All new MFA officers begin by gaining foundational experience at MFA HQ before being posted overseas. I started in the Technical Cooperation Directorate (TCD), managing the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), which organises capacity-building courses for officials in Southeast Asia. Working with ASEAN partners and visiting our Singapore Cooperation Centres was highly rewarding, as I saw firsthand how my efforts contributed to regional development.
My experience in HQ prepared me well for my first overseas posting in Jakarta, where I was part of the Admin and Consular team. A memorable experience was flying to Bali just a day before Mount Agung, an active volcano, erupted, disrupting international flights. Alongside a Crisis Response Team (CRT) officer from HQ, we provided advice and consular assistance to stranded Singaporeans, ensuring their safety and well-being.
Following my time in Jakarta, I served at the Singapore Consulate-General in Johor Bahru. I assumed this post with my young family just two months before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The border closures separated families for prolonged periods, and our team worked closely with Malaysian agencies to successfully repatriate more than 350 minors and elderly Singaporeans stranded in Malaysia. Watching parents embrace their children after months apart remains one of the most heartwarming moments of my career. It reinforced our belief that no Singaporean should be left behind.
After almost 12 years with MFA, I can confidently say it has been a transformative journey for me, both personally and professionally. As such, I also encouraged my younger sister, Filza, to join. She has mentioned that her journey has been “memorable and humbling, with each stint offering a new challenge each time, keeping the job interesting, and enabling her to be more resilient and adaptable.” Now a seasoned officer herself with a few years in HQ and stints in Bandar Seri Begawan and Brasilia under her belt, her advice to aspiring FSAS officers would be “to be open minded, expect the unexpected and enjoy the experience. The knowledge you gain will broaden your worldview and allow you to understand the importance in pursuing Singapore’s relevance.” A career as a diplomat is unique. On a personal level, it has allowed me to provide my family with experiences I could never offer if we had chosen a “safer” path and remained in Singapore. It opens their eyes to a world far larger than any classroom.
