Majalah MARA360 - 04/21

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EDITORIAL

Publisher : Innovation & Creative Technology Division MARA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Rohayah binti Mohd Zain

Deputy Director - General (Management Services) MARA

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MARA360° editor’s council reserves the right to
Nor Zaini binti Abu Kassim amend, modify and work on manuscripts submitted
Director in accordance with the prescribed guidelines
Innovation & Creative Technology Division MARA and without changing the original content. All
manuscripts received whether published or not
MANAGING PUBLISHER published will not be returned. This manuscript
Jamizan bin Baki may also be used by the authorized parties for the
Deputy Director II foreseeable future. We welcome any suggestions or
comments, correspondences, articles and reviews to
EXECUTIVE EDITOR the editorial board or email to
Zuliana Haslinda binti Anhar Zubir [email protected].
Deputy Director I
Any queries should be addressed to:
EDITOR
Rusmawati binti Adam Director
Chief Assistant Director Innovation & Creative Technology Division,
4th Floor, MARA Headquarters,
CREATIVE 50609 Jalan MARA, Kuala Lumpur
Noor Leala binti Hussain Tel: 03 2613 2401
Assistant Director Faks: 03 2691 0075
Email: [email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHER
Creative Production

TECHNICAL AND ADVERTISING
Iswardy Adha bin Mohamad
Assistant Chief Information Technology

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1st March to 1st May 2021, are two exceptional
months for MARA employees.

For one, the 1st of March 2021 is MARA’s 55th Consequently, I came up with the idea of sending
Anniversary celebration. It was modest, to say the an email to all the MARA International Office
least, but meaningful just the same. Even though it Directors to greet and ask how they are and share
was simple, it was still able to bring MARA employees our conversations in this special edition created with
to reminisce together the efforts by MARA in them in mind, in lieu of the upcoming Eid and Labour
strengthening the values of the Bumiputera agenda for Day. Two significant days in our lives which are very
the sake of acquiring peaceful harmony of the country, meaningful for a working individual and a Muslim.
nationality & religion. We also managed to look back
at our history and observe the trials & tribulations for This is with the hope that this edition will help bring
the past 55 years since MARA’s establishment. the spirit of togetherness among all MARA employees,
wherever they are. Definitely, out of sight BUT NOT
For the past 55 years, every 1st of March is a out of mind.
testament to the commitment of MARA’s working
force to secure and strengthen the esprit de corp and MARA as an entity shall maintain excellence in the
devotion towards MARA and its ideals within the MARA eyes of the world.
community. Effectively, we are calling all MARA staff
to strive towards excellence in various fields. From the editor’s desk,
Rusmawati binti Adam
Thank you MARA. May you persevere in your strive MARA360° Magazine
for excellence and may Allah shower you with His
blessings always.

On the 13th of April 2021, we again welcomed the
holy month, full of blessings, forgiveness, and virtue.
This is when Allah grants rewards and compensations
specific to this month. Not because it arrives once
every year but because it is the month when the Holy
Quran was brought forth.

It is in this gracious month, while I was still feeling the
spirit of MARA’s anniversary, I receive a Ramadhan
al-Kareem wish from one of my former students.
Alhamdulillah, with Allah’s blessings, the individual
who was my student when he was in his teens at MRSM
is now a successful person in various fields. I always
feel a hint of pride as an educator and MARA officer
when I hear their stories, usually their experience
studying overseas, continuing their education via
MARA’s sponsorship programs.

Receiving news from former students has brought me
thinking about our colleagues who are working hard
to oversee our students’ needs and welfare overseas.
I am talking about our colleagues who are managing
the MARA Offices abroad. Especially during these
troubled times when the Covid-19 pandemic and news
of infections are a constant worry. It then crossed my
mind to reach out to our friends overseas to find out
how they are holding up.

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CONTENTS

MARA360° MAGAZINE EDITORIAL LENS
3

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS FROM MARA EGYPT
EGYPTIAN MEMORIES
6

GRUß AUS DEUTSCHLAND
GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS FROM MARA GERMANY
HALLO! FROM GERMANY
8

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS FROM MARA AUSTRALIA 12
G’DAY FROM OZZIE


GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS FROM MARA WASHINGTON
HI! FROM WASHINGTON
14

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS FROM MARA LONDON 16
HELLO MATE! FROM LONDON


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GREETINGS AND It’s still not too late for me to give an opportunity to
SALUTATIONS FROM convey your MARA’s 55th Anniversary Celebration
greeting?
MARA EGYPT
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the
55th anniversary of MARA to all MARA officers and staff
and for all to be given strength and everlasting spirit in
carrying out the trust to lead MARA to uplift the dignity
of the nation.

During this auspicious month of Ramadan, we would
also like to give you an opportunity to convey your
Ramadan wishes to all the MARA community?

On this occasion, I would like to wish a Happy Ramadhan
Mubarak to all MARA residents. Hopefully the presence
of Ramadhan this time can be filled completely with
spiritual contents in order to form the perfect soul of
the ummah in the pursuit of Divine pleasure.

We will be welcoming Eid soon, how is your preparation
in celebrating Eid this year? And may we have your Eid
greetings too?

NUR ZAIM BIN MOHD NOR ALDIN MARA’s Egypt Office is taking the moderate approach
DIRECTOR, MARA EGYPT towards the celebration of the approaching Eid
Mubarak on the 1st of Syawal. This is of course in
How are you doing, abroad in Egypt? lieu of the laws and instructions from the Egyptian
authorities. Preparations for the celebration with
All officers and staffs are in good condition and mood, Malaysian students in Alexandria, specifically with
fully committed to performing the tasks entrusted to the tenants of the MARA Hostel in Egypt, will be done
them. together as in the years before. Traditionally the Eid
festive food preparation activities will be conducted
The Covid-19 transmissions are still spreading across together in a family atmosphere to reduce the feeling
the world. How has work been affected by this of homesickness and missing our family members in
pandemic? beloved Malaysia during Eidul Fitri.

The work are being carried out in the new norms where On this coming auspicious day my wife and I would like
SOPs for COVID-19 epidemic prevention measures are to take this opportunity to wish all our family members,
always practiced at all times and given the highest friends, MARA Management, and all MARA colleagues
level of emphasis. wherever they are, a very happy Eidul Fitri. Our sincere
apologies from the depths of our hearts for all the
With the situation that you are facing there, work must wrong doings we have done. May this Eid be celebrated
be a huge challenge for you. How are you coping? with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness especially
Are you happy with how you handled your working as we ponder the difficulties faced by Muslims who are
situation? underpriviledged in welcoming the month. It is also
hope that we are able to forgive and be forgiven, able
We are happy with the current state of affairs and to put all discrepancies behind us and build a harmonic
consider this a challenge for us to contribute and serve and united environment between us in this new normal
the country. era.

What are your hopes and aspiration as a MARA Officer Labour Day is also round the corner this 1st of May.
abroad? We would like to hear a special wish from you to
commemorate this special day as a MARA Officer in
I hope that MARA can emerge as a leading agency in Egypt?
developing the nation’s building in the aspects of
education and entrepreneurship by expanding its role I would like to wish Happy Labour Day to all members
to all industry segments today towards producing future of the MARA community. May this year’s Labour Day
generations with commendable and competent human celebration ignites our spirit and enthusiasm in these
capital to lead society. trying times to do our job with a deeper passion, higher
productivity, more competitive willingness and a higher
priority towards integrity in our everyday work in an
effort to place MARA as the premier agency in Malaysia
that upholds the dignity of the Malays and bumiputera.

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EGYPTIAN MEMORIES

Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

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GRUß AUS DEUTSCHLAND

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS FROM
MARA GERMANY

NUR AHMAD FADHLI BIN MOHD NAIM
DIRECTOR, MARA GERMANY

How is everyone in the office?
MARA Office in Frankfurt, Germany, is operated under
the Consulate General of Malaysia Frankfurt. The
section here is divided into:

Currently, MARA Office only has one staff which is MARA working from home. The responsibilities of all agencies
Director covering the duties for the welfare of MARA here are not just for our specific job but also for
sponsored students in Europe and Russia. Malaysian people’s needs in Germany, especially in
Alhamdulillah, everything is fine here. Since the consular matters.We came to the office with strict health
pandemic, all agencies here still need to come to the procedure such as wearing a mask, social distancing
office even though the host government encouraged and communication online-based.

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How has work been affected by this pandemic? also like to give you an opportunity to convey your
We usually can meet students and universities face Ramadan wishes to all the MARA community.
to face. Due to the pandemic, all activities have to May Allah SWT bless us with peaceful and prosperous
go through online. Universities also until now apply life throughout the year. Salam Ramadhan to all MARA
online-based learning. Some students need attention staff.
physically, especially students that having difficulties in
online study. They need someone to talk face to face. We will be welcoming Eid soon, how is your preparation
Unfortunately, this hard to happen because lockdown in celebrating Eid this year? And may we have your Eid
still in force until the 2nd week of April 2021. greetings too?
Groceries shop and essential service like a hospital,
public transport services, pharmacy etc., are still open. Preparation for Eid celebration this year will definitely
People still not allow traveling depending on the be a little different. Currently the movement control
complete opening of the international borde order is still in effect here. Our MARA Office in Germany
are unable to conduct visits to meet students as in
Are you happy with how you handled your working previous years because of this situation. With that
situation? in mind, the Malaysian Consulate General Office in
In the beginning, it’s a little bit hard for the adjustment Frankfurt and MARA is planning to organize a mass
to life, especially in European countries. Now, it is a New Eid prayers session via video conference. Students and
Norma. other Malysian nationals in Germany will be able to
We usually can meet each other in the office; however, follow the prayers live. Gatherings with the consulate
even all agencies working in the same building, we still staff may not be held either, since up to this moment,
meet through online and sometimes face strict health regulations state that only small gatherings that involve
procedures (wearing a mask and physical distancing). no more than 2 families and no more than 10 people
I can’t say pleased with the current situation, but I need are allowed.
to be strong as a courage for the students and Malaysia
community here to stay strong. Always ready to be a The call for the coming Eid brings about a sad note,
good listener to them. with greetings conveyed as a gesture of rememberance.
Now, with the approaching month of Syawal, my family
and I would like to ask for forgiveness for all our wrong
doings. Happy Eid to all MARA staff?

What are your hopes and aspiration as a MARA Officer Labour Day is also round the corner this 1st of May.
abroad? We would like to hear a special wish from you to
commemorate this special day as a MARA Officer in
MARA is a journey. No matter how far you are, the Germany?
combined effort of each individual will turn to great
success. Continuous learning culture and innovation Let us inculcate the principles of trustworthiness,
will make MARA abroad more competitive. accountability and integrity in our work ethics together.
I hope students keep strong and stay focus in study. Yes, This will ensure the development of a work force with
we agreed that students have difficulties maintaining noble virtues that will continue to contribute towards
the study’s focus but have to try their best. May Allah the nation’s progress. Happy Labour Day.
grant them ease, courage and strength.

During this auspicious month of Ramadan, we would

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HALLO! FROM GERMANY

Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

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GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS
FROM MARA AUSTRALIA

Are you happy with how you handled your working
situation?

Unfortunately, work-from-home is not in the menu but
nevertheless, keeping in mind positive attitudes has
given me the strength and will power to manage my
work accordingly.

What are your hopes and aspiration as a MARA Officer
abroad?

I consider myself as a ‘lone wolf’, serving my duty as a
MARA Officer in Australia with no call for ‘back-up’ at
the moments notice. With that notion, I hope my MARA
comrades-in-arms will always be supportive of me in
any way possible.

Please take this opportunity to wish the welcoming of
Ramadhan to all MARA staff?

We would also like the directors to provide us with
images of them with all the overseas MARA staff who
are bearing responsibilities for MARA abroad. We prefer
images of MARA directors and officers on the field,
performing their duties, which will provide us with the
environment most unique to the country they are at.

We will be welcoming Eid soon, how is your preparation
in celebrating Eid this year? And may we have your Eid
greetings too?

AHMAD ZURIAT BIN DATO’ AHMAD TEJUDDIN It will be a moderate Aidilfitri for this year, in
DIRECTOR, MARA AUSTRALIA remembrance of my beloved mother who had departed
peacefully recently. However, MARA Australia will
How is everyone in the office? continue its tradition of Aidilfitri Open House with our
Alhamdulillah, everybody is fine and in good health. dear students and Consular members.
How has work been affected by this pandemic?
Since the pandemic had hit Australia beginning March MARA Australia wishing Warga MARA a joyful and
2020, MARA Australia has always been on alert, 24/7, meaningful Aidilfitri. To cherish and be grateful of being
monitoring MARA Sponsored Students movements among the loved ones in times of pandemic, An Era To
around Australia and New Zealand. Consistently keeping Remember.
tab on recent development and standing orders imposed
by Malaysian,Australian and New Zealand Governments. Not to be left out, Labour Day 2021 is just about here,
while we are observing fasting in Ramadan. What would
you like to say to all our MARA colleagues all over the
world, in conjuction of Labour Day?

In conjunction of the coming Labour Day,MARA Australia
would like to congratulate Warga MARA for having a
sense of perpetual success, to serve with honour, dignity
and trust.

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G’DAY FROM OZZIE

Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

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GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS
FROM MARA WASHINGTON

flexible working hours in line with the current local law
enforcement during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It must be a great challenge to work in a pandemic
situation such as this. How do you face these challenges
and still be able to do your job well. Are you satisfied
with what you have achieved so far?
We are so thankful for the assistance and support
we received from the MARA Administration and also
from the Malaysian Embassy, particularly during this
pandemic, which has helped ease our situation. We are
able to smoothly complete our duties due to that. In
fact, all the difficulties that we faced were dealt with as
a dedicated team.

What are your hopes and aspiration as a MARA Officer
abroad?

MAIZATUL AKMAL BIN MOHD I really hope that the Student Sponsorship Programs
DIRECTOR, MARA WASHINGTON to the United States that has been running since 1976
will continue so as to produce more quality human
capital among the Bumiputera. The US offers world
class universities, especially highly ranked universities
in various fields with the latest technologies. I am
honored to be given the opportunity to manage our
students’ needs and welfare towards fulfilling MARA’s
vision and mission.

How are you and all our colleagues at MARAWashington? Even though MARA’s 55th Anniversary celebration has
passed, the team spirit among the MARA community is
We are so grateful to Allah, for with his blessings, every still felt. Can we have a greeting from you, special from
staff member here at MARA US Office is in good health Washington to all MARA employees wherever they are.
and are doing fine. I would like to wish Happy MARA Day to all MARA staff.
May this special day, celebrated every year, be a day
It is reported that the number of Covid-19 cases are when we can reflect on ourselves and all of MARA’s
alarming over there. How are you dealing with this continued efforts to strive for excellence among the
situation? Bumiputera. It is hoped that we will continue to be
inspired and granted the strength to continue our strive
The pandemic has definitely affected our duties here. for religion, Malay nationality and country.
Most of them are done virtually, particularly the
programs involving students and universities. The A Ramadan kareem greeting would definitely mean so
education modus operandi is a hundred percent online much if it comes from you, too?
and also hybrid where it utilises both physical presence
and virtual lesson via online. The offices here, as with Have a wonderful welcoming of Ramadhan 1442H.
the universities, practice working from home, which Make this Ramadhan a catalyst to increase our spiritual
means interactions are limited via phone calls, emails, strength and focus on giving our best not only religious
and virtual meetings. wise, but also in our work responsibilities. Take this
opportunity to increase our religous practices so that by
The Malaysian Embassy in Washington D.C. has from the end of the month we will be better Muslims.
time to time put up a directive and instructions regarding
SOP practices when conducting your duties along with How is the preparation for the arrival of Eid coming
along?

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Obviously during this new normal era, the MARA family
along with students and other Malaysian nationals will
just keep our preparation for the eid celbration to a
smaller scale. What with the limitations and SOP’s that
are in order.
Can we also get an Eid Mubarak greeting from you
which would also mean so much to us over here?
Eid Mubarak to all MARA staff. May this year’s Eid
provides us with with happiness, and that we all be
blessed by Allah. We, the MARA US family would like
to ask for forgiveness for all the wrong doings we have
done.
Not to be left out, Labour Day 2021 is just about here,
while we are observing fasting in Ramadan. What would
you like to say to all our MARA colleagues all over the
world, in conjuction of Labour Day?
Have a Happy Labour Day celebration for the year 2021.
May this day will motivate us as employees to inculcate
excellence and strive for improvement in the quality of
our service for our community and country’s prosperity.

HI! FROM
WASHINGTON

Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

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GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS
FROM MARA LONDON

with them via platform like WhatsApp groups, Microsoft
Teams, Zoom and Cisco-Webex. Despite the pandemic,
MARA London is able to welcome the arrival of 120 new
students at Heathrow Airport with the Covid-19 secure
rules in practiced.

Are you happy with how you handled your working
situation?

Our main focus and core business is a managing the
students, building up a good rapport and networking
with the universities and exploring opportunities which
will benefit MARA and the students.

ROHIZAL BIN MOHD RADZI Of course, there is still rooms for improvement in
DIRECTOR, MARA LONDON delivering our services to the students in this trying
times. Our priority is to maximise the happiness of our
How is everyone in the office? sponsored students and minimize the complaint from
them. If the students are happy, it will help to contribute
to their study performance and we will be happy as well.

ALHAMDULILLAH MARA London is doing good and still ALHAMDULILLAH we got a strong support system from
enthusiastic in delivering our service to 1,275 students the seniors and Malaysian community in each and every
in all over UK and Ireland. part of this country, thus enabling our new students are
How has work been affected by this pandemic? able to rely on the community should they face issues
Looking at the current situation, it seems like the trend particularly during the lockdown where MARA London
of positive cases is decreasing and it is quite promising cannot simply travel out from London.
that we can go back to normal operating soon. To date, In addition, we had hosted a series of sharing session
more than 40K people in the UK had vaccinated under with regards to mental awareness and we are working
the UK national vaccination roll out program. The daily closely with selected students’ affair office in various
cases in the UK were used to be almost 80K daily but universities in the UK to ensure our students are in
now it is about 3k per day. good and healthy state of mind. We also took part in
We are looking forward to doing a lot of face-to-face establishing TALIAN KASIH MERCY by MERCY Malaysia
engagement with the students, networking with the UK which offers a platform for the Malaysian especially
universities and explore any potential collaborations students in the UK to talk to someone when they need
with the local industries to set up greater possibility for someone to talk to.
industrial attachment in the UK. In term of engagement with the university, a series of
For time being, to a larger extent, like everyone else, Teams meeting took place where university will update
we need to work in the new normal; currently we are with the new rules and regulations will be implemented
working with two bubbles which alternately from home in their respective university.
and working in the office to adhere to the government’s Since this country already announced their lockdown
advice in order to curb the rising infection rate. However, roadmap, we are optimistic that the operation will get
as far as daily operations is concerned, we need to be back to normal soon. It is more promising when they
at the office more frequent especially when it comes to pledged no earlier than 21 June 2021, the government
tuition fees and students claim payment. of UK hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits
In managing students, even though it is quite on social contact which we can visit our students and
challenging with the students who are scattered all host a lot of series of engagement.
over the UK and Ireland, we are still able keep in touch

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year we cannot celebrate Hari Raya with our beloved
What are your hopes and aspiration as a MARA Officer family again in kampung as our sacrifice today is for the
abroad? better future.

If we are looking at the current situation, it will take Not to be left out, Labour Day 2021 is just about here,
many years to be freed from the virus thus, like it or not while we are observing fasting in Ramadan. What would
we have to live with it. To move on, this requires us to you like to say to all our MARA colleagues all over the
think about many innovative and creative way to work world, in conjuction of Labour Day?
around the issues in ensuring students are well taken
care of and MARA will still continue its mandate. MARA London would like to wish Selamat Hari Pekerja to
I also hope MARA will champion and continue our role all MARA Staff. Give our level best for MARA and always
as a lead agency for Human Capital Development for strive for the best in the next 100 years. MARA BOLEH.
Bumiputera and the nation as what Tun Razak once
quoted “Kita telah lancarkan bukan Gemini, malah MARA
ke angkasa lepas dengan penuh harapan kapal angkasa
kita ini dapat membawa kita kepada kesenangan dan
kemakmuran”.

Can we also get an Eid Mubarak greeting from you
which would also mean so much to us over here?

On behalf of my team, I would like to take this
opportunity to wish Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to
MARA Management and to all our beloved colleagues
back home. Stay safe and take care. Don’t worry if this

HELLO MATE FROM
LONDON

Picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

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APPRECIATION TOWARDS
INTERNATIONAL MARA OFFICE

DIRECTORS.

MARA3600 Magazine Editorial Board expresses its deepest appreciation and gratitude to all the
International MARA Office Directors who have been very supportive and cooperating. The distance
between us has not deterred all of you in giving us your full cooperation to enable us to manage our
work smoothly over here.
It is hoped that we can expect this level of cooperation again in the future. I do apologize for any
inadequacies, intentional or not. The good is from the blessings of Allah where the bad ones are from
our own inadequacies.
All your efforts and deeds to help make MARA3600 Magazine’s 4/2021 edition a success are most
appreciated and will be remembered as valuable contributions.
May Allah shower you all with his blessings and grant you all that you need and more.
Thank you, dear friends. Last but not least, we will pray for your continued excellence in your concerted
efforts to provide for our MARA students and Bumi entrepreneurs abroad.

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Eid Mubarak
to all MARA staff

EDITORIAL

Innovation & Creative Technology Division,
4th Floor, MARA Headquarters,

50609 Jalan MARA, Kuala Lumpur

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