Page 12 - Diplomatic Voice 2014 -3

NEWS had officers who were enthusiastic every Friday morning, the senior weaknesses and abilities. Their perfor- and fully participated in all the officers would have a session with the mance during the DiD programme programmes. This is what we target officers and they need to prepare the would mark their career path in Wisma for our diplomats. They were also reflection papers incorporating their Putra. But the pinnacle for the diplo- versatile. Of course there were differ- thoughts and creativity. We have a matic career is when an officer is ent achievers in different batches but panel comprising Wisma Putra and appointed as Ambassador. This not generally speaking, the majority IDFR officers for certain modules and only signifies recognition by the performed well. together, we evaluate them. Before the Ministry but also by the Government graduation, we have a certification and Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Q: What are the criteria that they have meeting which is also attended by to have in order to do their work representatives from the Public Q: One of the modules under the as young diplomats? Service Department and Wisma Putra programme is foreign languages. Will to discuss the results. We do give out that have an impact on where they are A: This applies to all officers and not awards to give recognition and as a posted later in their career? just the young diplomats from Wisma tool to ensure that they are serious Putra. A good officer must have the and focused throughout the A: Not at the moment, but I would right attitude and thirst for knowledge. programme. The award categories are certainly say that having another There are many good officers but (i) Top Student (ii) Leadership Award language would be an added advan- some are not committed. The basic (iii) Best Speech Writer (iv) Presenta- tage and certainly encouraged. During thing is the expectations of the tion Papers/Doing Emcee and (v) the DiD programme, participants superior officers and whether the Award for Best United Nations Securi- pursue different foreign languages, officers can fulfil those expectations. ty Council (UNSC) Simulation. For the namely, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish As they go up the ranks, they will be Best UNSC Performers’ Award, we and French. After they graduate, they able to learn but there must be invite international participants to have to make the time to pursue the willingness to do so. participate in the Regional and Inter- foreign languages such that they national Affairs module (RIAM) and master it. However, English proficien- Q: How do the Ministry and IDFR eva- evaluation is done by our former and cy should be their main focus and they luate the performance of the partici- very senior UN representative. have to continuously improve it. pants? Would you mind sharing the performance or evaluation process Q: Will their performance affect their Q: Do you have any professional and awards, if any? career path in the future; for instance, advice for our young diplomats? the placement in the Ministry and the A: The evaluation process is transpar- country where they will be posted? A: I would like to reiterate that they ent and objective. We have formal should have the right attitude, quest evaluation where we evaluate their A: We evaluate and prepare a report for knowledge and be committed to leadership, writing skills and research for each of them and send it to the their work. They also need to have papers. We even get the involvement Human Resource (HR) Department. integrity and accountability but those of our Distinguished Fellows to evalu- The HR department will decide their are not just for diplomats but for ate the research papers. In IDFR, placement based on their strengths, everyone else in the Ministry and IDFR. Reflections: Sharing of experience on the Dynamism of Culture and Diplomacy Contributed by Gloria Corina Peter Tiwet It was late afternoon on 18 December The HOC reassured her colleague that cially officers of the Ministry for 2013 when the Head of Chancery she would inquire on the matter with Foreign Affairs are part of a diplomat’s (HOC) received a call from a colleague the Head of Police Unit in charge of nature of work in fostering close from the office of Tourism Malaysia, diplomatic missions in Stockholm. It bilateral relations and at an opportune Stockholm. A familiar voice was at the may come as a coincidence that just a time, assured preparedness for any other line with much urgency and few weeks before, the HOC had lunch eventualities. anxiety, “Our director and his wife with the Head of Police Unit and his have been taken by two unidentified officers, which now seems timely. Minutes later, at the assurance of the individuals and we are worried that Establishing and maintaining close Head of Police Unit, a patrol car went they may be kidnapped.” contacts with agencies of the host to the Tourism Malaysia’s office and country, such as the police and espe- confirmed that the director of Tourism 12 bulletin@idfr.gov.my