Page 27 - E-BOOK PULSE@FASS ISU NO.02/2023

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ALUMNI VOICES SERIES
AA L L U M N I I V O I I C E S S E R I I E S
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FASS Alumnus, International Relations, Class of 2009
From International Security to Social Security
by Mohd Ezuan bin Yaacob
their acceptance into UM). Seeing these two interact gave me a
whole new meaning to the saying ‘tak kenal, maka tak cinta’ (if you
don’t know, you cannot love).
Throughout my university journey, I discovered the value of having a
small circle of extremely close friends, most who were not only there
for me during good times but also during the toughest moments of
my young life. Up till today, these people will still go out of their way
to help me when I’m in need.
Meeting the love of my life at UM was another incredibly fortunate
and transformative experience for me. She continues to be the
wisest and smartest person I know, and is my greatest source of
inspiration and support. We were in a long-distance relationship for
several years while she was pursuing her postgraduate studies
before tying the knot. Marrying her is the best decision I’ve ever
made. Other things, I wasn’t so sure about. Even though I had
always dreamed about being a diplomat, the more I studied this field
I was born in Alor Setar in 1986 to a Kedahan father and an and the more experiences I had with actual diplomats, the
Iban Sarawakian mother. I spent my formative years in more I began to question whether the life of a diplomat was
Korea, where my father served in the Military Attaché office truly the right fit for me. Towards the tail end of my Masters,
at the Malaysian Embassy in Seoul. Even though I I realized that my interests had shifted.
eventually returned to Malaysia with my family, embassy life
left a lasting impression on me and this was what inspired After graduation, my first job was at EON Berhad as a
me to study diplomacy and international relations. Management Trainee, before transitioning into the Business
Development field within the Automotive Distribution
My dream came true when I got accepted to pursue a division of DRB-HICOM. In this role, I had the opportunity to
Degree in International and Strategic Studies at FASS UM in work closely with various international automotive
2006. I minored in English, and I also studied French – companies such as Volkswagen, Audi, and Honda.
where I learned that words can be either masculine or
feminine depending on context. I graduated in 2008, and
continued my studies at the Asia Europe Institute, also at
UM where I completed an International Masters in ASEAN
Studies in 2011. During my Masters, I also had the
opportunity to carry out an internship at the ASEAN
Secretariat in Jakarta.

While at UM, hostel life exposed me to a melting pot of
cultures and backgrounds. Living under one roof with other
people with different values, beliefs, and experiences truly
opened my eyes to the beauty of diversity. My first
roommates were from Terengganu and Sarawak – one had
a thick ‘Ganu accent that no one could understand, and the With my lecturers and classmates at the Department of International
other had never even been to Kuala Lumpur before (up until and Strategic Studies, FASS UM

PULSE invites alumni members of FASS to share with us their share of history and the amazing things they have
done since graduating. Please send your articles directly to vilasomiah@um.edu.my (Dr. Vilashini Somiah, Co-
Editor- in- Chief), vandana@um.edu.my (Dr. Vandana Saxena, Co-Editor-in-Chief) or nadhwah@um.edu.my (Ms.
Nadhwah Tul Iman Mizam, Asst. Ed-in-Chief).
We are also open to receiving donations and any feedback, suggestions and questions as well.

27 | Pulse@FASS