Here I am again, sitting at the airport. The same familiar pause before boarding: tired legs, full heart and a mind that’s still playing catch-up with everything that just happened.

Muafakat Games 2025 has just wrapped up in Brisbane. This was my first time joining and facilitating the event and truthfully, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I have attended many student programmes before but this one had a different kind of energy; one that felt a lot more personal.

From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this wasn’t just another sports carnival. It was a full-blown student-led movement with structure, heart and momentum. Malaysian students from all over Australia came together with a shared purpose: to play, to lead, to support and to connect. And they did all that and more.

I had the privilege of witnessing it all up close, the preparation, the stress, the early mornings and late nights and that feeling of “eh kita boleh buat ni sebenarnya” that quietly spread among the team.

I have to say, credit goes where credit’s due.

Dr Fahmi, Director of Education Malaysia Australia, gave space for this event to breathe. His trust in the students and his understanding of how important leadership opportunities are for their growth, really shaped how the whole thing unfolded. That kind of trust isn’t always easy to give but it makes a difference when it’s there.

To Hawa, thank you for being the quiet engine behind so much of what got done. You were dependable, thoughtful and always ready to pick up the slack without ever needing the spotlight. People like you keep things moving forward, even when it’s tough. And to Kak Dayang,  your warmth and presence made a real difference. You brought heart into every interaction and your care didn’t go unnoticed. Sometimes just knowing someone like you is in the room makes everything feel a bit more grounded.

To Mr Razin, the student advisor. Calm, efficient and quietly in control. I think a lot of people don’t realise how important that kind of steady presence is — but I saw it and I appreciated it. He did the job and he did it well.

As for me, I helped where I could. But honestly, I learnt more than I gave. I was reminded again that sometimes our role isn’t to lead every moment, but to listen, to support and to make sure others have the room to shine. I saw students stepping up in ways they probably didn’t expect from themselves. I saw mistakes turn into lessons. I saw growth in real time.

It reminded me of my early teaching days when my Year 6 students were about to sit for UPSR and I couldn’t bring myself to tell them I was leaving for the UK. I just wanted them to focus, to finish well. Sometimes, the best support is quiet. The best leadership is invisible.

To all the students who made Muafakat Games 2025 happen:

I hope you remember this week not just for the games or the medals, but for how it made you feel. The pride. The exhaustion. The small wins and the hard decisions. That’s where the growth is. That’s what stays.

I leave Brisbane with tired shoulders, a bit of a sore throat and a heart that’s quietly full.

I’m heading back to Perth soon. Meetings are already waiting, emails piling up as usual. But I’ll carry this one with me for a while.

p/s: Brisbane is amazing city!

Here I am again, sitting at the airport. It feels like a familiar scene by now. Whether I believe it or not, I was posted here at the end of September 2024, and now it is already the end of June 2025 which means I have been in Perth for about nine months.

In that period, I have travelled back and forth to Sydney more times than I ever expected. I genuinely thought I would not need to move around this much, that I could simply settle into one place and build my rhythm there. However, the nature of this role continues to demand that I am present in more places than I initially planned for and in ways I did not quite anticipate.

The past few weeks have been intense. There has been a constant stream of events to manage, people to lead and countless responsibilities to navigate whether in the diplomatic sense or from an educational perspective. It has tested me on many levels. Sometimes pushing me far beyond my comfort zone.

What I am realising, while juggling all these pieces, is how much I am learning about myself. I have discovered new layers of my own capability, resilience and adaptability. There have been moments when I genuinely doubted whether I could manage everything, yet somehow I did and that matters. It makes me wonder what else I might be able to take on in the future and what opportunities might lie ahead.

Dr. Kit came to stay with me in Perth for a quick seven weeks and during that time we managed to explore many places across Western Australia and even made a trip to Sydney together. While in Sydney, we met Dr. Sarah and her family, who was one of Dr. Kit’s former students. Dr. Kit also contributed meaningfully to several education events along the way and had the chance to meet some of my colleagues and friends, which made the experience even more memorable.

d how life will continue moving forward whether I feel ready or not.

P.S. Missing home but also missing the people along the way.

This week, I have just been trying to ease myself back into routine, mentally and physically after spending a short week at home in Malaysia. Funny how I did not realise how much I actually missed home until I was already back here in Perth. It was not a long trip but it was important. It reminded me of the kind of comfort that no other place can quite offer.

Since coming back, I have been picking up my walking habit again, early mornings and later in the evening. Nothing ambitious, just some quiet time to collect myself.

Then something unexpected happened over the weekend.

I was walking near Ascot Waters, same route I have passed so many times. But this time, out of nowhere, I spotted a dolphin. A dolphin! Just swimming around near the boats, close to the flats. It looked like it had lost its way, maybe strayed from the ocean, but there it was. Playfully circling in this strange, quiet part of the river.

It was surreal. So close, so real. I just stood there and watched. For a moment, the world paused. It felt like magic.

Maybe that is what I needed, a quiet reminder that even in all this adjusting and readjusting, there is still wonder around me. I just have to keep looking.

And yes, there is quite a bit to plan for the coming month. Things are picking up again and I really hope everything will fall into place smoothly.

P.S. I really need to focus on writing a bit more. That is on me.

Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve gone until you come home.

On the flight back to Perth now. I feel sad. I don’t know how to explain it properly. It’s a different kind of sadness this time.

I’ve traveled before. But working and living in Perth, it hits differently. Maybe it’s because I feel… older. Maybe it’s seeing my parents getting older. Maybe it’s just life moving forward.

The life I have in Perth, somehow, makes me feel like I’ve been leaving them for too long. When I meet everyone again, things are not the same. Maybe I’m not the same either.

But being home is always good. I had some time to catch up with my family which are my mom, my brothers and sisters. Mom looks sad. Maybe she feels the time too.

Managed to meet my teenage best friend, Rohaizat. And my closest friends Saiful, Hazman and a few more familiar faces. Felt like old times… but at the same time, not really.

One thing I really needed to do was to visit our old house. I went through some of my old stuff.nBoxes from so many chapters of my life: PTD training days, Kampung Kenang, studying in the UK, IPG years and a lot more.

It felt weird. Like, all those memories were just… sitting there, waiting. I kept so much. Too much maybe.

And maybe… it’s about time to let some of it go.bNot because I want to forget but because I need to make space for what’s coming next.

Balik kampung always reminds me of where I come from will always be part of me. But life, somehow, keeps asking us to keep moving.

And I guess… that’s okay.

P.S: Thank you Mak, Abah, Nasier and Hamidah, Anas and little baby El for sending me off at the airport today. Small moments like these mean more to me than I can ever say.

Believe it or not, it has been six months since I was posted to Perth, Australia. Time really moves fast, sometimes too fast and it still feels surreal. There are moments when I just stop and wonder if any of this is actually happening. But I guess that’s just how I process things sometimes.

What’s crazy this time around is how fast I’ve been learning. I mean, I’ve always said that I pick things up quickly but this time it feels like I’ve been on some kind of accelerated mode. It’s not just about learning new systems or routines, it’s about absorbing the culture, the rhythm of life here, the expectations and everything in between.

The real challenge though isn’t just the learning part. It’s about staying motivated to keep planning, to keep discovering, to manage time wisely, to think ahead and honestly to manage my own emotions and feelings. That’s a whole job on its own.

And now that it’s Ramadan, I realise that managing Ramadan in Perth is actually one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced so far. When I first arrived, I heard about the ongoing struggles with organising 30 days of iftar at Malaysia Hall. It sounded exhausting just thinking about it. So early on, I decided to take a different approach, one that would hopefully change the landscape a little.

I suggested the idea of forming a new kind of community, one that could unite both the Muslim community in Perth and the student community here. Alhamdulillah, it worked. They managed to establish a new group called MUSSWA: Malaysian Ummah and Student Society of Western Australia and together they’ve done an incredible job managing Ramadan at Malaysia Hall. From iftar to tarawih, everything has been handled with care, sincerity and teamwork.

One of the best things that came out of it was the opportunity to bring in religious officers from Malaysia not just to Perth, but also to our Malaysia Halls in Melbourne and Sydney. They’ve helped lead tarawih prayers and supported other Islamic activities around Malaysia Hall, creating a meaningful environment for both students and the local community. And honestly, it was beautiful to see.

Over the past six months, I’ve faced quite a few uphill battles, especially when it comes to managing Malaysia Hall. There’s still so much to be done. And I’m not going to lie, sometimes it gets overwhelming just thinking about it.

On top of that, there’s the responsibility of handling student bodies in Perth and across Western Australia. And then there’s the unspoken part: managing people’s expectations. That’s a big one. Because no matter how much you do, there will always be this quiet pressure that you should do more, be more, deliver more. And yeah, sometimes I want to. But I can’t make things happen like magic. That’s just not how the world works.

I believe in giving things time. I know I’ve done my part the best I can within these six months. But I also reflect a lot. And in typical me fashion, I tend to dwell more on the things I haven’t done, instead of celebrating the things I have achieved. Maybe that’s just how I keep pushing myself. Or maybe that’s something I need to work on too.

PS: But yeah. That’s where I’m at right now. Still moving, still figuring things out. And still learning, always.

 Wow, it’s already 2025. Out of nowhere, I think. I came to Perth in September, and since then, everything has been moving very, very fast. I’ve learned so much—new things, in a different country, and in the diplomatic world, especially focusing on education. The pace felt so fast before, but towards the end of the year, and now, early this year, I finally have a bit of time to reflect and think about what I’ve learned.

Here are three main things that I’ve realized from this experience, especially in 2024, as I move into the new year:

• Planning is crucial.

Planning is such an important tool. It sounds simple—everyone says, “Plan,” but do you actually do it? Do you write down what will happen for the event you want to organize, or for your life, daily routines, or bigger goals? Do you take a step back and see things from a helicopter view? Being here made me realize how essential planning is and how much better things flow when you really commit to it.

• Time moves so fast.

I mean, we all know this, but sometimes it feels like 24 hours is just never enough. Every blink of an eye, things keep moving. That’s why it’s so important to stay aware of what you’re doing. At the same time, it’s also a reminder not to waste time focusing on failures or negativity. Dwelling on those things doesn’t help. Instead, the best use of time is finding solutions and moving forward.

• Building relationships and trust takes effort.

Whether it’s with family, friends, colleagues, or even people you’ve just met, trust is the most important thing. But trust isn’t something you build once and then forget about. It’s a constant process, even with people you’ve known for many, many years. Relationships need nurturing, care, and effort, no matter how strong they already seem.

That’s all. I’m very glad that 2025 has already arrived. I feel excited to see what this year will bring, especially experiencing more in Perth. Hopefully, I’ll be able to achieve my plans, manage my time well, and build the right relationships along the way.

P.S. Perth is cool and simple.

It has been more than two months now since I arrived in Perth, Australia. Time really flies. Working with Education Malaysia Australia (EMA) has really made me see myself in a different light. Honestly, I did not expect this experience to be just about learning the culture here in Perth, but I also got the chance to travel to other places. I have been to Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, and every place had its own story and lessons.

What is really surprising is how much I have been able to push myself. I have stepped out of my comfort zone in so many ways. Socially, I have been able to connect with people naturally, deliver messages confidently, and just be present. These are things I was not so sure I could do before, but now they feel almost second nature.

One of the best parts of this journey has been working with students directly. In Perth, I have had the chance to guide and support Malaysian students here. But what is even more exciting is when I travelled to Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne—I got to meet student leaders and students from other states as well. It is interesting to see how they grow in their own unique environments. The great thing is, no matter where they are, they carry that strong sense of being Malaysian. They thrive in multicultural and multireligious settings, and it is inspiring to witness.

Another incredible experience was visiting universities—not just in Western Australia but in other states too. These visits opened my eyes to how the higher education system works here. It is important because when you want to support and connect with students, you also need to understand the system they are navigating. By learning more about these institutions, I feel more equipped to help and guide the students better.

What is even more exciting is the vision of my director—to create programs that bring students together across states and even across the country. Whether it is playing sports, having leadership workshops, or just connecting through shared experiences, I believe it can really open their minds. It helps them step out of rigid perspectives and embrace new ideas.

It has been a journey of growth—not just for the students but for me too. And I am excited to see what is next because this is just the beginning.

PS: Detect; Protect = Perfect