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Diplomacy at work
His work enables Mr Siah to form close ties with many Qataris.
PHOTO: MFA
Being invited to spend a day visiting a Qatari family, meeting pet falcons, prized horses and camels is all in a day’s work for 28-year-old Siah Ken Ming.
He works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and is the current first secretary (political) at the Singapore embassy in Doha, the capital of Qatar. His role as an official representative of Singapore has allowed him to form close ties with many locals.
Mr Siah says: "This is considered to be traditional hospitality for Qataris, who are shrewd negotiators, but also very warm and gracious hosts."
He adds that his work scope is varied and rewarding as "there is never a dull day in the office."
His desire for a dynamic career led him to accept an MFA-linked Public Service Commission scholarship about 10 years ago.
"I wanted a career that would indulge my passion for writing political analysis and strategic communications, while also satisfying my desire to live abroad and learn more about other cultures. The scholarship promised a unique combination of these criteria. It also carried the additional attraction and prestige of a future career as a diplomat."
He pursued his degree in International Relations at the London School of Economics and followed by a master's degree from Cambridge University.
His career thus far has been challenging. Mr Siah points out: "Working in a smaller and more recently established embassy like Doha, also means that I have the opportunity to take on roles and functions that my counterparts in larger missions are unlikely to experience. However, this also means that officers have to juggle several roles, which results in a demanding schedule.
"It is common for nights to be occupied with dinners, meetings and official receptions that can last into the wee hours of the morning. It is also not rare to receive phone calls in the middle of the night from Singaporeans in distress and in need of consular assistance."
"Throughout all this, as an official representative of Singapore, a consistently high quality of performance is expected."
Even so, the rewards have been immeasurable, says Mr Siah. "As a diplomat in this mission, I am proud to be able to play a close role in the expansion of many of our government agencies and companies to the rapidly developing Gulf region.
"Being based on the ground in Qatar also means that I am also able to advise those people who are new to the region on the latest developments. By advising our government agencies and companies on business information, political developments and cultural intelligence, I therefore feel that I am contributing, in my own way, to Singapore's development."