When Naim Zafran first started posting videos online as a teenager, it was simply for fun . Today, the Ipoh native is a subsea engineer who has found a unique balance between a demanding offshore engineering career and building a community of followers across TikTok and LinkedIn.
Currently based in Aberdeen, Scotland with his wife, Naim shared his experiences living and working abroad while staying closely connected to his Malaysian roots.
A Move Sparked by Love (and Harry Potter)
Naim’s move to Scotland is the result of a series of unexpected events. “It was always my dream to work overseas, but I wanted to work seven to 10 years before going abroad,” he said. “I’ve only been working for four years now .”
The catalyst? His wife. “My girlfriend at the time, now wife, told me she wanted to study in the UK (United Kingdom) as she is a huge fan of Harry Potter,” he shared. Initially, the plan was for Naim to secure a job abroad while she went on a student visa.
However, life had other plans. Naim ended up being transferred to Scotland first under his current company, TechnipFMC, for whom he was already working as an Installation Analysis Engineer. His wife followed him there soon after and will resume her studies further down the road.
The Real Work Behind Offshore Engineering
Naim’s role as a Subsea Installation Analysis Engineer may not be something people are familiar with—but it is crucial work. “The job is in the name, it’s analysis,” he explained. “We basically do the offshore work before the offshore work happens, which means procedures, checks, analysis. We simulate all the things that need to be done offshore so that once that part begins, it is done perfectly the first time.”
When asked about how working and living in Scotland differ from Malaysia, Naim said: “The environment and culture are very different, yet there are pros and cons for both. The work-life balance is better in Scotland but Malaysia definitely has friendlier colleagues and better lunch spots.”
On how he got into his line of work, Naim shared that he grew up wanting to be a mechanic after years of spending hours at a workshop whenever his father’s old car broke down.
That unwavering passion extended all the way to young adulthood, when he enrolled at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
However, after being unable to land internships in the automotive industry, he pivoted to the oil and gas industry. Upon his first try, he secured a spot at McDermott International Inc., and the rest is history.
Staying Real While Living Abroad
While having over 174,000 followers on TikTok and over 40,000 followers on LinkedIn may say otherwise, Naim said that content creation was never meant to be a side hustle. “I really enjoy it because it’s therapeutic and a way for me to express my funny side.”
Since moving to Scotland, Naim has endeavoured to show his followers a new side of his life, while staying true to himself.
Many of his videos share insights on what it’s like to work and live abroad as a Malaysian and are crafted to both entertain and educate. In the long run, it deepens his connection to his countrymen while sparking conversations around career opportunities and cultural adaptation.
“I always try to be real, never over-romanticise my life and show the good and bad side of everything,” he said.
This means sharing newfound joys, like being able to buy fresh strawberries for £3 at Marks & Spencer, alongside more hard-hitting realities, like higher tax rates and a lack of sunny weather.
Naim also makes it a point to keep his content in Malay, staying rooted in his language and culture while reaching fellow Malaysians across the globe.
A Voice that Contributes
“When a post of mine in 2021 hit one million views, it made me realise that a lot of people don’t know much about the oil and gas industry outside of the offshore part,” Naim recalled.
This gave Naim the idea to focus more of his content on showing an authentic side of the oil and gas industry. Little by little, his videos began to gain traction. “It went from fun postings to sometimes getting sponsorships, being invited to talks and becoming a mentor to students looking to get into the industry,” he said.
“I was recently invited by the Kelab Badan Perhubungan North West to give a talk to Malaysian students at the University of Manchester on engineering and working in the UK,” shared Naim.
In fact, it was also his social media channels that caught the attention of us here at MyHeart, which developed into the story you are reading right now.
LinkedIn is another stellar example of how he gives back to the working professional community in Malaysia. On his page, one will find long, heartfelt essays that offer both sage words of advice and stories of his life abroad that strike a chord with all young working adults, regardless of where they are.
Naim’s advice to Malaysians hoping to follow in his footsteps is simple and direct: “Stay true to yourself. Opportunities can come to you in the most unexpected of ways.”
Nurturing Roots in Scotland
Even in Aberdeen—far from the major UK cities with larger Malaysian populations—Naim has found a tight-knit and welcoming Malaysian community . “Recently, we buka puasa with some friends here,” he said.
“There are around 100 Malaysians here , and almost all of them are families. Sometimes I even babysit for them,” shared Naim.
Much like back home, the community there is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities, as some of the Malaysians are married to spouses of different nationalities. To add to the similarities, “99% of the gatherings revolve around food, like Hari Raya Haji, barbecues and children’s birthdays.”
Through this community and his content, Naim is able to foster deeper ties to Malaysia and Malaysians. It is a testament to how digital platforms and communities can bridge distances.
Furthermore, it embodies the spirit of MyHeart’s Network and Connect initiative, which enables and encourage Malaysians to find each other and build meaningful ties no matter which corner of the globe they reside in.
Are you a young Malaysian engineer or aspiring creator who dreams of working abroad and sharing your journey to uplift others? Sign up at MyHeart today to connect with like-minded Malaysians like Naim and chart your own path.
