Alhamdulillah, I have done and passed (I think) my SPA interview, so what's left is to sort out the MMC and MOH/KKM forms. Which I will do, once I gather enough willpower. I haven't reported to MARA yet either, but there's no rush - they give you 2 years to do that, unlike the one month for JPA students.

Today I wish to talk about how the SPA interview runs based on my experience. Before I went for the interview, I tried searching high and low (read: Google) for tips on the interview and I only found one worth reading by a guy interviewing for a pharmacist job. So, being the gracious person that I am (haha!), I'll let you in on what happens so that you don't have to suffer like me.

May I remind you that before you go for the interview, you should fill up the online form on the SPA website at least 10 working days before. It takes about 3 days for them to process that information, and only after those 3 days can you book an interview date, which during peak times like now, should be booked at least a week before. You probably already know all this stuff. But if you're anything like me, despite the husband already working and having gone through the same process (and friends as well), I was absolutely clueless as to all the procedures necessary (though this is probably due to my lack of eagerness to start work).

They usually run the interviews on Tuesdays, but at the moment, they're even holding interviews on Wednesday and Thursday, with graduates from the UK, Russia and some local university(-ies) flooding the unemployment scene. On my interview day, there were at least 3 interview rooms, and once you've booked an interview date, they pre-allocate the rooms for you. But the sequence for who goes in first and so on for each room depends on who gets there first. So try to get there before 8. I got there at 8 sharp and was no 8 (not sure out of how many) for room M (there were also rooms F and L that I knew of). A friend of mine was there at 7.30 and she was no 3 for my room. The interviews are supposed to take about 15 minutes, but if you're lucky, you get interviewers like our room M who torture you for 30-40 minutes.

Considering I was candidate no 8, I expected to be interviewed at around 12 noon. So if I were you, I'd bring a book to read or a game to play. UNO cards aren't such a bad idea either because there are loads of people waiting with you and if they're non-Malaysian graduates, they probably need something to get their minds off the interview. On that particular day, there were at least 10 Malaysian graduates, whom you could tell from their enthusiasm in studying the Oxford Handbook, the Sarawak Handbook and their intense discussions on clinical themes. Anyway, the people before me mentioned that they got questions on medical ethics, some clinical questions like diabetes and for room M, they got a 15 lecture on how bad the working conditions are in Malaysia and that you should be ready.

Anyway, the SPA person asked general questions about you, so it was kind of a formal-ish chat. He asked me to tell him a bit about my background. Pastu dia tanya pasal Manchester punya graduation levels (distinctions, honours, ordinary) pastu dia tanya kenapa I dapat ordinary je, which he thinks is because I got married. Haha. So I bluffed a bit, takkan nak cakap sebab I malas kan. And I did say that my grades improved as I got into clinical years (what I'm trying to say is that you can't blame or credit marriage for your grades, it's all up to you if you want to perform or not).

The MOH lady asked medically related questions, but thank God, I didn't get any clinical questions, because otherwise I might have flunked it. She just asked about my skills (bloods etc), which I explained that in the UK, we're pretty much allowed to do the same things as Malaysian medical students. The most difficult question was probably "Why do you want to be a doctor?", which should be asked at entry level interviews, because now, it's a bit too late. I took a deep breath in and tried to recall what I wrote in my personal statement in college or what I answered to the university interviews and NOTHING came to mind. I'm not gonna tell you what I eventually said, because it is extremely embarassing and was only slightly better than saying "Saya suka main doktor-doktor sejak kecil" or "Nenek saya pernah sakit, maka sejak hari itu, saya berazam untuk jadi doktor". Pastu dia tanya ada tak jumpa communicable diseases kat UK. I cakap la TB since there is a high population of Asians in Manchester. Pastu dia tanya, "So awak tau la signs and symptoms and how to identify TB patients?" I just said inshaAllah. Pastu dia tak tanya dah soalan on that and just said because I graduated from Manchester, dia yakin dengan my knowledge and skills. She also asked, "Boleh ke nak jadi doktor memandangkan awak dah kahwin ni?", so I immediately said, "Saya tak nampak apa2 halangan untuk saya jadi doktor yang baik." She added further that it would be difficult to balance the duties of a wife, motherhood etc with work. Both interviewers were quite happy when I said that inshaAllah there won't be any worries about motherhood and I wish to focus on being a good house officer. And she also asked what would happen if I got posted to Sabah. I smiled and said I would appeal first, and should that fail, I would just go and try appealing for a transfer from there. She was very happy with that and said, "Bagus, bagus, pergi la dulu ya." Takkan la saya nak cakap yang saya akan mengamuk dan pull all strings, threads and ropes available to not be sent there. Kemaman pun saya tanak pergi, apatah lagi Sabah. I was already forced to go to Preston, I am not gonna be forced to go to Sabah, regardless of how much extra allowance I would get.

And that was pretty much it. I don't know how I was lucky to be interviewed for less than 20 minutes. I think it was because I didn't stop smiling and the interviewers probably thought I was verging on lunacy and they had better give me the job before I run amok. By 15 minutes, the lady from the MOH said "I think you're ready to work in Malaysia, so welcome to KKM and I think I can say welcome to Malaysia as well." Pastu basically she advised that I have to be prepared mentally, physically and emotionally untuk kerja kat Malaysia. And that they don't want textbook doctors who know everything yet can't communicate with patients (at this statement, I smiled and nodded fervently memandangkan communication is probably the only asset I have, being a Manchester graduate).

I think that's all I can recall. So you don't really have to study, I guess. Kalau nak study pun, just read up on MI, diabetes, dengue and TB a bit kot. And maybe a bit about 1Malaysia. And I think, just be yourself, and ramble on. Oh btw, the Health Minister is DS Liow Tiong Lai and the DG is Tan Sri Dr. Ismail Merican.

After the interview, the interviewers will sort of hint to you whether you've passed or failed (someone who failed last week was asked to go home first and study). The results come out at 2.30, at which time you can collect the appointment letters. But if you can't be bothered to wait, after waiting for hours for the interview, let them post out the document to you.

And that is that.

30 Hari Mencari Cinta

I would like to sincerely extend my best wishes and earnest prayers to all those who observe Ramadhan. May we start this Ramadhan with great enthusiasm and may we finish it as a better Muslim.

Since this is my first Ramadhan in Malaysia after five (five!!!) years, I'm quite excited and emotional (in a good way, inspired maybe?) at the same time. Memandangkan dah three years tak bertaraaweeh in a mosque (apart from the few days in Egypt last year), I intend to rotate mosques this year - hopefully there are enough mosques in Kuala Terengganu for 30 days (minus the nonprayable days). Dan sempena meraikan Ramadhan pertama, I made nasi minyak for suhur.

Rabbanaa taqabbal minnaa solaatanaa wa du`aa'anaa wa a'maalanaa wa siyaamanaa, for You are the All-Hearing and All-Knowing.



* Wah, 3 posts in 6 days! At a rate like this, I might as well be a professional blogger!

On Happiness

If you, like me, have nothing much to do, then you too would have gone through the list of posts on your blog and found that you have 26 draft posts yet to be published. And, like me, you would choose one that was most relevant to this day and age.

This one is on happiness, with extracts from God knows where (it was centuries ago!).


From omputih's point of view:

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4. When you say, "I love you", mean it.

5. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.

6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7. Believe in love at first sight.

8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

10. In disagreements, fight fairly. Please, no name calling.

11. Don't judge people by their relatives.

12. Talk slowly but think quickly.

13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
How do you say that effectively in Malay?

14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

15. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
Say "yarhamukAllah/yarhamukIllah".

16. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

17. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.

18. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

19. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

21. Spend some time alone.



From an Islamic POV (based on Dr.'Aidh ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni's La Tahzan):

1. Know that if you do not live within the scope of today, your thoughts will be scattered, your affairs will become confused, and your worrying will increase - these realities explain the hadith:

"When you are in the morning, do not expect to see the evening, and when you are in the evening, do not expect to see the morning."

2. Forget the past and all that it contained. Being absorbed in things that are gone is sheer lunacy.

3. Do not be preoccupied with the future. Because the future is in the world of the unseen, do not let it bother you until it comes.

4. Do not be shaken by criticism; instead, be firm. And know that, in proportion to your worth, the level of people's criticism rises.

5. Faith in Allah and good deeds: these are the ingredients that make up a good and happy life.

6. Whoever desires peace, tranquility and comfort can find it all in the remembrance of Allah.
"Verily in the remembrance of Allah do the hearts rejoice."

[Ar-Ra'd, 13: 28]

7. You should know with certainty that everything that happens, occurs in accordance with a divine decree.

8. Do not expect gratitude from anyone.
"We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks."

[Al-Insaan, 76: 9]

9. Train yourself to be ready and prepared for the worst eventuality.

10. Perhaps what has happened is in your best interest (though you may not comprehend how that is so).
"But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not."

[Al-Baqarah, 2: 216]

"It may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good."

[An-Nisaa', 4: 19]

11. Everything that is decreed for the Muslim is best for him.

12. Enumerate the blessings of Allah and be thankful for them.

13. You are better off than many others.

14. Relief comes from one hour to the next.

15. In both times of hardship and ease, one should turn to supplication and prayer.
"O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and Prayer: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere."

[Al-Baqarah, 2: 153]

16. Calamities should strengthen your heart and reshape your outlook in a positive sense.

17. Indeed, with each difficulty there is relief.
"Verily, with every difficulty there is relief."

[Al-Inshiraah/Ash-Sharh, 94: 6]

18. Do not let trifles be the cause of your destruction.

19. Indeed, your Lord is Oft-Forgiving.
"Pray for His Forgiveness: for He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy)."

[An-Nasr, 110: 3]

20. Do not be angry... Do not be angry... Do not be angry.
"Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that a man said to the Prophet (pbuh): 'Advise me!' The Prophet said, 'Do not become angry and furious.' The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet said in each case, 'Do not become angry and furious.'"

[Narrated by Bukhari]

21. Life is bread, water and shade; so do not be perturbed by a lack of any other material thing.

"And in the heaven is your provision, and that which you are promised."

[Az-Zaariyaat, 51: 22]

22. Most evil that is supposed to happen never occurs.

23. Look at those who are afflicted and be thankful.

24. When Allah loves a people, He makes them endure trials.

25. You should constantly repeat those supplications that the Prophet (pbuh) taught us to say during times of hardship.

26. Work hard at something that is productive, and cast off idleness.

27. Don't spread rumours and don't listen to them. If you hear a rumour inadvertently, then don't believe it.

28. Your malice and your striving to seek revenge are much more harmful to your health than they are to your antagonist.

29. The hardships that befall you atone for your sins.
"Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree r.a. reported that the Prophet s.a.w. said: 'A Muslim is not afflicted by hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm, or depression – even if pricked by a thorn, but Allah expiates his sins because of that.'"

[Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

Indicates points/comments that I added.

Siapakah yang layak bercakap?

Dah bertahun2 rasanya saya berniat nak tulis pasal benda ni, tapi belum tergerak jari nak type isinya. But today I decided it is time.

Just over a month ago, when I entered one of the form 5 classes where I taught Chemistry, I immediately noticed that they mispelled 'ballighnaa' in الَلهمَ بلَغنا رمضان, by putting a ya between the lam and ghain on the whiteboard. So I said there's no such thing as 'balliighnaa', it's 'ballighnaa'. The boys looked at me as if to say "who is this joker who's trying to tell us we got our Arabic wrong?" So I explained it from the root word and how it became fi'lul-amri etc. 150% dubious of what I was saying, they replied that budak Thanawi (kelas yang belajar subjek2 agama tambahan) yang ajar. Note that I personally have no respect for the hypocritical Thanawi students in that school, as in class, no communication is allowed between boys and girls dan jarak antara meja lelaki dan perempuan sedepa, yet out of hours, they can sms/call their girlfriends/boyfriends without shame and can stare at young female teachers with no problem (as if cikgu bukan perempuan ajnabi). So I said he (the student) must be mistaken. Now for the students in that class, boys particularly, this was an unbearable accusation. So they added that Pak Arab yang ajar (Pak Arab refers to several male teachers imported from Egypt to teach Arabic). Now there were two possibilities - either budak Thanawi tu tersalah salin/ajar kat orang lain, or Pak Arab TERsilap tulis. After all, just because our native language is Malay, tak semestinya kita akan tulis dengan ejaan dan tatabahasa betul all the time. And I personally know that many Egyptian Arabs do not have a good grasp of fushah (remember the immigration officer who thought I was speaking Malay?). But I coudn't say that they (Pak Arab) might have accidentally and carelessly mispelled it without realising it, for that would be blasphemy. So I decided not to pursue the case.

And this is not the first time. Dulu di Manchester, ada seorang 'alim ulama' yang bersekolah di sekolah agama terkemuka, berjanggut dan pernah belajar Bahasa Arab di Mesir pada waktu cuti summer. I have total respect for him sebab dia memang budak baik, but sometimes (sometimes!), he miswrote some ayat Quran or hadith or their translations. He never minded when I told him that he wrote it wrong and would proceed to fix it, so all was well. But there were some occassions when I found others copying the miswritten ayat or hadith, so I would correct them. People would immediately raise their eyebrows and say, "but so-and-so taught me/wrote it". So how could it be possible that this girl who goes around dressed unreligiously, mingles shamelessly and appears as an airheaded bimbo have more thiqqah than a well-mannered and austere 'ustaz'? I obviously gave up after a few tries.

So my question is, how do we decide who is allowed to give their opinions on religious issues? Adakah hanya orang yang berkelulusan agama sahaja yang dibenarkan memberi pendapat? Is there a physical appearance issue, i.e. orang berjubah dan bertudung besar pastilah lebih mengetahui tentang agama berbanding perempuan bertudung kecik dan clad in jeans. Or is it more of a gender bias, where what a man says carries more weight than a woman's voice?

Kalau hanya orang yang ada academic qualifications sahaja yang layak, maka Pak Lah yang ada degree in Islamic Studies (or something of that sort) jauh lebih layak bercakap compared to many of us yang hanya belajar agama skit2 sampai sekolah menengah.

Atau hanya orang yang physically show signs that they are pious and devout can have a say? I thought that was part of the issue until a friend of mine yang bertudung besar kena hentam by a male senior of hers in a public email. I can't remember the details of the discussion/debate, but this guy (note, he was one of those 'born again Muslims', kinda like nouveau riche) said something about some ulama', which my friend replied to with some corrections. This senior was obviously irated by the opinion of a girl who was a few youngers than him, as he probably felt that with all the research and reading that he had done, no one could possibly know more than him. My friend biarkan aje senior tu cakap things like "jangan ingat belajar agama dan bahasa Arab sikit dah boleh bagi pendapat!". She felt there was no point in arguing with someone so jumud, despite the fact that she was probably the most religiously educated in her particular community, with a strong religious family background, studying not just regular religious studies, but the more complicated ones like tawheed, seerah etc (in Arabic!) and also had at least 10 chapters of the Quran in her heart.

So is it due to the fact that she was a girl, and girls, not matter how much religion they study, are supposed to have less comprehension of religion compared to men? If you recall, Ummul-mu'mineen Aishah r.a. was a source of reference for many male sahaabah, so I do not understand why in this day and age, where women are given more educational opportunities, a woman's opinion is not taken seriously.

In my opinion, religion should not be something that is left exclusive to those who are officially qualified alone. And yet at the same time, in order to protect the sanctity of the deen, discussions and opinions should be given a lot of thought and research before being put out. Islam is the middle way, so finding a balance between those two extremes should give us an answer.