From Petri Dishes to Policy Papers: Bridging Science, Economics, and Identity By Samirul Ariff Othman A diplomat’s son recounts his journey from international schools to MRSM, from microbiology labs to global economics, blending personal resilience with a passion for understanding the world’s complexities. My early years My late father was a diplomat under Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affectionately known as Wisma Putra —a name synonymous not just with a building, but with the weight of representing a nation abroad. Now, let me be clear: this is my story. It may not mirror the experiences of every other Wisma child, but I suspect there are echoes of familiarity in our shared journeys. When I was in primary school, my father was stationed at the Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo. One day, he brought me to his office. I was placed in front of a stern-looking Second Secretary, handed a stack of forms, and told to sit still. No talking. No wandering. Just fill th...