KUCHING: Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, received a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) at the Astana Negeri here today.
The visitors were led by the director of the Competency Enhancement Centre (CEC), Datuk Westmoreland, and comprised of 16 junior diplomats who will be undergoing a six-month Diploma in Diplomacy programme in Sarawak.
According to Westmoreland, the mandatory training programme is to understand the relationship between the federal and state governments.
“Therefore, we have decided to choose Sarawak for this programme this time, especially because of the unique relationship between the Sarawak government and the federal government.
“Additionally, it is also to learn about the recent progress Sarawak has made, as well as to understand the culture and development here,” he said when met by reporters after the courtesy visit.
Westmoreland said that the knowledge and understanding acquired from such experience could be utilised by the junior diplomats to disseminate and share information about Sarawak while promoting Malaysia as a whole when they go abroad on diplomatic assignments.
The junior diplomats need to complete the course to be eligible to be sent on missions abroad, such as in embassies, high commissions and consulates.
