Zainal, a 2020 graduate with a BA in Politics and
International Relations, is an Assistant Director at Malaysia's Ministry of
Investment, Trade and Industry. After completing an MSc at LSE, he worked
briefly at Ernst and Young before joining the Malaysian Administrative and
Diplomatic Service in 2022. At Kent, he developed valuable soft skills and
international interactions.
Tell
us about your career path since graduation.
After graduating from Kent in
2020, I pursued an MSc in Public Policy and Administration from the London
School of Economics (LSE) to strengthen my foundation for a career in the
Malaysian civil service, specifically the Malaysian Administrative and
Diplomatic Service (ADS).
Upon completing my master's in
2021, I briefly worked as an Associate Consultant with Ernst and Young before
joining the ADS in 2022. Currently, I serve as an Assistant Director in the
Regional and International Relations Division at the Ministry of Investment,
Trade and Industry.
What
does a typical work day look like for you?
I deal
with trade and investment issues on a daily basis. My scope of work mainly
revolves around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), of which I
oversee the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI). Although APEC serves as an
international economic forum that is non-binding in nature, it has exposed me
to the respective interests of all 21 APEC member economies, how the
international economy works and the role of geopolitics in determining trade policies. On another note, I am currently part of the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade
Agreement (MAFTA) team, serving as the Coordinator for Malaysia. Apart from work relating to the Ministry's core business, I am also required to carry
out general work with regards to finance, administration and operations, which
naturally cannot be avoided.
Can
you share a professional highlight from your career so far?
Although
my tenure in office has been short, I have experienced many moments of
achievement. Supporting the Prime Minister, Minister, and Deputy Minister on
international stages, drafting speeches and talking points, and writing Cabinet
Papers have all been significant. Seeing the outcomes of my work in various
forms has brought me immense joy and a sense of pride.
How
did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?
Kent
gave me the platform to interact with people of different backgrounds, learn
the subjects of interest via my degree and gave me exposure to a different
culture and way of life abroad. Through this, I truly feel like the soft skills
which I garnered have been equal, if not more valuable compared to the hard
skills I picked up whilst there.
What
advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to
get into the same line of work?
Be
open to different ideas, talk to as many people, seek advice when needed and
don't be afraid to put forth your ideas. Most importantly, strive for what you
want to do and always go for it.
Did
you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?
I was
the President of the Malaysian Society from 2018-2019, and regularly played in
the weekly futsal and football 5-aside mini leagues on Tuesday and Thursday
nights respectively.
Do you
have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?
The
time spent bonding with friends.
Is
there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?
I
would have made an effort to network more extensively and build more
connections.
Are
you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?
Yes I
am.
What
are your future ambitions?
To do
the best for my country, career, family and be the best version of myself.
