The Centre for Leadership, Negotiation and Public Diplomacy (LNPD) of IDFR had successfully organised the fifth SPKM series for the year 2021. The Pre-Posting Orientation Course for Home-Based Staffs and Spouses 5/2021 was held online from 25 October until 3 November 2021. This course was intended for officers of Grade 41 and above, together with their spouses, focusing on improving and expanding their diplomatic, administrative and social etiquette skills, as well as augmenting their skills and understanding international diplomatic practices that are convenient for their future postings abroad. A total of 101 participants who attended the course were among 56 Malaysian government officers along with 45 spouses of various ministries, departments and agencies. There were the Prime Minister Department, Malaysian Armed Forces, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Malaysia Police, Immigration Department of Malaysia, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Education (MOE), Islamic Affairs Department, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysia Investment Development Agency (MIDA), Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI), and Yayasan Islam Kelantan.
SPKM is a course which was designed to prepare the participants on administrative and management matters related to their positions and functions when they are allocated at Malaysian Missions abroad. They were subjected to modules such as Overview Malaysia’s Foreign Policy; Working as One; Grooming and Social Etiquette; Introduction to SPKM and Preparation for Postings; Benefits and Incentives; Inspectorate Matters; Management of Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) at Post; Protocol Matters Related to Foreign Service; Role of Spouses at Mission; Fine Dining, Reception and Official Entertaining; Enhancing Personal Security; Media Skills; Cross Cultural Awareness; Consular Work at Mission; Promoting Palm Oil Industry; Asset Management, Administrative and Security Matters at Mission; Malaysia Public Diplomacy, SPLN Accounting System; Auditing Matters; Financial Management; Promoting Malaysia as The Preferred Trade, Investment and Tourist Destination; and Integrity at Work.
There were also sessions on Enhancing Personal Security, Counter Terrorism 101 and Counter Espionage delivered by the Special Branch Division, Royal Malaysia Police, the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter Terrorism (SEARCCT), and the Research Division, Prime Minister’s Department.
Following the National Recovery Plan Phase 4 by the Malaysian Government, this eight-day course was held via Google Meet. Nevertheless, each session remained interactive where both speakers and the participants were able to engage with each other through lecture sessions, discussions and activities conducted throughout the course. The course secretariats also had provided several communication platforms that allowed the participants to communicate and address matters related to the course as well as to have access to the related documents for their reference.
In general, IDFR had helped the officers in preparation to be posted at the Malaysian Missions abroad. The Closing Session was held on the last day of the course where the Principal Assistant Director of LNPD, Ms. Norlela Samad, delivered her closing remarks on behalf of the Director of LNPD .
Prepared by:
Centre for Leadership, Negotiation and Public Diplomacy (LNPD)
