A Visit to Bank Negara Malaysia

Editorial Staff
Editor:
Nicholas Wong Mun Jone
Vice-Editors:
Natasya Elmi Bt. Mohd. Nawam
Valerie Thong Li Li
Design and Layout:
Ivan Tong Tian Shen
Derrick Lee Kwok Hong
Adrian Liew Jin Sheng
Photography:
Ivan Tong Tian Shen
Farhana binti Che Amani
Writers:
Aman Awaludin
Anne Esquerra
Chan Huan Yik
Cheah Wai Kent
Chen Ling Hong
Chong Lok Kong
Vince Choo Ung Hau
Lee Ser Yee
Nicklaus Lee Yen Shiang
Adrian Liew Jin Sheng
Lim Shu Yi
Maryam Saiful
Mirra Nabila Bt. Mohd Sukri
Muhamad Abdul Hakim
Nadeea Fardus
Natasya Elmi Bt. Mohd. Nawam
Ng Yen Ying
Omry B. Jaafar
Calvin Poon Kai Ming
Siti Munirah Bt. Zamani
Valerie Tong Li Li
Yong Mei Foong
Denise Yuen Pui Yee
Zaid bin Mohamed
Contributors
Muhammad Ikhwan Bin Masot
Chin Guan Hor
Chew Bernard
2
Dear FSTEPians
Firstly, I would like to thank Ms Haznan Bt Ali, Corporate and Student Services
Specialist and the members of the amazing editorial team who have worked alongside me to make this newsletter a reality.
Special thanks also to all the writers and soft skills facilitators for their wonderful
contributions. You certainly made our job a lot easier.
I would also like to take this opportunity, on behalf of Batch 8 participants, to
express our heartfelt gratitude to IBBM and FSTEP management for having managed such an excellent program! Without their diligence and attentiveness, none
of this would have been possible.
Batch 8, we are really fortunate to have been selected to undertake this program.
Almost all of our speakers – including more than a few prominent leaders – have
expressed how they wish they could have attended a program such as this before
they entered the workforce. There are not many programs out there where you
get the opportunity to listen to speakers of such high calibre such as the Assistant
Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia and CEOs of financial institutions.
I doubt I’m alone in saying that our time here at FSTEP will not be so easily forgotten. Because not only did FSTEP provide us with the platform to jumpstart our
careers, it has also enriched our personal lives. The many friendships and bonds and
memories that have been forged here will remain with us for the rest of our lives.
I would like to wish everyone at FSTEP an exciting and successful journey ahead.
FSTEP has equipped us with all the necessary knowledge and skills and it is now
our turn to contribute to the Malaysian financial services industry!
Editor’s
Note
Best wishes
Nicholas Wong Mun Jone
President’s
Message
FSTEP focuses on the practical and operational aspects of the financial services
industry in its program structure. This has certainly benefited us participants in having
macro- and micro-level perspectives of the industry.
The different types of exposure provided by FSTEP ranged from the Intensive English Course to Outward Bound School, and from site visits to Bank Negara Malaysia
to visiting the media houses, make it a truly great platform to develop dynamic and
versatile future leaders of the financial industry. In addition, participation in the BHP
Affin Orange Run and also community service programs to Rumah Penyayang Bestari
and Rumah Orang Tua Al-Ikhlas showed us that FSTEP places high value on not just
our professional development but personal development as well.
On behalf of the FSTEP participants, I wish to express our appreciation and gratitude for the endless opportunities given by Bank Negara Malaysia, Institut Bank-Bank
Malaysia, sponsoring financial institutions, FSTEP Management and facilitators. Special
thanks also to my fellow committee members for their incredible support and commitment in making our FSTEP experience an amazing one.
In the future, I believe that FSTEP will continue to strive to achieve greater heights
in developing well-rounded talents who will further contribute to the development
of the Malaysian financial services industry.
Sincerely
Mohamad Abdul Hakim Bin Mohamed Razip
President of FSTEP Batch 8
3
Do What You Love
I am glad to share some of my thoughts on the impending internship which is akin to
entering “the University of Hard Knocks”. It is a truism that your paper qualifications
have secured you thus far. But going beyond that, to succeed in one’s career, one has
to fall back on relentless hard work, innovative effort, stark perseverance and a winning mindset. Granted that there is no short-cut to success, if you possess the right
attributes and mindset, the opportunities to excel will be limitless.
FSTEP has equipped you with the relevant technical knowledge, soft skills as well
as attributes to make a head-way in your career. However, much knowledge needs
to be acquired in order to supplement and complement what you have learned. The
journey of arduous internship will further reinforce what the “industry practitioners”
have taught you in the technical classes at FSTEP.
More importantly, you must possess the passion within you to release your talent.
Passion is energy, the power that has driven many people to success and greatness. It is
obvious that loving what you do is critical to becoming outstanding achievers in your
chosen field, irrespective of it being conventional banking, Islamic banking, investment
banking or insurance/Takaful operation.
Admittedly, working with passion brings out the best in oneself. Warren Buffett, one
of the famed leaders in the field of investment proclaims that “I get to do what I love
to do every single day of the year”. His success is the result of sheer hard work and
continuous practicising of mental strategies related to investment for years and years
before becoming an expert in his field.
Going forward, I hope our tagline “Enriching Talent” will inspire you. Lest you target,
there is nothing to stop you from benchmarking yourself further against international
standards by attaining qualifications like ACCA, CFA, CPA, and ACII. Therefore search
for what ignites and excites you and do what you love. When you do something you
love, FSTEPians, “you can really fly without wings...”.
Lee Khee Joo
Head of FSTEP
4
Contents
Contents
Activities
Activities
6 6INTEC
INTEC
7 7INCEIF
INCEIF
8-11
8-11Outward
OutwardBound
BoundSchool
School
Prominent
ProminentLeaders
Leaders
1212MsMsJessica
JessicaChew,
Chew,MrMrLimLimHong
HongTatTat
1313Datuk
DatukAdinan
AdinanManing,
Maning,Dato’
Dato’SriSriZukri
ZukriSamat
Samat
1414Encik
EncikMdMdAdnan
AdnanMdMdZain
Zain
Industrial
IndustrialVisits
Visits
1515Bursa
BursaMalaysia
Malaysia
1616Bank
BankNegara
NegaraMalaysia
Malaysia
1717FSTEP
FSTEPDoctor
Doctorin inthetheHouse
House
1818Media
MediaPrima
Prima
1919RTM
RTMMalaysia
Malaysia
2020Astro
AstroAwani
Awani
Other
OtherActivities
Activities
2121Visit
VisittotoananOrphanage
Orphanage
22-23
22-23Corporate
CorporateSocial
SocialResponsibility
Responsibility
-Project
-Projectin inCollaboration
Collaborationwith
withBSNBSN
2424Orange
OrangeRun
Run
25-28
25-28SoftSoftSkills
Skills
29-36
29-36Batch
Batch8 8Participants
Participants
37-38
37-38Memories
Memories
5
INTENSIVE ENGLISH COURSE
The renowned British Council drilled the participants of FSTEP through a gruelling
month of intensive English classess.
By Nadeea Fardus and Denise Yuen Pui Yee
S
tudents normally do not look forward to classes, but that
was certainly not the case for Intensive English Course
(INTEC) at FSTEP.
The facilitators were trained professionals from British Council in teaching English to adult learners. We were placed into
separate classes according to our English proficiency levels to
ensure efficient learning progress throughout the one-month
program.
As poor command of English has been listed by employers in
JobStreet as one of the top 3 weaknesses of fresh graduates ,
this INTEC mainly focused on improving our Business English.
Interactive activities such as quizzes, role playing and group
discussions were carried out to hone important soft skills like
communication, teamwork and problem solving.
Our presentation and project management skills were also
put to the test through a group marketing project. The task
given was to come up with an innovative product that has yet
to be introduced to the market, come up with a viable product
design and marketing plan. During the final week of the course,
we presented our marketing plan and received feedback on the
viability and attractiveness of the product. The products ranged
6
from the creative (a watch which charges smartphones) to the
amusing (a sleeping hat for commuters).
While the classes officially ended after a month, the learning
didn’t stop there. This was the first batch where an e-learning
system was implemented. Through e-learning portal, Edmodo,
we were able to reinforce what we learnt through the weekly
assignments and tasks. The facilitators will then provide us with
feedback on a bi-weekly basis.
To us, INTEC was no ordinary English course. It was a platform where we learned how to better express ourselves in
a professional or corporate setting. Amidst all the language
improvement, the tentative bonds of friendship and partnership with our classmates were forged. On a personal note, it
was an absolutely awesome way to start our 6-month intensive
training program with INTEC.
FIELD
VISIT:
SASANA
KIJANG
On the morning of 30th April 2012,
Batch 8 FSTEPians were invited
to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between International Centre for
Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) President and CEO, En Daud
Vicary Abdullah, and World Bank
Managing Director Dr Mahmoud
Mohieldin at Sasana Kijang, Bank
Negara Malaysia.
By Nicklaus Lee
I
NCEIF is an education centre that focuses on Islamic
Finance education. It offers courses such as Chartered
Islamic Finance Professional, Masters as well as PhD in
Islamic Finance. This collaboration with World Bank aims to foster the development and expansion of sustainable and equitable
Islamic finance around the world.
Before the signing of the MOU, we attended a lecture entitled
“Realizing the Potential of Islamic Finance”, presented by World
Bank Managing Director Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin. The focus of
the talk was on the growing importance of Islamic finance, and
the challenges of promoting and adopting Islamic finance as one
of the major banking systems in the world today.
The event ended with the MOU signing between Dr Mahmoud
Mohieldin and En Daud Vicary Abdullah, witnessed by our very
own Governor of Bank Negara, YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Zeti
Akhtar Aziz.
All in all, it was a great honour to have such an experienced
and renowned figure to acquaint us with the benefits as well as
the growing importance of Islamic finance in the 21st century.
Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin’s speech certainly made us appreciate
better the knowledge of Islamic finance – a growth that Malaysia
plays a central role within the world of finance.
7
A TRULY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
Outward Bound School (OBS) builds character and develops leadership qualities in
individuals, aptly reflected in its motto: To Serve, To Strive and Not to Yield.
By Natasya Elmi and Chong Lok Kong
T
he first lesson in our outward bound experience is extraordinary. It is not to be perceived as taking us out of our comfort zone, but merely expanding it. The ten-day stint in Lumut was the most
physically-demanding and mentally-challenging experience for the both of us. It was also one of the
most amazing experiences we ever had.
It was quite impressive to note how many different ways OBS could come up with to make us run around
at 6.30 in the morning. No time was wasted in whipping this bunch of bankers-to-be into shape. There were
three main expeditions held: whaleboat rowing (a.k.a. whaling); jungle-trekking; and solo-camping.
In whaling, the objective was to row the whaleboat around Pangkor Island to our destination Pantai Syawal,
located about 26 km from the starting point in Lumut. The journey was a gruelling 7 hours under the scorching
sun. It taught us a serious lesson about teamwork and cooperation, in addition to testing our self-endurance,
not only physically but also psychologically. Some succumbed to sea sickness, some even passed out, and before
you knew it, you were overcome with fatigue. But no matter how hard the waves went against us, we had to
8
get over this hurdle. No doubt, the ability to
function as a unit, to encourage one another
and to value everyone’s contribution to the
team were what kept us going.
The best teams are not always about the
best individuals. Instead, they are about channelling everyone’s energy into working in
unison to accomplish a common goal. And
when you succeed, the fruit of your labour is
made just that much sweeter. In our case, we
got to sleep on soft sand, under the brightest
star-lit sky any of us had ever seen.
Our next expedition involved jungle trekking and camping. The entire expedition took
a good 6-8 hours to complete. We carried
fully-loaded backpacks that weighed us down
as we climbed steep hills while being familiarized with many of Mother Nature’s beautiful
creatures – we collected a variety of bites as
souvenirs! The activity was to conquer a total
of three peaks, the most challenging of which
was the second peak which had an almost
90-degree slope!
With limited food and water supply and the
added fear of getting lost in the middle of the
forest as night approached, this expedition
tested each team in the managing of resources,
problem-solving, as well as the leader’s ability in harnessing the
diverse skills and strengths of the team members. Without a
doubt, it focused on the importance of strategy and planning.
When the time came for solo-camping, it rained heavily that
morning. A lot of daylight was lost as a result , not to mention
our available supply of dry wood. On the bright side, by the
time we did make it to our respective campsites in the late
afternoon, all of our focus was on clearing the campsite, setting up camp, and making a fire for our evening meal before it
got dark. There was just no time to let the surreal nature of
the activity overwhelm us. While it was a solo activity, a few of
our colleagues received unexpected visitors - monkeys that (as
rude visitors often do) proceeded to take off with their food.
Although the distance between each individual tent was only
about 10 meters, the house rule was Zero Communication or
else we would be disqualified. The instructors paid personal
visits to ensure that we had the basics down i.e. a roof over
our heads, a fire going for dinner. A piece of paper was then
9
handed to us. We had to write down our goals and aspirations in life, insert it in a self-addressed envelope and it
would then be mailed to us 6 months later. The letters were
supposed to capture our thoughts and feelings at the time
and give our future selves some perspective on just how
much can change within a short period. Being in a different
environment can change how you see yourself and your
surroundings at large.
The key learning point of solo camping was about developing resilience, self-discipline, and self-reliance, the very
prerequisites in becoming a future leader in the Financial
Services Industry.
Side activities included rope-climbing, wall-climbing and
raft-building. The first two were great teachers of “never-
and over. The most amazing part was that despite the endless
number of times we all seemed to re-enact the sinking of the
Titanic, none of the groups ever complained or threw down
their oars. Everyone just simply kept trying to get it right. It was
quite an inspiring scene !
In a nutshell, we are sure that most of us have, at times, found
ourselves holding back on something we really wanted to do as
we all have some self-limiting beliefs. OBS was not about winning a competition; rather it was about providing an excellent
platform to help us to overcome these beliefs. It allowed us to
push ourselves beyond our perceived limits.
We also found our fellow group members to be very thoughtful, resourceful, able to improvise when the need arises, always
with willingness to help one another. This level of integrity and
preparedness to go the extra mile will undoubtedly serve
them us in our future careers.
giving-up”, especially when things suddenly become a bit too
much to handle. Sometimes, we may be lucky and have a
friend to watch over us and refuse to let us surrender to
adversity. But ultimately, it depends on us to make decisive
steps in order to achieve our goal.
As for raft-building, it taught us the importance of improvising in times of uncertainty, of persistence in times of difficulty,
and of never underestimating a task before we even get
started. Raft was built, people got on (all 14 of us), raft turned
over, people fell into the water, re-tied knots and/or rearranged bins around the raft. These scenes kept playing over
10
11
Prominent Leaders
We were very fortunate to have Ms Jessica Chew, Assistant Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia
to speak to us on the Malaysian Financial System during one of our Prominent Leaders Session.
By Lim Shu Yi and Lee Ser Yee
A
s of the end of 2011, the total
assets of Malaysia’s financial
system amounted to RM 3.51
trillion. For those of you who are unaware, currently Malaysia has a total of 25
commercial banks, 16 Islamic banks and
15 investment banks in operation (figures
used were for the end of 2011).
This was made clear by Ms Chew who
said that financial crises could not be
avoided entirely and that Bank Negara
Malaysia has been taking careful measures to reduce its likelihood and impact.
She stressed that resilience was the key
to maintaining financial stability. And to
achieve resilience, financial resources
needed to be allocated efficiently and
smoothly while addressing and managing
financial risks.
The principal role of Bank Negara is
to promote monetary and financial stability, conducive to the sustainable growth
of the Malaysian economy. The 3 pillars
of central banking which are pivotal to
achieve the aforementioned objective are
Monetary stability, Financial stability and
an Efficient payment system.
In 2006, the then-regulatory and
supervisory functions of Bank Negara
underwent some realignment to reflect
the current setting of our financial system. Bank Negara’s regulatory framework
has evolved from a rule-based system to a
more principal-based regime. Setting the
one-size-fits-all approach aside, financial institutions are now given greater
responsibility to manage their risk exposures.
With the advancement and sophistication of technology, both new and familiar
issues and challenges are knocking on the
doors of these financial institutions. Ms
Chew stated that there must be a balancing act between growth, innovation, and
financial stability objectives as the financial world is moving at such a fast pace.
Most importantly, financial institutions
have to be aware of the global develop-
ments in order to compete in both the
regional and international platforms.
These are words of wisdom we should
all hold on to.
On 28th May 2012, we attended a talk by Mr Lim Hong Tat, Deputy President and Head of Community Financial Services of Maybank, entitled “Maybank’s Transformation Journey”.
By Choo Ung Hao
M
r Lim has 30 years of experience in the financial industry,
covering all aspects of banking.
His impressive résumé includes management of bank branches, regional banks,
and credit card services. Under international banking operations, he has held
several senior management positions
such as Director/President and CEO of
Maybank Philippines Inc., and the Head of
International Banking.
In his presentation, Mr. Lim informed
us that Maybank has reframed its strategic aspirations according to a new vision
and mission: “To be the regional financial
services leader” and “humanizing financial
services from the heart of ASEAN.” This
aspiration can be seen from Maybank’s
new logo.
The refreshed corporate identity is
now more modern and up-to-date. The
logo has been modified from its previous form to a more majestic rendition of
the tiger. This is to further demonstrate
Maybank’s strength and leadership in the
ASEAN region.
12
In support of the new vision and realization of the strategic objectives for the
group, Maybank has realigned its organizational structure to the new “House of
Maybank”. The new structure realigns
the group’s operations into three business pillars which are global wholesale
banking, community financial services and
insurance.
In conclusion, Mr Lim gave us some
useful advice drawn from his personal
extensive experience. He reminded us on
the importance of writing down our goals
and aspirations because it would greatly
increase our commitment towards
achieving them. He added that without
writing down our goals, we would be less
likely to put in the efforts required to
realize our dreams.
Datuk Adinan Bin Maning, CEO of Bank Simpanan Nasional Bhd (BSN) was one of the prominent speakers
invited to give a talk to FSTEP participants. His presentation was on Development Financial Institutions.
By Siti Munirah Binti Zamani
D
atuk Adinan enlightened participants on the evolution and
roles of development of financial institutions (DFIs), as well as on
BSN’s own experience as a DFI. According to Datuk Adinan, DFIs are established
and funded by the Government to help
develop and promote certain strategic
sectors of the economy, as well as to
achieve specific social goals.
In line with the DFI objectives, BSN has
been aggressively planning and promoting
their mandated projects. ‘Banking beyond
branches’ (3B), also known as Branchless
Banking or Agent Banking, is one of the
most popular ideas currently being implemented. This initiative was announced in
the National Budget 2012, endorsed by
the Government as an innovative idea in
working towards financial inclusion.
I
Besides briefing us on the roles of DFIs
under Bank Negara Malaysia’s purview,
Datuk Adinan also shared his thoughts on
the responsibilities of banks: that banks
should not aim to generate profits only,
but also to help in transforming society
at large. He revealed that this was one
of BSN’s strategies in maintaining their
customers’ loyalty.
Datuk Adinan added that BSN is one of
the specialised financial institutions with
specific mandates from the Malaysian
government, therefore, it is of utmost
importance that all the bank employees
share the same vision.
Datuk Adinan Maning’s knowledge and
wisdom has benefited the participants.
He has given us an insight into the right
mindset and attitude of responsible
employees in the financial industry.
Crisis Management – The Danaharta Story
By Mirra Nabila Bt. Mohd. Shukri
n 1997, the Asian Financial Crisis
left a significantly negative impact on
many Asian countries - Malaysia was
not spared.
The crisis started in Thailand due
to speculation of the Thai Baht which
resulted in the devaluation of the currency. Following that, people started
defaulting on loans taken from banks.
The worrying trend increased the non-
performing loans (NPLs) which led to
mass deposit-withdrawal from banks.
The public confidence was shaken in the
banking system.
This trend was widely repeated in
other Asian countries. During the crisis,
interest rates rose sharply In an effort to
stabilize and protect the countries’ currency. High interest scenarios affected
businesses and the region’s economy.
One of the corporate leaders with the
credentials to speak on crisis management during the Asian Financial Crisis
is Dato’ Sri Zukri Samat. Currently the
Managing Director of Bank Islam Malaysia
Bhd, he was once the Managing Director of Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional
Bhd (Danaharta) from 2003 until 2005.
Danaharta was formed to manage the
effects of the Asian Financial Crisis. He
joined the organization in 1998 as the
General Manager of the Operation Division before being promoted to Managing
Director.
Understandably, managing the turbulence of the financial crisis and preventing
it from further affecting the Malaysian
economy was easier said than done. But
13
Danaharta managed to do just that – and
with great success too. Danaharta was
Malaysia’s national asset management
company (AMC), established to protect
the Malaysian economy by purchasing
NPLs from financial institutions. By purging the NPLs from financial institutions,
the institutions could then focus on their
core business of lending. The invigorated
financial sector helped to restore public
confidence and supported the revitalisation of the country’s economy.
Danaharta was successful in recovering
the NPLs acquired from the financial institutions. Their modus operandi involved in
extending the repayment period, reducing
financial charges, restructuring loans, and
providing flexibility in order to encourage repayment. According to Dato’ Sri
Zukri, about 50 public listed companies
had been restructured by Danaharta during its active operations. Dato’ Sri Zukri
added that most of the acquired loans he
oversaw were not caused by economic
factors. Instead, they were due to poor
credit evaluation – both by the banks and
by the organizations in question.
In 2005, Danaharta ceased its operation.
While it had been incredibly successful in
its efforts to get the Malaysian economy
back on track, it was set up with specific
purpose.
FSTEP is very fortunate to have
Dato’ Sri Zukri Samat who shared his
vast experience in Crisis Management
with us. It was indeed an invaluable and
enlightening session.
On the 18th July 2012, Financial Sector Talent Enrichment Programme
(FSTEP) participants welcomed Encik Md Adnan Md Zain, CEO of MCIS
Zurich Insurance Bhd, who gave a talk on the introduction and overview
of the insurance industry in Malaysia.
By Yong Mei Foong
T
he talk entitled ‘Evolution of
Malaysia Life Insurance’ was
enlightening and pertinent to
FSTEP Batch 8 participants, particularly
those sponsored by insurance companies.
Encik Md Adnan was certainly the right
speaker to speak on this topic given his
broad experience in insurance as well as
in the banking industry.
He began his career in banking when he
joined Standard Chartered Bank (SCB)
in 1981. He held various senior positions
and key management positions, including the post of Acting CEO of Alliance
Merchant Bank in 2003. In April 2005, he
joined MCIS Zurich Insurance Berhad as
Deputy CEO and was later appointed as
CEO in February 2006.
In his speech, Encik Md Adnan said the
insurance industry was dynamic – undergoing rapid transformation and having
endless opportunities for growth. Currently, life insurance in our country has
a low penetration rate (about 42%), and
with the increase in life expectancy and
medical costs, he believed that there
would be more competition and new
businesses available. More products
would emerge in the market to cater to
the consumers’ various needs - hence
the need for more resilient players to
accommodate and facilitate this expected
industry growth.
In addition to providing an extensive
overview of how the insurance industry
has evolved over time, he touched on
the changing regulatory landscape of the
industry. There was a brief mention of the
significance of the Competition Act 2010
14
(some may see the act as promoting a
competitive market environment and
eliminating anti-competitive practices).
He also added that the transition
to a Risk-Based Capital Framework
(RBC) would place greater importance
on risk management standards within
organizations to create strong insurance
operations, maintain financial stability
and preserve public confidence. Overall,
these practices and changes aimed at promoting financial inclusion, in line with the
Second Financial Sector Blueprint.
Stressing on the importance of change
and regulation, Encik Md Adnan advised
FSTEP Batch 8 participants to embrace
change, and opined that “success is not a
destiny but rather a choice”. If we choose
to become successful, we should work
hard and strive to achieve success. Our
own choices would ultimately decide on
our success or failure – words we should
always remember.
EXPANDING
HORIZONS
FSTEP has provided us with many opportunities that ordinary graduates will never get the chance to
experience. One of them was the site visit to Bursa Malaysia. We, Batch 8 participants, were the first
batch to visit the Malaysian stock exchange since the inception of FSTEP.
By Valerie Thong Li Li
T
here were several sessions where on-site visits were
arranged for us. Firstly, a presentation on the “Overview of Bursa Malaysia” where we were briefed on the
history of the Malaysian stock exchange, the trade cycle, and
basic share trading instructions. This helped us tremendously
in understanding trading better. There was also a brief mention on Bursa’s subsidiaries that are involved in stock trading
and post-trade operations. The subsidiaries are Bursa Malaysia
Securities Trading, Bursa Malaysia Securities Clearing, and Bursa
Malaysia Depository.
In addition, there was a session on the “Regulatory Role of
Bursa Malaysia and Market Surveillance” where we learnt about
the dual role Bursa plays in the financial market: to run the business as an exchange; and also as a regulatory body.
We were also fortunate enough to have an experienced
market player, Mr Benny Lee of Jupiter Securities, to share his
knowledge and experience as a trader. He also shared some
personal tips on how to be a successful broker. There are five
criteria: Find a niche in the market; Have passion for what you
do; Patience; Maintain your professionalism at all times i.e. hold
on to your values and ethics; and lastly, Know when to relax
and let loose.
Our visit culminated with a tour of the Resource Centre. This
is where all the annual reports and prospectus of listed companies are kept. There are numerous other resources related
to public listed companies as well. Because of that, special
clearance is required in order to access these documents. It
is important to have knowledge of the background history,
financial information, and basic operations of the companies in
making decisions related to investment.
Overall, we were enlightened on many aspects throughout this
visit, such as on the evolution of the Malaysian Stock Exchange
where it went from having physical certificates of stock ownership to dealing shares through an electronic scriptless system.
When thinking about a stock exchange house, what comes to
mind for most of us is a picture of a trading floor where people
are shouting over one another trying to make a deal. Although
15
that image is not that far off from reality, we now have a more
comprehensive understanding of Bursa Malaysia as well as its
roles.
A big Thank You to both Bursa Malaysia and FSTEP Management for the eye-opening visit.
A Visit to Bank Negara Malaysia
On 30th May 2012, Batch 8 participants visited our country’s Central Bank.
By Cheah Wai Kent and Chan Huan Yik
W
e were privileged enough
to be given a preview of the
new banknotes before their
official launch on 12th July 2012.The Bank
Negara officer-in-charge, Ms Nor Aimah
Mohd Nor gave us an explanation on the
safety features and the themes behind
the design of the new banknotes. The 4th
banknotes series, themed ‘Distinctively
Malaysia’, draws its inspiration from our
country’s diverse culture, heritage and
natural wonders.
For example, palm oil and biotechnology are featured on the 4th banknote
series. Malaysia is one of the largest producers and exporters of palm oil in the
world, and the Malaysian government has
placed much emphasis on biotechnology
to support the nation’s economic transformation towards higher value-added
activities.
After the introduction to the new
currency notes, we attended another
presentation entitled “Central Credit
Reference Information”, this time by the
Credit Bureau. The Credit Bureau was
first established under the Central Bank
of Malaysia Act 1958. It plays an important
role in credit risk management and the
promotion of a sound credit culture within
our financial system. It helps financial institutions assess the credit worthiness of
borrowers in a timely manner by providing a thorough credit report to financial
institutions.
The Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) is a computerized
database system that gathers credit information on borrowers in Malaysia. This
system collects and processes credit data
from participating financial institutions
in Malaysia. The personal particulars and
credit facility account details such as credit
facilities, credit limit, outstanding balance,
conduct of account, and status of any legal
action are submitted by financial institutions to BNM.
Overall, it was a very educational trip. It
gave us an insight to the many operations
handled by the central bank. BNM has an
outstanding reputation, not just in Malaysia
itself but also worldwide.
16
FSTEP DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
Dr Chong Lok Kong took the path less travelled when he made a rather abrupt career switch
from medicine to finance.
By Nadeea Fardus
D
r Chong is currently attached to Great Eastern Life
Assurance (Malaysia) Bhd. We posed some questions
to him to gain his personal insights into the insurance
industry as well as his views on the FSTEP training program.
Q: Let’s start with the million dollar question: why did you change
field from medicine to financial services?
A: That’s a very common question posed to me by most
people. To survive in the medical profession, one needs a tremendous amount of passion for the job. I realise that my passion
lies elsewhere. In fact, medicine was my parents’ dream, not
mine. I personally felt continuing in that line of work in the long
run would not be fair, not just to me and my parents but to
the patients as well.
Q: That’s a very honest answer. So do you find yourself more suitable for the financial services industry?
A: I have always wanted a career in the financial services
industry. Given the choice, I would have pursued a course in
finance, accounts or even actuarial science.
tion from the US known as Life Office Management Association
(LOMA). I’m planning to complete all the required 10 papers
and achieve an Fellow, Life Management Insitute designation
(FLMI). After that, I’ll probably pursue an MBA if the right
opportunity comes.
Q: Why the financial industry though or more specifically in your
case, the insurance industry?
A: Well, I believe the insurance industry is the right place to
develop my career. There are plenty of opportunities, arising
mainly from the fact that there is high demand for insurance
or Takaful professionals in the industry. The introduction of
the Financial Sector Blueprint (2011-2020) was key to opening
many opportunities to the industry, especially with the focus
on retirement plans and healthcare financial solutions. Not to
mention, there has been an increasing awareness among Malaysians about the importance of financial protection. I believe it
is the right time for graduates to enter the insurance or Takaful
industry as the industry is booming.
Q: What do you think about this programme, (FSTEP)?
A: FSTEP is definitely the place to be for graduates who have a
passion to serve the financial industry. It is an excellent platform
for graduates to build their foundation; to prepare themselves
to meet the demands of this challenging yet rewarding industry.
The facilitators are all experienced practitioners from the
financial services industry. The program is well-structured, and
the management ensures that it covers both the theoretical and
practical aspects of financial services. And it’s all thanks to Mr.
Lee Khee Joo and his team of specialists.
Q: Since you’ll be in the insurance sector, can you tell us how can
you apply your medical knowledge to your job? And do you plan to
expand your knowledge in other areas of insurance?
A: Well, two prime examples would be in life underwriting
and life/health claims management. But I’m hoping to get more
exposure in terms of marketing, agency force management,
bancassurance, product development, etc. My aim is to be an
all-rounder and to ride on my strengths, with the view to bring
out the best in me to serve the industry.
Q: Do you plan to take up additional financial courses besides
FSTEP, say in terms of insurance qualifications?
A: Currently, I’m pursuing a professional insurance qualifica-
17
Q: What is your advice to future financial and non-financial graduates who are contemplating to apply for this programme?
A: It’s a perfect place to kick start your career in the financial
services industry. I would strongly urge them not to miss this
opportunity - just go for it!
Editor’s note:Dr Chong has taken a bold step in moving from the medical
field into the insurance industry. It takes a lot of courage and
determination to switch gears midstream. This should serve
as a reminder to all of us i.e to always pursue our passion and
live our dreams. It is possible to pause, take a step back and
determine what we really want in life.
Media
Prima Visit
Departing from the previously held site visits to financially-related institutions (e.g. Bursa Malaysia, Bank
Negara Malaysia), on 18th July 2012, FSTEP Batch 8 participants visited some Media Houses in Kuala
Lumpur.
By Maryam Saiful and Aman Awaludin
truly awe-inspiring! And what was most surprising to us was
how humble and down-to-earth he was, given his achievements
and triumphs.
Despite the hardships and challenges he initially faced, he told
us that he attributes his success to his mother’s never-ending
encouragement and support. It was she who encouraged his
pursuit of music. It both touched our hearts and amused us
greatly when he imparted to us her most important piece of
advice: “kalau nak jadi orang sapu sampah pun, jadi the best penyapu sampah” (translation: “even if you want to be a sweeper,
aim to be the best sweeper that you can be”).
En Izham went on to express that he does not believe in
having contingency plans, as one tends to slack and not put everything he can into doing what he originally set out to achieve. If
you have absolutely no choice but to succeed, you will definitely
give it your all. He also stressed on the importance of networking, as you never know when it could open many doors for you.
“What is most important is your determination and commitment to realize your dreams”.
En Izham’s amazing life story certainly inspired us Batch 8
participants. It goes to show that a strong will and fervent
determination are indeed the winning tickets to a fruitful,
enriched and prosperous life.
P
reviously for Batch 7 participants, there was only an
industrial presentation by En Ahmad Izham Omar of
Media Prima Bhd at FSTEP. This time for Batch 8, in addition to the presentation, the FSTEP Management endorsed a
scholastic and enlightening visit to Media Prima. Batch 8 participants saw first-hand how things worked behind the television
cameras.
Due to security reasons, Media Prima could not accommodate all 119 participants. Hence it was necessary to divide the
participants into three different groups; the other two groups
visited RTM and ASTRO Awani respectively. En Izham expressed
his disappointment at not being able to accommodate all of
us at one go but promised that he would try to get all FSTEP
participants into Media Prima in the future.
Before being taken on a tour of Media Prima, we attended a
presentation by En Izham, the Chief Operating Officer of Media
Prima. En Izham delivered a magnificent presentation, which
was accompanied by intense background sound effects and
ultra-creative slide shows. He shared with us how he overcame
his trials and tribulations, from the unconventional decision to
pursue his passion in music to entering (and subsequently succeeding in) the then-unfamiliar broadcasting industry. It was
18
Experiencing
the News
Forty-three Batch 8 participants had an extraordinary experience when they became the first FSTEP
batch to visit Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) – a
Malaysian state-owned public broadcasting station.
By Anne Esquerra
A
Nurul Razak made a song dedication that was then played by
Selangorfm’s Dj Shahrul.
Encik Shah shared that in keeping up with times, RTM has now
moved forward in the digital era with the launch of the Digital
Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) in 2002.
Besides all the new technology, Encik Shah added that RTM
would continue to emphasize on elevating the national language,
Bahasa Malaysia, amongst its officers and staff members. Its
main purpose is to promote the Malaysian national language to
the world at large.
At the end of the visit, Pn Haliza and her dedicated team
were presented with a token of appreciation . The outing was
made perfect with a group photograph – an event to be long
cherished!
ccompanied by Dr Chin Nyuk Sang and Cik Norazlima
Amran, the group received a warm welcome from
Pn Haliza. Guided by RTM officers Encik Shah, Encik
Taufiq, Ms Anna, and Ms Shakirin, the group toured the Wisma
TV building which occupies five different studios. Each studio
functions differently depending on the television program - dialogues, talk shows, or national news for TV1, TV2 and TVi.
After having been briefed on how the RTM staff manages a
show or a news session, the participants were then given the
chance to experience being in an actual television studio set.
The participants couldn’t resist the temptation to play TV-host/
talk show guest/newscaster.
Participants were then treated to a visit to Auditorium Perdana (the biggest auditorium in Angkasapuri) to observe the
rehearsal of Rayuan Hari Pahlawan, which was celebrated on
22nd July 2012 and officiated by Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah
Mansor.
Following that, the FSTEP group visited Wisma Radio which
holds eight radio stations - Radio Klasikfm, Nasionalfm, Traxxfm,
Alfm, Minnalfm, Asyikfm, Selangorfm, and KLfm. A participant, Ms
19
Connecting with the
Newsroom
By Nadeea Fardus and Zaid bin Mohamed
L
ocated on the first floor of Bursa Malaysia, Astro Awani
is Malaysia’s first 24-hour news and information channel.
During our visit to Astro Awani, we had the opportunity
to tour the newsroom where rehearsals and recordings are
done. To our surprise, we found the room to be much smaller
than it appears on television – one of the tricks of the camera.
We were informed by Mr Eric from Astro Awani that four different news programs are recorded in that very studio namely
Buletin Awani, Awani News, GALA TV, and Awani Headlines.
Subsequently, we were briefed on how the network manages time and conducts their show professionally. The network
consists of more than 160 employees which include editors,
reporters, journalists and support staff.
At first glance, the site visit may seem to be unrelated in preparing us for the financial sector. However, the news network
plays an important part as a source of information. We learnt
the process of news broadcasting, how data and information
20
are collected and continuously updated. Similarly in the financial
sector, we have to constantly update ourselves with news on
the market, both in the local and international scene.
As the saying goes, “Money never sleeps”. New policies and
regulations, new products and promotions, they are all vital
in providing up-to-date information on geopolitical, social, and
environmental changes affecting the industry. It is also equally
important to be able to readily differentiate and efficiently put
the large quantity of information we receive to good use.
Visiting Astro Awani was an eye-opening experience. It helped
us understand the process of information transfer and the
importance of keeping abreast with the news. FSTEP has truly
taken a holistic approach in preparing talents for the financial
world, and we thank the management for providing us with so
many opportunities to better ourselves before entering the
industry.
CONTRIBUTING TO
SOCIETY
Under the initiative of the FSTEP participants, a total of 60 FSTEP participants volunteered to pay a visit
to Rumah Penyayang Bestari, situated in Kampung Sungai Buaya, Banting. In conjunction with the holy
month of Ramadan, they made their journey with the aim of brightening up the place.
By Chong Lok Kong
A
ll 60 FSTEP volunteers were divided into five groups.
Each group was assigned specific tasks: Food and Beverage; Games & Activities; ‘Gotong-royong’; Gifts &
Donation; and Painting. For both ‘Gotong-royong’ and Painting
activities, we managed to accomplish our initial objective of
having an Orphanage House Make Over. Not only did we clean
up the compound, the classrooms, the library, and other common areas, we also painted and decorated the classrooms. The
intention was to provide a more conducive environment for
the children to live as well as study in. We are proud of every
drop of sweat and hard work our participants put in. Without
a doubt, it all paid off in the end.
Thanks to the careful planning of the Games and Activities
group, the children had a great time with their respective facilitators. Their aim was two-fold. The first was to spread cheer
amongst the children.The second was to impart the importance
of education and personal financial management to the children
via a motivational session. We are firm believers in the empowerment of education. It is a necessity - both for skills and for
personal development.
When we heard that most of these children seldom have KFC,
the Food and Beverage team decided to include it in the evening fast-breaking menu – a menu that also included satay, grilled
21
by the participants themselves. It was an incredibly humbling
experience to see these children enjoying a meal that most of
us think so little of. Seeing the joy and excitement in each and
every one of their faces was priceless. Everyone truly enjoyed
themselves.
When the time came for the children to collect their goodie
bags, imagine their surprise when they received gifts ranging
from books to clothes, toys, stationeries, even a bicycle. It was
indeed a heart-warming moment for all of us. One child actually
came forward to one of the volunteers and said, “Kak, bila besar
nanti, nak kerja bank juga” (translation: “When I’m older, I want
to work in a bank too”). Words cannot adequately describe
the feeling that one gets when receiving such an innocent yet
heartfelt response to such a simple act of kindness.
A quote from Mother Teresa sums it up well, “It’s not how
much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”. When we
are all busy climbing up the corporate ladder in our respective
financial institutions in the future, it is my fervent hope that we
do not neglect our social obligations. Success in the business
place might be good for our wallet, but social deeds are food
for the soul.
Bridging Generations
On 15th September 2012, in collaboration with Bank Simpanan Nasional, Batch 8 FSTEPians organised a visit to Rumah Orang Tua AlIkhlas.
By Chen Ling Hong
We were welcomed by Pn Muji, founder
of the home. From her opening speech,
it was obvious how passionate she was
about her vocation. We were touched
when we learnt of what she went through
in realizing her dreams of helping elderly
folks in need – she had even gone as far
as sacrificing her marriage for her work.
She shared some stories on how ignorant some children can be, leaving their
parent at the home without ever visiting them. One of the stories affected me
greatly. One particular individual boldly
and cruelly abandoned their father in a
wheelchair right outside the home. His
body was covered with bruises.
In our visit, Batch 8 participants were
divided into four main groups: Sharing,
Kitchen, Indoor and Outdoor group.
While the others were tasked with cleaning the compound, the Sharing group kept
the old folks entertained. Hearing their
stories made it difficult for most of us to
hold back our tears. There are residents
who have come to accept their situation
but confessed that the loneliness was still
hard to bear - missing their family and
loved ones!
One of the lighter moments of the visit
was when some of our participants, along
with BSN staff, performed a “cha-cha”
dance. Not all the residents could join
the dance, but seeing their faces light up
gave me the realization that what really
matters was not material wealth, but the
time that we spared to give others.
22
In closing, a simple ceremony was held,
where a BSN representative presented
Pn Muji with a donation of mattresses
and cardiac tables. Before we left, Pn Muji
urged us to “treasure our parents while
we still can. It is fine to put them in a
home if work gets in the way, but never
ever abandon them.”
23
The
Orange
Run
On16th July 2012, 17 FSTEP
participants joined the BHP
Orange Run, which was jointly
organized by Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd, Affin
Bank Bhd, the Royal Malaysian
Police, Petaling Jaya City Council, and Pacesetters Athletic
Club Malaysia.
By Omry Jaafar and Mohamad
Abdul Hakim
This fun filled annual event marked
its seventh edition since its inception in
2005, with the objective of encouraging
a healthy lifestyle.
This year’s BHP Orange Run managed
to attract a large crowd (close to 3,500
participants) which was made up of different age groups ranging from primary
school students to senior citizens. With a
total distance of 11km, the route covered
by this quarter marathon included scenic
locations such as Mutiara Damansara and
Bandar Utama (Jalan PJU 7/1, Jalan PJU
3/22, and Persiaran Surian).
At 7.00 a.m., YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Lodin
Wok Kamaruddin, the Group Managing Director of Boustead Holdings Bhd,
flagged off the run in front of The Royale
Bintang Damansara.
On top of its aim is to encourage a
healthy lifestyle amongst the participants,
the run also managed to raise RM30,000
for charity homes. These homes include:
Stepping Stones Living Centre Sdn Bhd,
Ti-Ratana Welfare Society, and Pusat
Jagaan Anak Yatim Miskin Penyayang
Nur Iman Kuala Lumpur. Each received
RM10,000 in total.
According to the NST website, Pastor
Johnson, founder-cum-chairman of Stepping Stone stated that the funds received
will be used for the centre’s upkeep and
education.
Even though there were no medals
given, FSTEP participants got the chance
to indulge in an activity that encouraged
a healthy experience, while at the same
time contributed to those in need. Not
a bad trade, really.
24
Photo
Credits:
Abdul Hakim
Soft Skills
The financial industry is becoming more customer-centric than it was before. It is the case when dealing with both internal and external customers. When dealing with customers face-to-face, things are
rarely predictable. Care must be taken to ensure the best possible outcome for all parties involved.
At FSTEP, we are very fortunate to have six professional soft skills facilitators who train us every Friday.
We decided to have a Q&A session with them to gain an insight into their experience.
By Calvin Poon Kai Ming and Ng Yen Ying
Ms Kim Chow - Head of Soft Skills facilitators
Work experience
She started her career as a Science and
English teacher and later aspired to be a
business owner. She was initially in the
direct selling industry before going into
the insurance industry.
Rising to the challenges of the insurance industry, she was forced to polish up
on her soft skills. After honing her skills,
she decided to share her expertise with
others and she then evolved to become
a soft skills trainer.
Kim Chow Communicators Sdn Bhd
was incorporated in 2005 with the aim
of offering soft skills training to young
executives. Ms Kim is also an external
soft skills trainer at Universiti Tunku
Abdul Rahman (UTAR).
Do you enjoy training and sharing
your expertise with others?
Teaching is my passion. As a trainer, I
have worked with GLCs like Petronas and
KLCC, as well as PLCs like IGB Corporation.
The soft skills module has been a
great addition to the FSTEP syllabus.
When did you start training FSTEP
participants?
I was an English facilitator in FSTEP
from Batch 1 to Batch 4. The soft skills
program was introduced in Batch 5.
Currently, the program comprises of 15
sessions covering 9 modules: Business
Etiquette, Social Skills, Customer Service,
Telephone Etiquette, Damage Control,
Negotiation, Public Speaking, Presentation Skills and Face-to-Face Sales.
How do you decide on the training
format for young executives?
I use a methodology that appeals to
Gen Y executives – video recording and
performing arts. The experiential learning is based on case studies, role-play and
simulation.
And that’s the same concept you use
for Batch 8 participants?
For Batch 8, the participants are divided
into 6 classes. Each class is managed by
a soft skills facilitator and all the classes
run simultaneously and according to a
standard program.
Every facilitator films their participants’
performances and conducts the video
playback to give their recommendations
for improvement. This way, the participants acquire their soft skills in 9 specific
areas through hands-on experience.
Any words of advice for Batch 8 participants?
Keep sharpening your axe in the workplace. Polish up your business etiquette to
build a strong personal brand, refine your
soft skills to foster better communication
at all levels and practise self-discipline to
gain trust and respectability.
25
Mr Loghandran Krishnasamy
Work experience
Having previously worked in Corporate
financing,Trade financing, Bank operations
and Business advisor to IT, he is currently
a trainer on management subjects, Banking regulation and soft skills. He is also a
Bank Negara Malaysia approved Director
of Audit and Vigilance of a foreign Remittance company.
What qualities does one need to be
a manager?
People skills. Specifically, leading people.
You can lead people by displaying empathy
and applying the other soft skills taught at
FSTEP. Take up coaching and counselling
skills to help your staff grow.
What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
Being objective in recommending staff
for promotion and terminating staff for
poor performance.
If you could turn back time and start
all over again, would you still have
chosen a career in finance. Why, or
why not?
Yes. Finance requires a multi disciplinary approach and it is a great learning
ground. You have to wear many hats. You
have to be a Lawyer, Accountant, Counsellor, Salesman, Analyst, Socialiser and
Public relations person. My experience
gave me an in-depth study of successful people and companies. It allowed me
many options of different careers when I
left the bank. The success stories of successful people have since rubbed off on
me.
Any words of wisdom for Batch 8
students?
Everything happens for a good reason.
Do not despair when you are assigned to
a department or a position which is not
of your choice. There are some lessons
and experiences that will put you in good
stead in later years.
people, and our effective communication
skills. This rings true whether we are
entry level professionals or senior management.
What kind of people do you love to
work with?
I have trained varied groups of people.
The best is when they are hungry and
willing to learn. When we are hungry, we
will always work towards progress and
achievements.
How do you handle the stress and
pressure that comes with the job?
Having been in the corporate world for
20 years, the perfect place and time for
me is the here and now, helping people
to develop themselves. Since I love what
I am doing, I hardly find it stressful.
But of course, stress and work pressure
are generally normal in the working life. I
balance my life with lots of exercise, yoga
and helping stray animals. Also, my four
dogs bring boundless joy into my life.
Any words of wisdom for the Batch
8 students?
I wish all the participants of Batch 8 an
awesome journey as they enter an excit-
ing phase of life. I hope they will always
continue to learn, unlearn and re-learn.
Our future can only be in our own hands.
I would like to leave Batch 8 with the
10 most important little words from Zig
Ziglar: “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
Ms Kay Wong
Work experience
Currently a professional trainer, Ms Kay
was previously a marketing communications professional for 20 years. She has
been involved in branding, advertising,
public relations, event management and
strategic planning, working in various
multinational advertising agencies and
later having her own consultancy.
Ms Kay Wong holds a Bachelor and
Master of Arts majoring in English from
the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
She is a Past President of Taman Indrahana Toastmasters Club in Petaling Jaya.
Besides being a certified PSMB trainer,
she is also a Certified Professional Trainer
from the International Professional Managers Association (IPMA) of UK.
What made you decide to be a soft
skills facilitator?
My professional mission now is to help
people in their personal and professional
development.
One of the key areas in personal and
professional development is soft skills.
In general, all of us should continuously
develop our professional appearance, our
respectful behaviour towards all types of
26
Ms Ho Fong Ming
Work experience
Her exposure to people development
began with her foray with CUSO, a Canadian international development agency
involved in community development and
placement of Canadian volunteers in
South East Asia. She later honed her skills
with the Asian Institute of Management,
Philippines and Coady Institute, Canada
to work with NGOs regionally in program development and funding.
An active member of Toastmasters
International, she has held leadership
positions and currently serves as Region
Advisor for South East Asia.
What do you love/hate most about
work?
One of the key elements I believe about
working is to have a sense of curiosity
and willingness to learn. When you love
to learn, then you will love your work.
How do you deal with difficult colleagues or customers in work?
Dealing with difficult people – whether
they are our colleagues or our customers
– is a test of our patience and willingness to empathise with where they are
coming from. Many times upon reflection
later, I find that when we focus on find-
ing solutions rather than on the problem
itself, things do get resolved and people
are able to come around.
What do you expect from a supervisor?
Someone who would be able to guide
his or her subordinates clearly in terms
of their responsibilities; who bring out
the best in others, inspiring them to take
ownership of what they need to do and
to do it well.
Any words of advice for Batch 8 participants?
My best wishes to Batch 8 participants
to forge ahead and to find yourself in
terms of your strengths, more so when
faced with challenges. If presented with
an opportunity for you to move beyond
your comfort zone; do so as you would
not want to regret not having tried when
you had the chance to.
Observe the best in people and learn
from what others are able to do well.
One day, you will be teaching others too.
She was Head of Primary at R.E.A.L.
International School before embarking
on her own to establish Collinz Learning
Academy which aims to provide highquality academic support to students
who read the curricula of the University
of Cambridge International Examinations.
What motivates you to get up in the
morning and conquer the workplace?
The chief motivator is I love what I do.
As cliché as it may sound, teaching is a
vocation for me. Hence, I never see the
drudgery or grind in my work. Interacting
with my students gives me a different perspective on life. Besides running my own
business, I volunteer my time to teach
children from less privileged homes. I am
a firm believer that you should constantly
relish in what you do.
What advice would you give someone who wants to improve on his/her
soft skills?
Always be aware of our strengths and
weaknesses. Work to improve on our
weaknesses but never be complacent
and contented with our strengths. Ask,
ask and ask for suggestions to improve
ourselves. There is definitely no room for
being self-satisfied and self-righteous.
What do you feel passionate about?
Teaching. Even if I had to relive my life,
I would still want to be a teacher and
this time, I would start sooner! I would
like to be remembered as a person who
inspired others to conquer and scale the
insurmountable.
Any words of wisdom for Batch 8
students?
I am going to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson “To laugh often and love much…to
appreciate beauty, to find the best in
others, to give one’s self, this is to have
succeeded.” I wake up each day, count my
blessings – great or small – and aim to
seize the day to be a better person (and
mommy to my two children!)
Never judge. That is God’s job. Treat
each person with respect and dignity and
in return, you will be held in high regard.
Ms Ivy Chew
Work experience
After graduating with degrees in
Accounting and Economics from Western Michigan University, USA, Ms Ivy
embarked on a one-year stint with
Merrill Lynch as a research assistant to
the Vice President. Upon her return to
Malaysia, Ms Ivy began her banking career
with the International Banking Division
in Maybank. Subsequently, she joined
Public Bank where she was responsible
primarily for the Bank’s customer service
strategy and development.
27
Ms Lee Sa Chan
Work experience
Ms Lee Sa Chan graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts majoring in Economics from Dickinson College, USA in
1982. She worked briefly in Supreme
Finance before joining the CIMB group
of companies where she served from
1984-2010. In 1996-1997, she was sponsored by the bank to pursue her Masters
in Management at the Asian Institute of
Management, Manila, Philippines.
Do you think there is a lack of soft
skills amongst the Malaysian fresh
graduates?
The reality is that the Malaysian education system is very examination oriented
and it is not geared towards development
of the soft skills. I do think that Malaysian fresh graduates can improve or
refine their soft skills before entering the
work place. Soft skills are very important
because they enable us to connect with
people.
What made you choose to work in
the financial sector?
I chose the financial sector as I was
attracted to the stability and security of
the sector. My parents totally encouraged me to join the finance field as it was
deemed prestigious and considered to be
a lifetime profession.
cial field at this time. It is a very exciting
time as the financial sector is facing
dynamic changes and there is growing
demand for talented professionals. My
advice is to be open to knowledge and
constantly upgrade yourself. Most importantly, remember to “Be nice to people
on the way up as you may meet them on
the way down.”
What do you find most interesting
about training?
The most interesting element about
training is that every class is so different and dynamic. I love imparting ideas to
my trainees but the truth is that I learn
so much from them too. Every class that
I train offers different learning perspectives and this makes it so challenging and
fun.
Any words of advice for Batch 8 students?
Congratulations on entering the finan-
We feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to attend these soft skills sessions. The facilitators have been very generous in sharing their experiences with us, and in providing us with guidance
and advice. It was indeed a very valuable experience.
We have been groomed to become professional business executives from top to toe. To all parties
involved, we really appreciate the tremendous amount of effort put in to ensure our expansive preparation for the financial industry. Many thanks to our sponsoring financial institutions, FSTEP management, Ms. Kim and all the facilitators for the invaluable exposure!
Facilitators during Hari
Raya Celebrations
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BATCH 8
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Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China
(Malaysia) Berhad
American International
Assurance Berhad
Farah Adiba binti Khairil Anuar
Ooi Choon Keat
Citibank Berhad
Deutsche Bank (Malaysia)
Berhad
Royal Bank of Scotland
Lee Kwok Hong
Tan Yi Ying
Shaun Liew Shih Wei
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QBE Insurance (Malaysia)
Berhad
Mohamad Abdul Hakim bin Mohamed Razip
(Batch 8 President)
Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ (Malaysia)
Berhad
Nicklaus Lee Yen Shiang
HSBC Bank
Malaysia Berhad
MCIS Zurich
Nora Hasliyanti binti Zainol,
Amnie Shahira binti Mohd Johan,
Nawwar Ayuni binti Auzir
Thavarajasingam A/L Magaswaran
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Overseas Assurance
Corporation (M) Berhad
Choo Ung Hau,
Kua Wee Yen
Bank Pembangunan
Malaysia Berhad
Affin Bank Berhad
From left to right: Jeevana A/P Jeyapalan, Mohd
Arif Shafi’I bin Abdullah Kamal, Rohaida binti
Rosman, Mohamad Izani bin Jusoh.
From left to right: Farhana binti Che Amani
@ Mohd Kamal, Nur Hazwani binti Abdul
Rahman, Zailia Halijah binti Zailan
Public Bank Berhad
CIMB Group
From left to right: Tong Tian Shen, Teoh Guan
Kiat, Yuen Pui Yee, Cheah Wai Kent, Liew Jin
Sheng,
From left to right: Nur’ain bt Mohamed, Md
Khairul Anuar bin Mah Hassan, Koy Pei Wen
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Great Eastern Life Assurance
(Malaysia) Berhad
From left to right:
Vivienne Chin Ee Kwan,
Muhammad Ikhwan bin Masot,
Chong Lok Kong,
Nicholas Wong Mun Jone,
Poon Kai Ming,
Ng Yen Ying,
Bank Islam Malaysia
Berhad
First row from left to right:
Bank Simpanan Nasional
MalaysiaMalaysia
Chin Guan Hor,
Muhammad Ubaidillah bin Suria
(Batch 8 Treasurer)
From left to right:
Nur Salihah binti Mohd Salleh,
Second row from left to right:
Nurul Ain binti Idris,
Za’imah Al-‘Abqariyyah Abdul Halim,
Eida Fazara binti Bahrom,
Nurul Rohaliani binti Hamzah,
Nurul Idayu binti Othman,
Khairan Fatin Nabilah Baharuddin
Chua Shang Pin,
Muhammad Izwan bin Abd Rahim,
Wan Mohamad Shahir bin Wan Mohamad,
Juliana binti Rusli.
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Standard Chartered Bank
From left to right:
Nur Ili binti Mohamad,
Kashturi A/P Periyasamy,
Toh Poh Har,
Steven Ong Soo Peng,
Chong Hong Biau,
Nurul Farehah binti Kahar
Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad
From left to right:
Mohd Aidil Asraf bin Ismail,
Nabila binti Jamal Ahmed,
Mohd Basyir bin Ismail,
Siti Noor Fadhilah binti Daud,
Mohamad Shafique bin Aziz
Hong Leong Bank Berhad
From left to right:
Nurul Fazeda binti Norzelan,
Satvinderjit Singh A/L Dalip Singh,
Seng Ben Lin,
Loo Sean D, (Batch 8 Secretary)
Fairuz Adlina binti Zahidi
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AmBank Group
Second row from left to right: Chew Bernard, Farhan Ahmed bin
Jamal Ahmed, Siah Leong Peng, Andriansaputra bin Amran, Syahrul
Helmie bin Jalal, Muhammad Noorshaffiq bin Ghazal,
First row from left to right: Nuruljanah Fatin binti Zulkarnaini,
Nuraisha binti Mohd Fadzil, Nurul Ain binti Ab. Razak, Mastura
binti Mohd Salleh, Suzilawani binti Ab Halim, Norazura binti Ismail,
Law Jin Jin, Menaka Devi A/P Sinnathamby
RHB Bank Berhad
Second row from left to right: Fatin Nadiah binti Abdul Malek,
Arnie Izyantie binti Azhar, Maryam binti Saiful Bahri, Alia Fareena
binti Abdul Rahman, Nur Aishah binti Shamsudeen, Rafhana binti
Abd Rashid
First row from left to right: Abigail Boh Chuang Nee, Chan Huan
Yik, Muhammad Zuhairi bin Abd Hamid, Ahmad Saufe bin Nawi,
Nur Athirah binti Mohsin
OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
Second row from left to right: Nina Suhaila binti Hamizin, Nordila
binti Abd Hadi, Gan Shih Sze, Nur’Izzati binti Mazwir, Nur Irdanina
binti Mohammad Shafai, Norshaheira binti Anuar, Lee Ser Yee
First row from left to right: Syafiq Affandi bin Zenol Ariffin, Zaid
bin Mohamad, Amirul Amin bin Murad
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Malayan Banking Berhad
Second row from left to right: Siti Munirah binti Zamani, Nazatul Atiqah binti Anwar, Chen Ling
Hong, Mirra Nabila binti Mohd Sukri, Azfasha binti Rosli, Lim Shu Yi, Yong Mei Foong, Mahaletchumi
A/P Tegaraja, Valerie Thong Li Li, Natasya Elmi binti Mohd Nawam,
Anne Esquerra (Batch 8 Vice President)
First row from left to right: Omry bin Jaafar, Tan Yuan Li, Muhammad Shahir bin Abu Naim, Wong
Jo Shen, Aman bin Awaludin, Lim Zheng-Lin, Daren Nicholas Especkerman
Not in Group Pictures
Tan Chun Howe
Raihana Binti Noor Alam
Malayan Banking Berhad
AmBank Group
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Moments
FSTEP Management
Standing from left to right (Associates):
Ms Norsiah Idris, Mr Aris Masrur Sofiyan, Ms Norazlim Amran, Ms Aizam Fadilla Mohamad, Ms Sumirahilin
Sedek, Mr Luqman Nul Hakim Abdullah, Ms Sari Intan Norsafinah Md Saleh
Sitting from left to right (Specialists):
Ms Ashraff Abd Aziz, Dr Chin Nyuk Sang, Mr Lee Khee Joo (Head), Ms Khaw Ai Ling, Ms Haznan Ali
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THE MOMENTS
“Life is not made up of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years, but
of moments.You must experience each one before you can appreciate it.”
- Sarah Breathnach
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39
Editorial Board
Third row from left to right: Vince Choo Ung Hau, Muhammad Ikhwan Bin Masot, Adrian Liew Jin Sheng,
Chong Lok Kong, Chin Guan Hor, Niklaus Lee Yen Shiang, Cheah Wai Kent, Chan Huan Yik
Second frow from left to right: Calvin Poon Kai Ming, Chen Ling Hong, Ng Yen Ying, Lim Shu Yi, Lee Ser Yee,
Mirra Nabilta Bt Mohd Sukri, Siti Munirah Bt Zamani
First row from left to right: Derrick Lee Kwok Hong, Ivan Tong Tian Shen, Nicholas Wong Mun Jone, Ms
Haznan Bt Ali, Valerie Thong Li Li, Natasya Elmi Bt. Mohd. Nawam, Nadeea Fardus
FSTEP BATCH 10 IS NOW OPEN FOR
APPLICATION.
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE : WWW.FSTEP.ORG.MY
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