Kak Sabrina brought me to Education Department office as I was about to do my internship in the department. I was introduced to Encik Junaidi, Head of Department of Education Department and he explained about the job scope which include tour guiding, briefing about the job scope volunteers’ need to do and also briefing to the researchers about the do’s and don’t’s. He also told me about the upcoming events that would be happening at Zoo Negara and he later asked me to read a lot about National Zoo of Malaysia (Zoo Negara)’s history to know more about the organization.

Encik Amin, one of the seniors there gave me the first task that involved walking around the zoo to complete the quiz regarding the animals there. As an intern, we need to know a lot about the animals there. At 11am, Encik Amin told me to watch Animal Show at Animal Ampitheater. It was fun watching the kids enjoying the show and how the host interacting with the kids.

Later after lunch break, I have to read and remember all the scripts regarding briefing the volunteers and the kids for a programme called ‘Kancil Ranger’. Right after that, Education Department had to help Encik Nazirul from Public Relations and Marketing Department packed goodie bags for the upcoming event, Maybank CSR. 

 

          At noon, Encik Junaidi asked me and Aiman to pass the memo at the Bird Park, regarding the events. After we finished the task, we roamed around the zoo and Aiman told me a bit about what to do and such. Aiman and Shoba are interns too but they have been there for a longer period of time.

            At 4, I was called up to the Public Relations Department and told that I would be in PR Department starting that day. I was moved from Education Department to Public Relations and Marketing Department to help them with the upcoming events.

            The first task given to me once I was in the PR Department is to type and do the press release regarding the Giant Panda’s birthday on 23^rd of August 2017.

            After that, I had to call two companies regarding the sponsorship which were Mr. Diy and Continental. The purpose of the calls was to get an update from their side regarding the sponsorship. Then, I had to edit the press release again as the first one was not as good or valid enough to be spread around the media.

            I met the Chairman of Public Relations and Marketing, Encik Hafidz bin Rahmat for the first time on that day. He told me to make an inventory of the complimentary vouchers and it was a lot. Because of the Maybank CSR that happened on Saturday, I need to prioritize the work from the big event over the inventory. Maybank CSR was a really big event with more than a thousand of people coming on Saturday, including the beneficiary. I had to do typing work that involved typing about the activities of CSR, editing pictures to allocate which activity belong to which spot or section and a lot more.

            Not long after that, I had to help Encik Faiz, Head of Department of Customer Service to search for the stuff that need to be given to the Maybank people on the event day. We got to go to the store and took quite amount of stuff to the office upstairs. 

            Around 2 p.m., we had a meeting with Encik Nizar, a PR from Maybank to keep him up-to-date about the progress regarding the CSR event. The informal meeting was held for almost two hours, to make sure that everything was in the place and everything was almost complete.

            After that, we went to the office and I had to check the PR and Marketing emails to reply and notify them about the any update. Encik Junaidi is one of the advisors for PR and Marketing Department asked me to fix the press release again as the itinerary has changed. 

            Around 6.30 p.m., all PR staffs which are Encik Nazirul, Encik Zairi and I had to go to the Panggong and Kancil Hall to set up a place for VIP to eat. The set up took up for almost 2 hours and I went back at 8.15pm.

            When the VIPs arrived, I was in charge in ushering the VIPs to the VIP Room for light refreshment at 7. I also had to assist the Maybank staffs to take their breakfast at the respective place and ushered them in for briefing regarding the CSR they would do. They had to gather at the Animal Amphitheatre for the briefing.

            Around 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., I had breakfast along with Encik Faiz and Encik Zairi at the canteen. After that, we had to distribute breakfast to the beneficiaries, orang asli students and blind people from the blind people society. 

            Next, all PR staffs had to bring all 300 goodie bags to the Panggong where the beneficiaries will had their lunch to distribute. The final venue was full with food and goodie bags to cheer the beneficiaries up after a long day walking around Zoo Negara.

            I had to help the caterers to serve the VIPs as they were short of manpower. It was quite challenging as we had to be extra careful around these very important people to keep our name and standard clean and good.

            After the event, the chairman of PR and Maketing, Encik Hafidz took me around the zoo and explained a bit about the history, the work needed to be done by the PR and tips to be a good PR. All knowledge gained from a professional person like him is gold. 

            After lunch, I had to redo the press release again as there were additional information need to be added.

            Encik Nazirul handled the rest of the CSR programme; it was a half day programme. On this day is also event day for the Zoo Negara staffs to karaoke, the event is called Kizauan Emas. Public Relations and Marketing Department with the collaboration if Education Department, together we set up the event place from PA system to food and beverages. 

            Encik Junaidi distributed our work to make sure the event went smoothly. Sort informal meeting was held among PR staffs Encik Junaidi to explain further about the event flow. Basically, PR staffs did not really have much thing to do as they were a lot of people came to help.

            Late noon, I had to assist clients from OIC into the zoo and briefed a little about what is in the zoo, how long is the duration walking around or using tram to move around and such. After that, I had to continue with my unfinished inventory work and finished them around 4pm. I had to email the press release, both in Malay and English to Encik Junaidi along with the itinerary for him to spread it among media. 

            Kicauan Emas event started around 6.30 p.m. with the VIPs having their early dinner in the VIP Room. A break during Maghrib, the contestants took their food to eat and I helped Abang Zul, Kak Nira and Abang Fikri with the distribution of food and beverages.

            Later, I helped Aiman managing the contestants to wait for their turn and to make sure they seated at their own place. I had to make sure the VIPs, Puan Nadia and Mr. Leo comfortable and asked if they need any drinks. Basically, I was responsible of the VIPs.

            Most of the time, I just enjoyed the performances and help the staff a bit when they needed me too. I went back home at 10pm.

            At noon, our department had a small, informal meeting with a PR from Weststar Aviation, Puan Fareesha regarding CSR that was going to happen on Saturday, 26^th of August 2017. All follow-ups and updates were explained by Encik Nazirul, 85% done and ready for the next big event. Then, I took Puan Fareesha to the Wild Café to meet Encik Amran, person in charge for the food and beverages. She took the food coupons, tax invoice as well as giving checkfor the payment. After that, we walked around the zoo, site visit for the registration and the place where the event will be held later. We went to Rotunda to get the tax invoice from the zoo and sent her back to Weststar.

            Since the zoo was involved in Halfest Outreach, we needed to give away some vouchers. Therefore, a stamped date needed on the voucher. After stamping vouchers, I was ordered to type memos for mascot as well as animal appearance for Weststar CSR event. Later, I had to send stuff to Human Resource office and Photostat the itinerary and also press release for the media. Goodie bag filled with folder, notebook, itinerary and press release for the media was managed by Encik Faiz and me.

            I was also need to get the folder and the notebook ready for the kids that was going to come to Weststar CSR on Saturday. The stuff needed to be taken from the store and brought them up to the PR office. 

            I was asked to come to the PR office and took all the stuff needed for the registration such as registration form, pen, media’s stickers, itinerary and goodie bags. After the set up was finished, I waited for the media to come. When registration happened, I needed to assist the media to get on the tram and the tram would bring them to the Giant Panda Conservation Centre. At 10, registration for media was passed to the receptionist as I needed to help Encik Nazirul, Encik Junaidi, Encik Faiz and Encik Zairi handling the media.

            As soon as I reached the conservation centre, I assisted the media into the conservation centre to watch the pandas eating ice cake with fruits and veggies on top. After the celebration, the media was invited to have light refreshment sponsored by Secret Recipe, Polar Ice-Cream and Pacific West for the food. After the light refreshment, press conference was help in the conference room with the Ambassador from China and also President of Zoo Negara.

            After the press conference finished, I had to assist the media to get on the tram again and the tram would bring them back to the entrance. We went back to the office for a short meeting with media from Chinese news.

            At 4, I had to get the folder and the notebook ready for the kids for the Weststar CSR event on Saturday and make sure everything was perfect and complete. 

            Thank you letter was typed for the sponsorships given by Secret Recipe, Polar Ice-Cream, Adabi and Pacific West and to be sent to them. I then needed to photocopy the thank you letters for future references and gave another copy to Encik Junaidi. 

            For Weststar CSR event, I had to give out memos to those who were involved in the event, let the guards know the event flow for the parking and for them to be prepared, let the person who is in charged at Children’s World know that the place would be use for the event. 

            I went to Puan Aminah, the owner of canteen who was in charge in serving food for the VIPs to get the signature regarding the quotation of food for the next event, Eli Lilly Company.

            Before lunch, Encik Hafidz, the Chairman of Public Relations and Marketing Department wanted me to go home with something, hence the picture taken at the photo booth. Later, we all went for lunch with Encik Hafidz’s treats. 

            During a long break, I went around zoo and roamed around to get one last view before I finished my SIEP. I took a lot of animal and scenery pictures as memories. Once my break was over, I went back to the office.

            At 3pm, people from Weststar Aviation came for a site visit. They also kept all their stuff at Public Relations office and I helped them unloaded the goodie bags. After a while, I went to the registration table to help Encik Mat set up the table. I went to Human Resource Department office to inform them about my last day of short internship and went back home.