PTD Exam 2013

Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik (PTD), or Administrative and Diplomatic Officer has always been my dream job, ever since I was still studying in school. Although at that time, I was still unaware of the scope of work of a PTD. It was my dad who introduced me the job. He had introduced me various occupations throughout my upbringing. And it evolved periodically as I got older. Starting from a doctor, to architect and PTD. 

My dream is to see the world from various perspectives as much as I can. By this, I want to travel abroad. That is why my dad keep motivating me to try up PTD. He is the backbone to what life choices I make today. 

That one week, everyone was talking about the PTD exam being around the corner. Everyone's been posting on Facebook, Twitter and other social medias saying that they were going to sit for PTD exam that coming Saturday. So I checked my e-mail. Nothing. No e-mail indicating any form of invitation to sit for PTD exam. Checked the SPA website. Nothing. I was devastated. But I pulled myself up, saying if God didn't want something to happen, then it won't. I've always believed in that saying. And I was fine.When I got home, I didn't have the guts to tell my parents. They found out anyway. Sigh~

If God wants something to happen, then it will. That morning, I checked my e-mail:

Alhamdulillah. I've no other word to say. I printed out the e-mail and produced it to my parents that night. They were happy. My dad especially helped me in preparing all the necessary knowledge for me to prepare in order to sit for the exam. He printed out documents on facts of Malaysia in terms of geography, politics and social issues for me to read and study. I too did the same. I also read blogs from experienced PTD exam candidates to seek for advise. By this, I will be prepared to sit for the exam. I hate surprises ya know? Especially those bad ones. That Friday night, I've been stuffing my head with roles of organizations i.e. MITI, FAMA, FELDA, FELCRA, MIDF, WHO, OIC, DEB...blablabla. I've no idea what'll come out in the exam, so it's better to be safe. I didn't really dig in what the organizations were. Enough skimming and knowing its objective of existence. That's safe enough.

The next day, I finally received an official letter. Enthusiastic level: Increase.

That Saturday morning, my dad drove me to SMK Agama Kuala Lumpur in Kepong, despite us getting lost for half an hour looking for the school. But I arrived on time. Even had a few minutes to discuss with my dad on current issues. Verrry academic.

The school

SECTION A: General Knowledge

Objective paper. On the whole, it was moderate. I cannot say it was easy, cuz it might sound like I'm a genius. LOL. Which I'm not. Sigh. And I cannot really say it was hard, cuz I didn't feel it that way. Naturally, I have weakness on certain topics. I tend to confuse on the roles of a Dewan Rakyat, Dewan Negara and Parlimen. Specifically. I know on basic what their roles are, but when the question is twisted, my brain too get twisted. Ya see, when your knowledge is at basic, it's hard for you to actually address the right answer to the right question. So to overcome the problem, roll the dice! Heh heh.
This part does not only question on local issues, there were global issues too. Like: Which Europe country was the first to go bankrupt.....EU... (can't remember the full question). But this, I'm confident that the answer is Greece. Greece is one the poorest country in Europe. And: Which country was the last to join ASEAN? I'm quite confident it was Timor Leste. But after discussing with my friend, I suddenly had doubts. I mean Timor Leste is the youngest country in the world, but does it make it the last country to join ASEAN too?  I'm so Google-ing this. Unfortunately, I cannot recall the other questions asked. Mind you, 50 questions to answer in 45 minutes? I didn't even have time to recheck my answers! What more to memorize the questions to share it here. 

SECTION B: Problem-Solving

Objective paper. Now this is a fun paper. Haven't been doing Maths for a long time now. Most of the questions were on percentage, mode, median and mean, multipliers, algebra, and problem-solving situations e.g A is taller than C. D is taller than B and A. Who is the tallest in sequence? I thought geometry was gonna come out. I've been memorizing its formula the night before. But it was a relieve, cuz I didn't revise the topic much.

SECTION C: Malay Essay
Essay paper. There were three choices of essay questions to choose from.

1. Gagasan 1Malaysia
2. How social media affect peoples' life today
3. How older generation contribute to younger generations' life

Number 1 is too factual. I wouldn't want to write on something I have less knowledge on. Number 3 was OK, but I was thinking, if I had a lot of knowledge on what older generations 'actually' did in history to elaborate, it would be better. But I didn't. So it's safer to choose something I'm most closest to: social media, question number 2. Oh oh oh.. Hear this! Hear this! One sentence I'm so shocked I actually wrote: ...merindukan ibu nun jauh di kampung halaman... (Oiii...apa skema sangat ni????). Okay, here's the cue to laugh out loud! I cannot erase the sentence! I can't even think of another sentence to replace it! Gahhh..I'm sure the person marking my paper will laugh his/her head off.

SECTION D: English Essay

Essay paper. The three choices of essay topics were:

1. Job satisfaction
2. University as a ground for employment..Elaborate
3. Do you believe in generation gap? Explain.

I of course, chose question number 1!!!! (what's with the multiple exclamation marks you ask?). I've been exposed to that topic for the past consecutive years. I've been attached to Job Satisfaction topics every semester! Thats, why I'm smiling all ears. But..but..but... How can I be certain that what I wrote will win the heart of the invigilator? Tawakal~

I managed to chat with a few people during break. Surprisingly, one woman aged 27 has no idea why she's even there for the exam. What more to make preparation by studying. And she doesn't even know what a PTD really is. When I asked why she came for the exam, and why she applied the job in the first place, she answered, "I just want to work with the government". And I was like goshh... when you wanna apply for a job, go study! (Well, I didn't verbally say that to her lah). Instead, I shared my knowledge by explaining what a PTD is. At least it would help me remind myself too.
Another lady happens to answer 2 questions in the BM essay paper. And I was like, where did she managed to get such convenient time to write 2 essays in one hour? She said, "One essay per page". Still, the instruction was: Answer one question only.
Another lady also answered 2 questions in the BM essay paper. Only her problem, she combined two questions into one essay.

Oh dear, should I feel sorry for them or should I get angry for missing out such important details? But then again, everyone make mistakes. Maybe they're just nervous. I mean, I myself may have made a mistake in the exam. Who knows? God knows. The person who marks my paper will know. *cross fingers*

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P/S: In relation to the last country to join ASEAN I mentioned above, I Google-ed. The answer is... *drum roll*.... Cambodia! A member since April 30, 1999. Timor Leste is not officially an ASEAN member yet, although they have already submitted their request to join ASEAN in 2011.

Okay, I can bang my head on the wall now. *sobs*

MIHAS 2013- A Decade of Excellence

It's been a long and winding journey~ (Guy Sebastian- Angel song for introduction).

Journey~ Journey~ Journ... 

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(Sorry, the song suddenly crashed).

Anyways, for those who are unaware. I was one of the main secretariat for the recent international event held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, KLCC on the 3-6 April 2013.

MIHAS 2013 celebrate its 10th birthday this year, with the tagline: A Decade of Excellence. (Well, maybe not so 'birth'-ey. But more like 'establish'-ey. Anyways, you get the point!)

I've been involved with the POLC (Business students, particularly Operations Mgt students, you must know this!) of MIHAS 2013 for the last 8 months. The first 5 months as an intern student. Then I had my break for 2 months.And the past month, I was back with the team as an officer.

It has been a rough journey. Organizing an international event is no small deal. Setting up the location, contacting international buyers overseas to participate in the event, arranging programs tentatively, portioning budgets accordingly, preparing handbooks, directories and tags for everybody, and all the many things (big or small) are ALL crucial matters. We've worked together with the government, semi, and non-government organizations, all for the sake of the success of MIHAS 2013.

The Opening Ceremony

Us main secretariats get the luxurious benefit of staying at the Seri Pacific Hotel in KL throughout the 4-day event. Know what that means? Primarily?...Good food. Jyeahhh baby!

Hotel foods usually get my compliments. Until now, I've never experienced bad foods served in hotels. So ya see why it's a heaven for me? *grin*. My usual 4-day breakfast would consists of a few mini chicken sausages, few chicken slices, an omelette, mini pancakes with syrup, few dim sums, a scoop of bread pudding, a bowl of salad, some fruits, a bowl of yogurt, few types of pastries, and some more of this and that. Noticed the word 'few'? Yeah, I'm not that monstrous to be attacking the whole foods served there ya know? I'm just filling my tummy with its necessity needs to survive the whole day. I'm sure you've heard the saying 'Breakfast Like a King'. No? Lunch was taken at KLCC, so we didn't have that luxury choice of foods cuz we were tied with a coupon-basis. But dinner... *evil laugh* was another feast for the tummy. And as a reward for overcoming yet another tough day.

So what really happened at MIHAS 2013? I was mainly attached to the Secretariat Room at the mezzanine floor. It has this fantastic view of Hall 1 and 2. My job specifically was to ensure the whole program runs accordingly, and to be ready at all times for any abrupt events. For example, *inhale* to make amendments for the VIP speech, printing out extra copies for forms, running to the neighboring Suria KLCC to buy some stationaries, stop by at Petrosains to say Hi to kindergarten kids, attending hours of meeting, go on a walking marathon to dispatch documents from Hall 1 to Hall 5, ensuring essential documents are available when asked, distributing food coupons to secretariats, and generally to keep everything in pace. *exhale*. While some of you might see this as an easy job, it isn't. For those who feel me, *offers handshake*, thank you.

On the whole, I am happy, proud, ecstatic and overwhelmed, despite being sad, aggrieved, angry and furious at the least time of event. There, I met a lot of new faces whom I never knew worked in the same building as I work. From familiar to recognition, from no name to name. From no friend to friend. And from never-spoken-to to chit-chattering. We laughed we grieved. But the most important thing is, we went through it together.

The first 3 days of MIHAS was opened to trade visitors. Which meant that local and international trade companies (non participants) come to MIHAS to meet or source companies providing the products or services sourced for. They meet, exchange business cards, make future appointments or business deals, or even purchase products showcased. Mind you, MIHAS is NOT an event where exhibitors would sell their products to visitors. It's an exhibition that showcases Halal products and services for the main purpose of trade. However, MIHAS does not restrict participating companies to sell their products as well. Usually, these companies will open up sales on the last day of MIHAS. This is because if they open up sales earlier, then they wouldn't have sufficient products to showcase to visitors. Lemme remind you, this is a trade event. Exhibitors come all the way from Brazil, France, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Korea etc. to make business and tradings, not to bring a cargo full of products to be sold.

Facts on MIHAS 2013

Participating companies:

• Local            :  286 companies
• International  :  177 companies from 29 countries worldwide

Visitors:

• Local            :  16,561 visitors
• International  :  1,299 visitors

The participating company/brand logos

View of Hall 1 & 2

In short, MIHAS is a good platform for existing and new entrepreneurs to bring their products/services into the international level. So if any of you intends to participate or visit this marvelous annual Halal showcase event, be sure to alert on the next date of MIHAS.


See you there! 

Enjoy our random acts.