Page 16 - 01/2022 PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin

ALUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIES Issue no. 1 | 2022
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every nook and corner of the country, and I’m sure they I believe academia was already going through a series of
moulded our characters to be able to engage with people transformations in the years preceding the pandemic.
from all walks of life. Being active in student societies and Globalisation, access to international education, rapid
organising major events gave me exposure to the diversity adoption of digital technologies, diversity and inclusive
at UM and developed my leadership skills. Memorably, policies have significantly impacted how knowledge is
having led the effort to get Prof. Jomo Kwame Sundaram to valued and delivered. To be part of this compelling
one of our events, this was certainly one for the album. transition while working with leading institutions and
businesses has been an exciting new experience. The
In transitioning into the civil service, I learned that History pandemic has no doubt seen all of us facing
and international affairs are at the heart of every landmark unprecedented challenges. But intriguingly, it has also
global event as well as the many tragedies we see now and created timely opportunities for innovative approaches to
in the past. FASS and UM had the right people and an delivering education and more importantly, to look at life
engaging environment to nurture my interest in these through a new lens. Besides rapidly switching from the
disciplines. This setting provided me with a solid traditional teaching-learning methods, I have had to
grounding in understanding politics and how nation-states meaningfully engage with students on their mental health
work. Role models and a passion for government policies wellbeing. Being there for them outside the conventional
motivated me to join the Malaysian Administrative and role has been both fulfilling and rewarding.
Diplomatic Service (PTD).

Along the way, one observation stood out: UM graduates
occupied the upper echelons of our civil service and the
judiciary. So, being an alumna certainly had its benefits. It
was no different from the Oxbridge cartel of the British
system! After a couple of early stints in marketing and
teaching, I received the opportunity to apply, and
successfully got through the various steps, to become a
PTD officer.

For PTD officers, there is no shying away from attending
high-level government meetings, and dealing with the
prime minister, the cabinet ministers and industry leaders
from the word go. My highlights and perhaps a humble
legacy too were in being able to formulate significant
Final day of the Civil service, receiving my pensions papers from
national policies pertaining to advanced industrial and
Director of the Pensions Department, Y.Bhg. Datuk Yeow Chin Kiong
technological sectors, especially at the Ministry of Defence.
The satisfaction of being part of multilateral negotiating Thanks to the visionary leadership of various deans and
teams in the best interest of the nation is unparalleled. faculty members since its inception, FASS is heading in the
Leading policy and treaty delegations to ASEAN and other right direction for sure. The accomplishment has been
continents during my tenure as the Undersecretary of the evidently outstanding. Just look at the alumni spread
Defence Industry Division were wonderful opportunities to around the world. I would love to see research and
represent our country. Promoting Malaysia and presenting education strategies continue to evolve and transform to
papers at international conferences including DSA and suit the times and the global political-economic landscape.
LIMA and at round-table sessions globally have been FASS must continue to create high-value experiences for
experiences I can be proud of. both students and the faculty along with high-quality
research and publications. Critically, FASS must position
In my current role, doubling up as an academician and as itself to attract the best minds and to stay relevant and
the head of regional business development, I am sitting at competitive. I would also like to see FASS increase its
the other side of the desk, so to speak. Translating and internationalisation programmes through global
linking what is delivered in lecture theatres to real-world engagement, such as through student and staff mobility,
demands, including relating them to government policies, joint research and strategic collaborations. It is also my
closes the loop in my eventful career. It is always a proud wish to see a greater number of FASS graduates explore
opportunities beyond our shores. Also, to see more of
moment to see colleagues or research students occupying us
strategic positions and applying what they had learnt at return to contribute meaningfully to the growth and
one of your sessions. development of the faculty would be the icing on the cake.

16 | Pulse @ FASS