Page 26 - Diplomatic Voice Vol 4

NEWS Executive Officer of Sultan Kedah). In her Address, Her Malaysia Airlines Royal Highness said that “Perlem- and Dato’ Dr. Affi- bagaan Malaysia ditulis berlatarbe- fudin Omar, Pro- lakangkan tamadun dan peradaban Chancellor of Kolej Alam Melayu. Maka itu, saya melihat Universiti Insaniah pertemuan kita ini bukan sebagai satu were speakers at pertemuan akademik tetapi juga satu the seminar. pertemuan budaya. Budaya Melayu yang berevolusi dari zaman silam The presentation of hingga ke hari ini. Evolusi inilah yang papers was spread meletakkan keabsahihan atau legitima- Kamaruddin Wan Ali, Department of over two days and was chaired by Tan cy kepada institusi-institusi ketatane- Aqidah and Islamic Thought, Academy Sri Dato’ Mohd Yusof Hitam; Datuk garaan kita.” of Islamic Studies, University of Aziz Deraman of Yayasan Karyawan; Malaya; Professor Madya Dr. Hj. Dato’ Dr. Awang Sariyan of Dewan The event was beneficial as the parti- Hashim Hj. Abdul Hamid, Academy of Bahasa dan Pustaka; Adjunct Profes- cipants were able to share their know- Brunei Studies, Universiti Brunei sor Dr. Dato’ Ghazali Dato’ Mohd ledge and enhance their understand- Darussalam; Professor Madya Dr. Yusof, also of ADAB; and Dato’ Md ing of the Malay civilisation. The par- Shamrahayu Abd. Aziz, Centre for the Hussin Nayan, the Director Gene- ticipants were made up of representa- Studies of Syariah, Law and Politics, ral of IDFR. tives from government agencies and Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia non-governmental organisations, aca- (IKIM); and Professor Dr. Nurhayati The seminar was officiated on the demicians and university students. Rahman, Universitas Hasanuddin, second day by Her Highness Dato’ Makassar. Tun Mohamed Hanif Omar, Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Chairman of PEWARIS-ADAB; Tan Sri Safinaz binti Tuanku Abdul Halim Dato’ (Dr.) Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Mu’adzam Shah, Tunku Panglima legal practitioner and former Chief Besar Kedah (Ahli Jemaah Pemangku Reflections: My Oman Contributed by Mimi Kaur Ramday Posting Order ing order. Finally, 10.30 am came and I least three years and was happy to was already waiting to be called to discover that Oman shares some I was summoned to the office two meet the Deputy Secretary General. similarities to Malaysia. days before I was to leave for a week- Ten minutes later and my life would long official work to Papua New Gui- never be the same again; I have been The first 100 days nea. The day was eventful; my father assigned to the Embassy of Malaysia was scheduled to undergo an early in Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman and Three months later, during the month morning operation and I was to be by was to leave in three months’ time. of Ramadhan, I arrived with my family his side when he woke up. After drop- in tow at the modest Muscat Interna- ping my parents off at the University The initial euphoria was shared with all tional Airport, Sultanate of Oman. The Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and my loved ones, while colleagues and date was 19 July 2014 and the most leaving my father in the good hands of senior officers congratulated on the significant memory of that auspicious his better half, I drove to work and good news. Some shared horror sto- day was the soaring 40°C temperature waited anxiously for the 10.30 am ries about their first postings while that greeted us on the tarmac. We we- appointment. others shared tips and exchanged no- re put up at the City Seasons Hotel tes on preparing, starting and survi- and spent our weekend by enjoying The morning went by in a flurry of ac- ving life abroad. For these valuable the beauty and serenity of Muscat tivities in the Protocol Department and advice, I can never thank them enough during its height of summer with the all I could think of was the impending especially advice given by senior dip- hope that the cooler weather will come appointment. This is the moment all lomats and supporting officers who soon! diplomats would experience on a re- once served in the Sultanate. In addi- gular basis throughout their diplomatic tion, I did my own research on the The first three months was the hard- journey; to be informed of their post- country I am going to call home for at est. As my better half was only with me 26 bulletin@idfr.gov.my