplomatic Voice Vol 2 2014

NEWS My Working Experience at IDFR Contributed by Syahrul Nizzam Nordin conferences, lectures and The event, however, went well. The talks have also increased auditorium was filled with former and my interests and passion current diplomats, foreign ambassa- in ASEAN and the region- dors, academicians, government al issues such as the officials and members of the media. South China Sea. Another achievement that I was very pleased with was being able to Working as a PTDE at arrange an interview session to IDFR was truly an ama- promote the book, where both Tan Sri zing experience. It Razali and IDFR’s Director General, creates, to me, a platform Dato’ Hussin Nayan were featured on for fresh graduates to find Agenda Awani, a slot in Astro Awani. a job, to gain knowledge Overall, I was blessed with the oppor- and experience and to tunity, with this experience. As I deve- build networking with loped my soft skills, knowledge, professionals from va- networking and attributes; because of rious fields. I was fortu- IDFR, I am now working at the Global nate to be placed under Movement of Moderates Foundation the Academic Studies, (GMMF) as a researcher. My ambitions Research and Publication have grown and I hope that one day, I Division. My colleagues can serve our nation as a diplomat. helped me in various ways, showing me the proper and formal way to write letters and e-mails, My experiences as a Part-Time Daily filing and how to deal with certain Employee (PTDE) under the Academic people. Throughout my year at IDFR, Studies, Research and Publication the hardest task given was to be in Division, IDFR were overwhelming and charge of the invitation list for the book thrilling, an experience of a lifetime. I launch of Tan Sri Razali Ismail’s book was a PTDE for approximately nine titled, A UN Chronicle. It was my first months, working specifically on Public time and I did not know much about Affairs which included conducting the protocol aspects. With the time interviews with distinguished figures constraint, I tried to cut corners and as and course participants; managing a result, made several crucial errors. IDFR’s Facebook account and web portal; writing reports of IDFR’s events and invited events; helped with research and compiling contents for the IDFR publications. Within the nine months, I was blessed with the oppor- tunity to meet our heroes and leaders, namely, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun. Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali; our current Prime Minis- ter, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak; Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin; the Foreign Minis- ter, Dato’ Sri Anifah Haji Aman; and Deputy Foreign Minister, Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin and former ambas- sadors/diplomats who have contribu- ted in shaping our foreign policy today. My knowledge on current global, regional and domestic issues expan- ded through the seminars and confe- rences that IDFR organised and co-or- ganised, or were invited to. These 30 bulletin@idfr.gov.my