Q & A About PTD: Permohonan Jawatan PTD dan Kelulusan

Question received via email dated 22 February 2017:

Salam saudara Saupee. I hope you are able to help with some questions here.

1. Is there any age restriction for us to apply for the PTD Post. (say at 41). 

2. To become a diplomatic officer and work with the embassy / wisma putra / foreign ministry, is PTD the only post that we can go for or is there any other post for an International Relation graduates can apply for.

Thank you very much in advance if are answering my mail.

May allah granted barakah to you and family.

Mxxxxxxi binti xxxad

Anwer:

Hello Mxxxxxxi,

1. As far as I am aware, there is no age restriction to apply for PTD post. As a general rule, the applicant must have at least a bachelor degree recognised by Public Service Department of Malaysia or known as JPA;

2. The PTD post, though it is known as Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik or Administrative and Diplomatic Officer, it actually does not automatically carry a "Diplomatic" status. The diplomatic status is a credential accorded to an officer by the government to serve in a foreign country which the both countries have an official bilateral diplomatic relation. It is governed under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. A Diplomat works with the embassy, that is under the purview of Foreign Ministry and majority of them are PTDs. That is the privilege of being a PTD officer. Thus, a diplomat may also be appointed from other service scheme such as a military personnel, a policemen, an immigration officer etc. All diplomats work for and answerable to the Head of Mission who are the officers from the Foreign Ministry.

In regards to your academic qualification, having the IR certificate may earn you some plus points for consideration when you chose your preferred ministry. But, please be reminded that you may not get what you want. A PTD officer can be posted to anywhere and anytime depending on the situation and the government's priority.

I hope the answer has enlighten your doubts and I encourage you to apply for PTD post if you keen to serve the country!!!

Income RM10k A Month But Still Driving Grabcar

22 February 2017

Two nights ago, I took the ride sharing service Grabcar from Wangsa Maju to my home after arriving from KLIA by ERL and LRT. It was around 10 minutes to 12am. The app showed the fare would be around RM7.00 for the trip. 

While the app was searching drivers nearby, the first driver Ahmad appeared on my phone's screen but the ping was unsuccessful. I think the driver ignored my ping. Second attempt, driver Chang emerged. It took a while before a pop up screen showed "Yeay, we found a driver..." The profile of the driver stated he drives Honda Insight car. Woww not bad!!!

In less than 5 minutes, the driver arrived to pick up me. I got in the car. I praised him for the cleaned car, being "rajin" and driving in the midnight. I sat on the front passenger seat and we headed to the destination. 

While driving, the driver Chang spoke non-stop. "Nowadays, life is difficult lah. Everything is expensive. Since GST, our money become less and less. Our country bla bla bla (all negative things lah). We should follow Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia....." I chipped in "Do you know, all these countries have GST....and their rates are higher than us?" Silent. No reply from the driver.

I then suggested to him to apply for BR1M and inform him that it could help easing his financial burden. "Where got qualify! It's for the poor! My household income is more than RM10k a month." He continued "You know, I am forty three already. Got so much commitments to pay, children's education, insurance, car, house...our income not enough! That's why I do part time Grabcar during the night. I also have a job....My car need to be maintained regularly. Every night, I drive 300km."

Moral of the story from this story:-

1. Income of more than RM10k still not enough to certain people.

2. Big income big crust (literal translation of Malay proverb).

3. Some regard RM7 is nothing. Some regard RM7 is something.

4. Everything want to blame the government.

5. Never thankful that Malaysia is a prosperous country which you can do anything to supplement income.

6. Bersyukurlah wahai umat Malaysia tetapi jangan makan dan beri rasuah.

Okay, I have a meeting on the 9th floor.

#writingwhileoutstationputrajaya

Bribery Perception

16 February 2017 - I had a new insight today. I had a chit chat with one of my subordinates today. It's how people from a faith other than of mine perceive the act of "give and take" involving money and services rendered a.k.a. willing taker and willing giver of a bribery act. The staff said, it is not wrong to accept money if the giver willingly offer to pay money for a speedier service by a government staff. 

I'm trying not to make a connection of  this perception to any religion because I have a strong belief that all religions reject bribery. When I disputed that staff about this teaching belief, the staff further said their upbringing accepted this practice and it is not abnormal paying a staff/officer, either to the government servant or private company employee to get their application processed faster.

I just couldn't believe myself that such belief actually exists. We debated about this perception and presented examples to support our arguments. Lastly, my staff said to me "Sir, you won." and left my room and punched out the attendance card. 

My gut tells me, I won maybe because I am the boss.