During NRC Foundation Week 2026, the National Resilience College held an eminent speaker session at NRC Putrajaya on 12 January featuring Dato’ Zainol Rahim bin Zainuddin, Director General of the Institute of Diplomacy & Foreign Relations (IDFR), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Malaysia, who delivered a lecture on the “Foundation of Malaysia’s Foreign Policy.” The session highlighted the strategic principles, historical drivers, and enduring national interests that shaped Malaysia’s external relations, and it underscored why a clear grasp of foreign policy fundamentals remained critical for senior leaders, particularly in aligning diplomatic priorities with national security, safeguarding sovereignty, strengthening international partnerships, and positioning Malaysia effectively amid an increasingly complex regional and global environment.