Meet KYUEM’s Darimi Saadon: Witness the corporate ascent of a former debate champion who is now part of the impact investing team of the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia, Khazanah.
When school peers mention “Darimi”, one cannot escape from associating him to debate and performing arts. Darimi Saadon, now a chartered accountant working his way up the corporate ladder, hails from Subang Jaya. His story is a testament to how intellect and character, particularly confidence and the ability to communicate well, are essential in building a successful career.
During his high school days, Darimi was a prominent figure in the debating scene. He represented Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SAS) in two grand championships: the International Islamic University (IIUM) Interschool Debating Championship and the Prime Minister’s Cup, or Piala Perdana Menteri. While the latter was exclusive to public boarding schools, the former was open to all schools in Malaysia.
In 2007, Darimi and his team won the IIUM championship, a competition that saw participation from numerous schools across the country.
Reflecting on his debating days, Darimi highlighted the rigorous preparation and teamwork required for success. “It’s also a combination of all the preparation and the practice and all coming together at that very moment,” he explained.
He recounted practicing alone, structuring his thoughts, and attending debate workshops to develop his skills. The winning year, according to Darimi, was marked by extensive research, covering all grounds from geopolitics to philosophy. “We went through all the different debate websites, getting all the different topics, researching, and thinking of different points and arguments,” he said.
Attention to detail was what set his team apart. Debating, as Darimi describes, equips individuals with essential skills for both work and life. It develops one’s confidence, communication skills, and the ability to think on one’s feet. These skills have undoubtedly contributed to Darimi’s career progression.
He then started his career at UEM in 2013. By 2021, he became the lead of Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) new energy division. Today, he serves at Khazanah Nasional, specifically in Dana Impak. This fund aims to increase Malaysia’s economic competitiveness, build national resilience, and deliver socio-economic benefits to the community.
Launching a career
As a Yayasan UEM scholar, he was sponsored his bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Exeter. Upon graduation, he served in UEM Group.
“I was put into various roles at UEM. I was in finance and budgeting, group accounting, and eventually the corporate finance department,” Darimi recalls.
He was also part of UEM Edgenta, working on the organisation’s strategic plan and delivering key strategic initiatives, including raising finance, M&A, and value creation for stakeholders.
Consequently, Darimi went to TNB and led the new energy division.
While at TNB, Darimi was tasked with special projects involving the turnaround and restructuring of TNB’s international assets across various geographies, as well as expanding the company’s global renewable energy portfolio, including acquiring and investing in wind farms.
This role and the global exposure refined Darimi’s skillset, making him a more rounded investment and corporate professional, and paved the way for his current role in the impact investments team at Khazanah.
KYUEM: A foundation of excellence
Kolej Yayasan UEM (KYUEM), is located in the peaceful town of Lembah Beringin. He fondly remembers his time there as “fun, simple times,” where he made lifelong friends from diverse backgrounds. KYUEM provided him with a rich, multifaceted educational experience, which played a crucial role in shaping his future.
At KYUEM, Darimi engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities, including theatre and student council. “It’s really about trying all these different activities and then learning from them,” he says.
One of his most memorable experiences was participating in ‘Bangsawan,’ a revered theatre production at KYUEM, where he won best actor two years in a row.
His involvement in the student council, where he served as vice president, was particularly formative. “I wanted to learn a little bit about what it takes to lead and also compete or go through the voting process to win, to lead” he shares. These experiences helped him develop leadership skills and build a strong foundation for his future career.
Darimi continued debating, even in KYUEM representing Topaz house. These experiences, according to Darimi, are invaluable as they offer exposure and experience beyond academics.
University of Exeter and ICAEW: Academic and professional excellence
After KYUEM, Darimi pursued a degree in economics at the University of Exeter. This academic experience further honed his analytical skills, preparing him for his professional career. Upon graduation, he joined UEM Group’s graduate rotation programme, gaining valuable experience in various corporate roles.
Darimi’s pursuit of professional excellence led him to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). He chose ICAEW for its reputation and rigorous training programme.
“Number one is my perception of ICAEW stature. It’s quite reputable. Number two is the programme. It has a very strict training programme that you have to pass, beyond just completing the papers, to actually get you the Chartered Accountant (CA) title,” he explains.
On how Darimi was able to take ICAEW while working in UEM, he said “when I was in UEM group, they offered me that as they are an authorised training employer. Therefore, I can do it there. Not all companies are authorised training employers.”
Completing his ICAEW part-time at Sunway TES, Darimi credits the institution for its quality and credibility. “If you’re doing ICAEW, your best chance of scoring, if you’re in Malaysia, is to go through the Sunway TES centre,” he advises.
Hope for Malaysia
Looking ahead, Darimi is focused on his role to create impact in Malaysia, which also includes the need for more talent. “What we find is that a lot of good talent leave the country, and also in Malaysia itself, we need to generate more talent,” he observes.
