I passed the police interview. I had already been called to report for duty.
But I chose not to go ahead.
My Life Journey • Episode 09
After leaving life at sea and starting work on land, my family advised me to try for a government job.
My late father also very much hoped I would work for the government.
To Dad, a permanent job and a pension could help secure my future.
I understood his hopes. As his son, I wanted him to feel at ease about my life too.
So I attended a police interview.
Praise be to God, I was successful. Later, I received a call to report for duty.
But when it was time to decide, I realised a career in uniform wasn’t where my interests lay.
I had already experienced life as a seafarer. For my next step, I wanted to find work that suited me better.
In the end, I turned down the offer.
That decision didn’t mean I had closed the door on government service. I simply hadn’t found the field I wanted to pursue.
My late father still held on to that hope.
When I look back on his advice today, I understand his thinking more clearly.
Dad had seven children. I was the eldest.
From taking me to school by bicycle to owning his first motorcycle when I was in my fifth year of primary school, Dad had lived with many responsibilities of his own.
Looking back, I realise his hope that I would work for the government came from wanting his child to have a more secure life.
Now that I am a father myself, that hope feels closer to my heart.
We can advise our children. We want them to have good opportunities. At the same time, they are discovering their own interests and abilities.
I tried again.
This time, I attended an interview for a government role in administration and operations.
Praise be to God, I was successful.
On 13 October 2004, I was given the opportunity to serve at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
That began my new life as a government employee, living in Damansara and learning to adapt to work that was different from anything I had done before.
Looking back on this journey, there is something I want to share with anyone making a career decision.
Listen to your family’s advice. Try to understand their concerns and what they hope for you.
Then explain your own abilities, interests and plans clearly too.
If one field isn’t right for you, don’t stop at saying no. Look for other options and work towards your next step.
That is what happened in my own journey.
I turned down the police offer, then tried administration and operations. Through that path, I was still able to fulfil my late father’s hope that I would work for the government.
Today, I am grateful that I listened to his advice.
“Dad, I understand better now why you wanted me to work for the government so much.”
Some advice from our parents makes sense when we first hear it. Other advice only takes on meaning after we have lived through our own experiences.
My posting at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) then opened up another opportunity to learn.
I began helping with public amenities projects in Johor, Perak and Selangor, from documentation and progress follow-ups to reports and payment matters.
Back then, I didn’t know how useful those experiences would be for my future responsibilities.
I’ll continue that story in Episode 10.
What advice from Mum or Dad have you only now come to truly understand?
— PMr. Mohd Hawarie Bin Tan Muzi
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