On 6 November 2026, I had the opportunity to share a little part of my journey through education, teaching and leadership at Kelas Dunia: Dari Kampung Kenang, Perak ke Kasoa, Ghana dan Terus Melangkah, organised under the Telaah programme by the International Relations Division (BHA), Ministry of Higher Education.

I was genuinely happy with the turnout and more importantly, the energy in the room. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together, listening, responding and sharing their thoughts. I was particularly excited when the conversation moved towards stories about schools, my experience in Ghana and the journey through the PTD training programme. These were not just stories from different chapters of my life, but experiences that have shaped the person I am today.

As I went through the presentation, I revisited some of the milestones that I have always held close to my heart. From my early days as a teacher in a rural school to my experience in Kasoa, Ghana and later my journey in the public service, each chapter came with its own lessons.

Of all the achievements I shared, winning the Prime Minister's Best of the Best APICTA Award in 2011 remains particularly special to me. It was an unexpected milestone for a teacher working in a rural school, whose work began with a personal blog and a simple desire to share ideas about education. Receiving the award from the Prime Minister himself remains one of the most memorable moments of my journey. It is an achievement I will always be proud of.

I also shared the stories behind my three books in the Life Through My Eyes series. Each book represents a different phase of my journey: teaching, my experience in Ghana, and eventually moving into leadership and public service. Looking back at these books reminded me how much can happen when we take the time to document our experiences.

One of the highlights towards the end of the session was an activity where everyone was invited to share the title of a book they had written or would like to write. I genuinely enjoyed listening to the different titles. Some were creative, some were intriguing and others were deeply inspiring. It was a lovely reminder that everyone has a story worth telling, even if it has not yet found its way onto a page.

My heartfelt thanks go to Bahagian Hubungan Antarabangsa (BHA) for providing me with the space and opportunity to share my journey. I am equally grateful to everyone who took the time to attend, listen and participate. Your presence made the session much more meaningful.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in moving forward that we forget to look back at how far we have travelled. Today gave me a good reason to do just that.

From Kampung Kenang to Kasoa, Ghana, to Perth and back to Malaysia, the journey continues.

And perhaps, there are still many more stories to tell.

P.S. To everyone who shared their book titles during the final activity, I hope those ideas will one day become books. I would love to read them!

I would like to invite you to join me for an upcoming session of Telaah KPT, organised by the International Relations Division (BHA), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.

Titled “From Kampung Kenang, Perak to Kasoa, Ghana and Beyond”, the session will be a sharing of my personal journey through education, teaching and leadership, from my early days in Kampung Kenang to my experience teaching in Ghana and the journey that followed.

Through my Life Through My Eyes book series, I have documented some of these experiences, lessons and reflections along the way. This session will be an opportunity to revisit those moments, share some stories and reflect on how our experiences can shape the way we see education, leadership and life itself.

If you are interested in education, international experiences, personal growth or simply enjoy listening to stories about life’s unexpected journeys, I hope you will join me.

Event Details

⏰ Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon

📍 Venue: Sudut Telaah, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (KPT) Lobby

I look forward to sharing this journey with you and, hopefully, exchanging ideas and perspectives along the way.

See you there!

On 28 October 2026, I had the opportunity to be on duty at the Malaysian Parliament for the Dewan Rakyat sitting, representing the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). It was my first time attending the parliamentary sitting physically under the ministry, and I must say, it was quite an interesting experience.

This was not exactly my first experience with parliamentary duties. Back when I was serving at the Public Service Department (JPA), I had also been involved in similar assignments. However, that was during the COVID-19 period, when most of our work was conducted online. So, being physically present at Parliament this time was something different.

A few days before the assignment, I was actually feeling a little nervous. I kept wondering whether everything would go smoothly or whether I would run into problems along the way. It was a new experience for me under MOHE, and naturally, I wanted to make sure I could carry out the task properly.

To make the journey easier, I decided to arrange for the ministry’s official vehicle. I left the ministry at around 8.00 am and arrived at Parliament at approximately 9.15 am. After collecting my pass, I headed to the ministry’s designated room, where I met the officers on duty.

One of the officers kindly showed me around the building and explained a little about the arrangements there. It was nice to finally see how things work behind the scenes, rather than simply following the proceedings online.

We then made our way to the Dewan Rakyat chamber, where I had the opportunity to observe the parliamentary sitting. My main responsibility was to monitor the proceedings, particularly any discussions or issues related to higher education, and take notes for reporting purposes.

Beyond the official task, I found the experience quite fascinating. Listening to the debates, arguments and responses from Members of Parliament gave me a better understanding of how matters are discussed and addressed in the Dewan Rakyat. It was certainly different from watching the proceedings on a screen.

Alhamdulillah, everything turned out well. I also met a colleague from the ministry who was on duty, and we worked well together throughout the assignment. We managed to monitor the proceedings, take the necessary notes and prepare the report before submitting it to the ministry’s secretariat.

Looking back, I guess sometimes we spend too much time worrying about things before they even happen. We imagine all sorts of possibilities, only to realise that things can turn out just fine. For me, this was another reminder that new experiences may feel intimidating at first, but we learn by showing up and doing our best.

I am glad I had the opportunity to experience parliamentary proceedings firsthand. It was a good learning experience, and I came away with a better understanding of the work involved and the responsibilities that come with the assignment.

Another new experience, another learning opportunity, and another day to remember.

P.S. From attending parliamentary duties online during COVID-19 to finally being there in person. Quite a different experience, I must say. Haha.

I was introduced to something called breathwork by my friend Hawa, and I decided to give it a try. My first session was somewhere in Damansara and honestly, I did not really know what to expect.

We breathe every day, but we rarely pay attention to how we breathe. I never imagined that breathing in a particular way could bring about such different sensations. During the session, I could feel tingling in my fingers and feet, while my mind seemed to be rushing through all sorts of thoughts. It was almost as if my body and mind were struggling to focus on the breathing itself.

But somehow, I felt different afterwards. There was a sense of energy and I felt good. I am not entirely sure how it works, but I know how the experience felt for me.

Since then, I have also tried doing it on my own. There are plenty of breathwork resources online, including YouTube videos that combine breathing exercises with meditation, yoga and other practices. But one thing I have come to realise is that breathwork itself can be an experience worth exploring. We do not necessarily have to combine it with something else to appreciate what it offers.

Sometimes, all we need is to set aside some time, focus on our breathing and allow ourselves to slow down. In the middle of our busy routines, it is easy to forget to give our bodies that time to relax.

Today, 25 October 2026, a group of us decided to practise together, with Hawa guiding the session. I think having someone lead the session makes a difference, especially when you are still learning. It also gives us the opportunity to experience it together.

I am still new to this and I do not claim to understand everything about breathwork. But I am curious to see where this journey takes me. Perhaps, beyond the physical sensations, there is also an opportunity to understand ourselves better, to become more aware of our thoughts and to approach life with a different perspective.

I hope this practice will help me develop a different kind of courage, a better understanding of myself and perhaps a little more space to deal with whatever life brings.

Sometimes, we spend so much time trying to figure everything out with our minds that we forget to pause and simply pay attention to ourselves.

Maybe it starts with something as simple as breathing.

P.S. Who knew that something we do every day could become a whole new experience? Still learning, one breath at a time.

On 12 October 2026, I had the opportunity to attend the Listening to Taiwan – NTSO 2026 Asia Tour Concert at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, KLCC. This time, I was accompanying Bella, a colleague from the office. It turned out to be a lovely evening, although getting there was quite an adventure.

I left the office in the afternoon and headed towards KLCC, but it was raining heavily along the way from Putrajaya to Kuala Lumpur. To make things a little more stressful, I also encountered a minor problem with my car. At one point, I honestly wondered whether I would make it in time for the concert. Thankfully, everything worked out in the end. I managed to get there, found parking without much trouble and met Bella before we headed inside. Alhamdulillah!

And there we were, finally, ready to enjoy an evening of music presented by the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. I have attended a few performances at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS before, but somehow, being there always feels special. There is something about sitting inside the hall, waiting for the performance to begin, and watching the musicians prepare themselves for what is to come.

This concert featured works by different composers, including Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. I am not going to pretend that I know everything about classical music, but I do enjoy the experience of listening to a live orchestra.

Watching so many musicians perform together is fascinating. Every instrument has its own part, yet everything comes together to create one complete performance. It takes coordination, concentration and a great deal of practice to make it all work and when the music fills the entire hall, you begin to appreciate the experience in a different way compared to listening to a recording.

One of my favourite moments was at the end of the performance, when the musicians received their applause. It was lovely to see the audience showing their appreciation for the performers and the work they had put into the concert. I think this is one of the things I enjoy about attending live performances. Beyond the music itself, there is the shared experience of being in a room with other people, all taking in the same moment. For a while, everyone is simply there to appreciate what is happening on stage.

The concert was also a reminder of how the arts can bring people and cultures together. This was a Taiwanese orchestra performing in Kuala Lumpur, sharing music with a Malaysian audience. We may come from different backgrounds and speak different languages, but music gives us a common experience to enjoy. After the concert, Bella and I had dinner together before heading home. It was a nice way to end the evening, especially after the slightly stressful journey earlier.

When I finally got home, I found myself thinking about the experience. It was not a particularly complicated evening. We went to a concert, enjoyed the performance, had dinner and returned home. But sometimes, these simple experiences are the ones that make our days a little more meaningful. Life can get quite routine, especially when most of our time is spent working and dealing with everyday responsibilities. Having the opportunity to step away from that routine, even for a few hours, can be refreshing.

I guess I should make more time for experiences like this. We do not always have to wait for a special occasion or a holiday to enjoy something different. Sometimes, all it takes is saying yes to an invitation and making the effort to show up. I am glad I made it that evening. Despite the heavy rain and the little hiccup with the car, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Another evening, another performance and another memory to keep.

P.S. A little rain, a minor car problem and a concert I almost missed. Thankfully, the evening ended on a much better note. Literally. Haha.