Draft:Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations

Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations

Institut Diplomasi dan Hubungan Luar Negeri
Government Agency overview
Formed	1 July 1991
Headquarters	Jalan Wisma Putra, Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Government Agency executive	Dato’ Syed Mohamad Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman, Director General
Parent Government Agency	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
Website	http://www.idfr.gov.my

The Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (Malay: Institut Diplomasi dan Hubungan Luar Negeri, abbreviated as IDFR) is the sole training institution for Malaysian diplomats. As of 1991, IDFR is an agency under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia.

History

The inception of IDFR dates back to a Cabinet decision on March 6, 1991, followed by its official establishment on August 12 of the same year, inaugurated by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Originally positioned under the Prime Minister’s Department, IDFR was subsequently integrated into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 2004. IDFR is currently headed by Ambassador Dr Shazelina Zainul Abidin, a senior diplomat, and assisted by a mixed cadre of trainers, research officers, and administrators. Situated within the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the Institute occupies the former edifice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Organisation

Prospectus 2022. Courses provided by IDFR

The Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations comprises the Centre for Political Science and Economic Diplomacy, the Centre for Leadership, Negotiation and Public Diplomacy, the Centre for Languages and Cultural Diplomacy, the Competency Enhancement Centre, and the Management Services Division.

The Centre for Political Science and Economic Diplomacy (PSED) focuses on diplomacy and international relations, economic and trade relations as well as security issues. The Centre organises courses, intellectual discourses, and lecture series such as the IDFR Distinguished Lecture Series, Economic Diplomacy Series, and the Strategic and Security Analysis Course. The Centre also conducts topical and practitioner-oriented learning programmes under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) such as the Diplomatic Training Course for International Participants and Crisis Management Course for International Participants. Moreover, the management and oversight of IDFR’s publications are overseen by PSED.

The Centre for Leadership, Negotiation, and Public Diplomacy (LNPD) focuses on providing training in the areas of leadership, negotiation, and public diplomacy. LNPD is responsible for preparing selected Malaysian public officials for their roles and duties working at Malaysian diplomatic Missions; The SPKM: Pre-Posting Orientation Course for Home-Based Staff and Spouses is a mandatory course and is attended by officers from various Ministries and agencies. The two-week course is conducted five times a year.

The Centre for Languages and Cultural Diplomacy (CLCD)’s focus is two-fold, as reflected in its name, Language and Cultural Diplomacy. The Centre continues to offer language courses, which focus on English Language for Diplomacy and Foreign Languages, namely, Arabic, German, and French. Additionally, Conversational Malay Language is offered to international diplomats based in Kuala Lumpur. The element of culture is embedded in all the languages taught as to expose the course participants to the various aspects, influences, and connections of culture in language learning. Through these efforts, IDFR aspires to contribute substantively in the area of cultural diplomacy by deliberating, exposing, and exploring the intertwining elements of culture and diplomacy.

The Competency Enhancement Centre (CEC) is responsible for organising the Diploma in Diplomacy (DiD), a six (6) month mandatory course for junior diplomatic officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia prior to their first posting to Malaysian Missions abroad. The programme was designed to develop the skills needed and enhance the knowledge of the participants in diplomacy, international relations as well as Malaysia’s policies and interests. CEC is also responsible for the Pre-Posting Course for Heads of Mission and Spouses which provides exposure and enhances knowledge in various issues related to Malaysian foreign policy, media management, and crisis management.

The Management Services Division (MSD) holds a central role in facilitating the Institution's objectives. This multifaceted support encompasses functions, including general administration, asset management, physical security, project management, and vehicle management. This division is categorised into 4 separate units:

The Administration, Finance & Human Resources are 3 distinctive units that complement each other in support of IDFR’s organisational goals. The Administration unit oversees procurement and general office administration while the Finance unit is responsible for managing IDFR financial resources as well as implementing financial policies and procedures to achieve efficient management of funds and effective allocation of resources.

The Library Unit section provides library services as support for research, learning, and training programmes conducted by the Institute. The Library has a complete and up-to-date collection of a wide range of printed, multimedia, and electronic materials. The materials can be accessible through the library webOPAC.

The Information Technology Unit provides services which include policy development, planning, and project management to ensure the deployment and support of business applications, e-services, and infrastructure (desktop, communication, and networks) to end users of IDFR. The unit is also responsible for strategizing and the deployment of ICT solutions in alignment with the Electronic Government initiatives and through close collaborations with IDFR’s various user divisions and stakeholders.

The Corporate Affairs Section (CAS) coordinates programmes and exercises under the Transformation Plan and Strategic Plan for IDFR and facilitates requests for collaborations/cooperation including the preparation of Memorandums of Understanding and Letters of Cooperation.  The Section also coordinates visits to the institute, extends media invites and press releases to the media, manages the Institute's periodical publications, and coordinates various internal meetings.

List of Director General

IDFR is headed by a Director General. An exception was made in 2007 when Ambassador Hasmy Agam, a very senior and distinguished career diplomat was appointed the first and only Executive Chairman of the Institute.

	Name	Tenure
1	Dato’ Albert S. Tallala	1991 - 1994
2	Tan Sri Ghazzali Sheikh Abdul Khalid	1995 - 1996
3	Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak	1997 - 1998
4	Dato’ Indera Syed Norulzaman Syed Kamarulzaman	1999 - 2001
5	Dato’ Dr Mohd Yusof Ahmad	2002 - 2004
6	Dato’ Dr Fauziah Mohd Taib	2005 - 2007
7	Tan Sri Hasmy Agam	2007 - 2010
8	Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari	2010 - 2013
9	Dato’ Md Husin Nayan	2013 - 2015
10	Dato’ Salman Ahmad	2015 - 2016
11	Datuk Mohamad Sadik Kethergany	2017 - 2019
12	Dato’ Mohd Zamruni Khalid	2019 - 2021
13	Dato’ Dr Shazelina Zainul Abidin	2021 - 2023
14	Dato’ Syed Mohamad Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman	2023 - Current

External Link

• Official Website
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs