"Whatever begins, also ends" - Seneca

Indeed, the end of a story is a beginning for another story.

On 18th of September 2015, it marked the last day of my placement in Miri City Council. Almost 2 months of internship period but it felt like a long journey of knowledge, experiences and involvements.

As a person who enjoy communicating and interacting with people, this placement has improved my communication skills as well as my method of approaching people. For instance, receiving complaints from the public requires excellent listening and communication skills to avoid misunderstanding and to solve the complaint as soon as possible. After observing and learning the proper way of handling complaints, I nailed the tasks with excellence because of my ability to speak 3 languages. 

Media clipping has been part of my journey since day 1 of internship. Often, people perceive employees to be slacking for reading newspaper every morning rather than running around the office with huge stacks of documents, but after personal experiences with handling media clipping, I realised how important it is to an organisation. Frankly speaking, I have always thought that units we learnt at school will not be practice in the real corporate world but I was wrong because every single education given to the students by the teacher or lecturer are useful and important. 

Miri City Council operate mainly using Bahasa Melayu which to this date has sharpen my capability in communicating using Malay language. While interning, I was assigned to write a letter in response with the request for a study visit to Miri City Council. And yes, I was juggling between Bahasa Melayu and English. 

Writing respond to accept a request for study visit.

I really enjoyed every single challenges I faced while interning in Miri City Council because it has improved my ability and strength. 

Every organisations has its own corporate culture including Miri City Council. My internship period has given me chance to learn and blend in with its corporate culture;  from learning local dialect to handling events. 

My internship experience will forever remain as one of the beautiful memories I have of Miri before graduation because even though we are colleague but we treat each other like family-  Miri City Council Public Relation Department employees organised a small farewell lunch before I end my placement period.

The happy faces of PR departments.

I am thankful for this opportunity and experiences. Now, I am ready for the real corporate world!


"In every end, there is also a beginning" - Libba Bray, A great and terrible beauty.

Vey truly yours,

Ivy Tang Siew Ing

Miri Campus

15632964

916 Malaysia Day Charity Night Run 2015

Malaysia Day falls on 16th September 1963 and is one of the most respected and appreciated celebration for Malaysian citizens because it marks the day Borneo and West Malaya became one country call Malaysia. Numerous events were planned in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebration such as 916 Malaysia Day Charity Night Run 2015 which was organized by Miri City Council alongside with other government departments.

Before the commencement of the actual event, there are a lot of details that needed to be prepared such as props for performers, a well planned running sheet as well as list of invited guests and performers.
My task for this massive event was to confirm the attendance of guests of honour, councillors and performers. Our invited performers are amongst the prestige fitness and health centre located in Miri, Sarawak and the purpose of their workout demonstration was to motivate and energize participants for the run.

On the night of the event, committees had to arrive early for final touch up of the venue and to delegate responsibilities to everyone.

Every MCC PR department's committee were given the above tag.

Running sheet of the event and performers check list.

The stage was set up with a massive stage display.

The full view of the stage with digital clock for countdown.

Public Address System (PA System) all geared up to pump up the event.

DJ of the night in the middle of sound check.

MCC committee just finished setting  up chairs for performers.

The venue was starting to get crowded with participants and supporters.

Participants slowly gathered up.

Emcee of the event making an opening.

Screening of A short clip about the wonderful Miri City.

As the video was playing, so did the participants where they starting to fill up the venue.

  I was amazed and astounded by the number of people participated in the event. They fill up over 4 blocks of buildings. 

Before getting ready on the starting line, first group of performers demonstrated the fun way of warming up. Most participants were energized and they dance along with the performers. 

First performers boosted up the ambience by performing on trampoline. 

Zumba performers were getting ready to pump up the crowds.

Councillors and VIPs were enjoying the performance.

People from all ages, including children were enjoying themselves with the performance.

After the amazing performances, VIPs and councillors were invited on stage to officiate 916 Malaysia Day Charity Night Run.

Y.B Lee Khim Shin waving Malaysia national flag alongside fellow guests of honor on stage.

As soon as the sound of blow-horn went off, participants storm out to start the run.

Participants storming out of the starting line.

Participants ready for the run.

Participants half way through the 5km run.

Policemen were securing and guarding participants.

Volunteers cheering for participants near the finish line with water to be given.

One of the participants running toward the finish line.

Crowds witnessing the night run.

Runner who had completed the run taking slow walk to ease their exhaustion. 

After completing the run, participants were entertained with more performances and they were dancing along.

Belly dancers entertaining the crowds.

Even after running for 5km, most participants were still active to dance along with performers.

This small kid holding Malaysia national flag while watching performance.

There were more performances before the countdown for Malaysia Day, unfortunately my phone ran our of battery and I did not manage to snap pictures.

It was 11: 55pm, VIPs and councillors were called to go on stage to prepare for countdown. I was honoured to be able to stand on stage alongside the guests even though my task was to clip glow-in-the dark stick on their wrists because I was able to interact with them.

At exactly 12am, the whole crowd screamed "Selamat Hari Malaysia" (Happy Malaysia Day) out loud and cheered with joy!

It was a rather patriotic night run where I had the chance to witness how grateful and loving Malaysian are towards their country. Indeed, at the end of the event, people were exhausted but it was all worth it!

Miri City Council committee taking a break before packing up the venue.

When I got back to the office, I was excited for media clipping just to observe how the press covered the event and it was published in most of the local newspapers in 4 different languages, such as Malay, Chinese, English and Iban (Miri local dialect).

News covered by Utusan Borneo.

It was even published in Iban language.

The Borneo Post published the event in English.

I am lost beyond words at how amazed I am by the crowd that attended the charity night run. I was also able to interact directly with guests of honor, councillors, the press and performers. At the end of the event, I gained knowledge on how to plan a big event, direct communication with VIPs and the press as well as witnessing Malaysian love towards Malaysia!.

Yours truly,

Ivy Tang Siew Ing

Miri Campus

15632964

Miri City Day Run 2015

Date: 17th May 2015
Time: 6.00 am - 10.00 am
Venue: Marina Parkcity, Miri
Contact Person: Miri City Council
                          1. Councilor Keith Chin Hsuin
                          2. Councilor Kok Yung Kai
Guest of Honour: Yang Amat Berbahagia Datin Patinggi Dato' Hajah Jamilah bt. Haji Anu

Miri City Day Run is an event to promote healthy lifestyle to Miri citizens. Miri City Day Run event is a collaboration between Miri City Council  I was listed as one of the members to work on that day to set up the late registration booth. It is also a chance to re-connect and re-establish positive relationships with the public and stakeholders. It is a way to gain insights on how to improve public services in the future. A big event like this needs a lot of helping hands to work together to make it a success.

Staffs setting up drink booths for the participants

Late registration booth

Arrival of the participants of 5/10 km category

Prize giving ceremony to first, second and third place winners

Miri City Day 10th Anniversary 2015 Celebration

Hi everyone, once again I'm Diyana! This will be my final blog post about Miri City Council. I am very glad to be able to complete the minimum 20 working days at Miri City Council. Below are the pictures of Miri City Day 10th Anniversary 2015 Celebration. During this day on the 20th of May, I was assigned as one of the cameraman to take pictures of the event for Miri City Council.

The Enforcement Section are getting ready for the arrival of YB Datuk Bandar, Mr. Lawrence Lai Yew Son.

A few MCC workers I got acquainted with.

Some of the invited guests starting to fill in empty chairs.

The arrival of YB Datuk Bandar, Mr. Lawrence Lai Yew Son.

The Miri City Mayor gave his speech about developments of Miri for 10 years after it became a city in 2005.

Prize giving ceremony for the winners of The Most Beautiful Garden 2014/2015 contest

The opening of the Curtain of Seahorse Replica

Miri City Mayor taking photos with Miri City Council's staffs for their continued service.

I am very thankful to Miri City Council for taking me in to do my internship there at Public Relations Section. I have learnt a lot of things during my internship there, such as:

1. How to answer telephone calls,
2. How to entertain the customers,
3. How to deal with customer complaints
4. How to write official letters according to MCC's format
5. Informing organizations about event meetings
6. How to use a photocopy machine and fax machine
7. Key-in customer complaint in the TALIKHIDMAT online system
8. Maintaining a good relationship with the colleagues

 It was truly a wonderful experience, and it boost my confidence to perform better in the future in my selected career. This event will create more positive relationships with the stakeholders in the future.