Page 23 - Diplomatic Voice Vol 4

FORUM NEWS provided useful insights to the other participants. One of the highlights of the course was a four-day visit to Sabah with the objective of understanding the mecha- nisms of the state level governance of Sabah as well as its relations with the Federal government. The participants also learned about racial harmony and the ethnic diversity of Sabah and Malaysia by visiting the Mari-Mari Cultural Village. They also experienced the flora and fauna and the natural resources of Sabah while visiting Kinabalu Park and the Borneo Marine The programme was packed with a The sessions held throughout the Research Institute of Universiti Malay- series of substantive sessions related course were interactive and substan- sia Sabah. to Malaysia’s foreign and domestic tive, in that it provided a platform for policies, Malaysia’s roles and in- Malaysia to share its knowledge and The course was seen to be a two-way fluence on the international platform experiences in various aspects and for interactive communication between as well as knowledge sharing by the participants to share their experi- Malaysia and the countries repre- Malaysian diplomats. During their stay ences and national aspirations of their sented. All in all, the participants found in Kuala Lumpur, the participants had respective countries. Among the the course and experience in Malaysia the opportunity to visit the Malaysian sessions were on Global Movement of beneficial and memorable. The les- Parliament and Putrajaya, with the Moderates (GMM), Association of sons learned during the programme objective of having a better under- Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), were ones that each of them would standing of the federal government Malaysia’s National Blue Ocean Stra- carry close throughout their lives as administration. Other study visits that tegy and the sharing session with future diplomats. were organised were, among others, Ambassador Aminahtun Hj. A Karim, to KL Tower, Kraftangan Malaysia, Deputy Director General of IDFR. The Malaysia External Trade Development participants also made their respec- Corporation (MATRADE) and Malacca. tive country presentations, which Effective Writing Skills 2/2014 The second series of the Effective Writing Skills 2014 course was held from 4 to 7 November. This course aimed to assist participants in writing competently and accurately through drafting, writing and editing the writing of others. The participants learned through interactive lectures, group discussions and presentations. The participants were from the Minis- try of Education, Ministry of Interna- tional Trade and Industry, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia, (BERNAMA), Federal Land Develop- Department of Standards Malaysia, ment Authority (FELDA) and Fire and National News Agency of Malaysia Rescue Department of Malaysia. DIPLOMATIC VOICE 23