JPA Daily Buzz - Edisi 43 2026

page 2 At that moment, I realised something personal. I have never truly worked without the internet. Everything I need is just one search away and it made me wonder: What would I still know if the internet wasn’t there?; and How would I work? I grew up with encyclopedias, books and programmes like National Geographic. But today, there are generations growing up with YouTube, TikTok and instant search. Perhaps reading less than before. So the question becomes, have we become too dependent on something we don’t fully understand? I asked my father. He laughed. “ I’m more senior than your boss. Many of them have worked without the internet, don’t worry, they knowwhat to do ”. That made me pause. Before the internet: work still got done decisions were still made systems still functioned Maybe not as fast but they worked and perhaps that is the important point that in any situation, experience and wisdom remain the foundation . We hope major disruptions never happen, but if they do, systems and leadership still have the ability to adapt. Then he mentioned something even bigger. That Malaysia has an advantage we often overlook which is geography. The Strait of Malacca is not just a shipping lane. It is one of the busiest trade routes in the world. In a world dependent on movement of goods and data, locations like this matter . Then I found myself thinking. Russia is also one of the world’s largest petroleum producers. Yet in reality, global energy trade is not as simple as switching suppliers or routes. It involves multiple factors such as: existing infrastructure (pipelines, ports); refinery compatibility; long-term agreements; and broader geopolitical dynamics, including sanctions That is why, even when alternatives exist, the world continues to rely on established routes and systems. Perhaps that is a discussion for another day. But that’s just how my mind works from one small thought, to something much bigger. Sometimes, a word we don’t understand leads us to a much bigger awareness. From “sekonyong-konyong” to the internet to the invisible systems that shape our world. Next time, we will pause not just to find answers, but to better understand what we have long taken for granted. In today’s world what we think is ordinary, is often anything but . Dr. Diyana Hassim Head of Corporate Communications Public Service Department