My maid was due to leave on Friday for a three week holiday during Eid-ul Fitri. It was the night before that we were suddenly informed that she needed to have things done prior to leaving. Otherwise, she won't be able to come back i.e. she cannot leave Indonesia.
So, on Thursday morning I had to take an emergency leave and go to the Indonesian embassy. I had a meeting to attend though at 2pm. It was a challenge, a scene from Mission Impossible. We got there at 7.30 am and there was a queue that seemed to go on forever. I parked my car next to the embassy and this guy came and said "Bagi saya RM20 dan saya boleh tolong bawa ke depan..." He was like shouting saying "Give me RM20!!!" I thought to myself, OMG! I am being approached by a 'lanun'.
Somehow, we managed to get to the front of the queue in front of the embassy gates. As soon as the gate opened, everyone was pushing and shoving but the guards made it clear that women go in first and men have to wait. Now, that is what I call a gentleman country. My maid had to go through a maze to get the necessary forms. I had to enter separately and wait for her. This 'makcik' approached me and asked if I could fill in the forms for her cause she could not read nor write. So, anyway we helped her and she shoved RM1 into my hand. I'm like..."No! no! I don't want money." but she insisted so, I shoved the money into my maid's hand.
There were so many people and we had to wait around until 9.30 am before the counter actually opened. I was like making doa that things will be done quickly so, I could get home in time to attend this meeting. Then Alhamdulillah our number was the first to be called.YEAY!
So, this is what we needed:
1. Borang tukar alamat - meaning a form to put the employer's home address on to the maid's passport
2. Insurance proteksi - Indonesian insurance which you have to get from the car park beside the embassy. You have to hand in the maid's passport, photocopy of the passport and employer's IC. It costs somewhere between RM115 - RM130 and there's only ONE Indonesian insurance.
3. Malaysian health and life insurance - there's several companies you can go to at the car park and they cost somewhere between RM75- RM100
4. Surat perjanjian - with all the documents above, maid's passport, employer's IC, insurance both Indonesia and Malaysia you need to fill in an agreement letter which you get from one of the counters and sign it.
To get the employer's address into the passport was pretty easy and didn't take very long. The queue for the Indonesian insurance at the car park took ages cause I guess a lot of maids were leaving the country for Hari Raya. The 'lanun' guy who asked me for money came back when I was queuing for the insurance. He was like telling me off saying "Kan saya dah cakap awak perlu insurance" Well, in my heart I was like...you approached me like a lanun (pirate) so how was I supposed to believe you? Anyway, I said "Takpe semua bagus, semua dah selesai. Jangan risau, jangan panik" Then, he was like defensive and said "Eh! saya tak risau dan tak panik" then he walked off.
I had to come back another day to sort out the employment agreement cause there was no time. The good thing is...they are quite advanced with using internet and stuff, so I could actually get the agreement letter bit done after my maid has left the country and email it to her.
There is a notice at the employment agreement counter regarding the worker's card that the maid has to make whilst she is in Indonesia. There are several centres they can go to all over Indonesia to make these cards. So, make sure you get the address of these centres and telephone numbers.
I came back another day to get the employment agreement signed and chopped. It is a standard agreement form that you get from the counter. I came at 4pm but the main entrance was closed so, I had to go in through the EXIT way. When I got there, the guy was like..."Kenapa datang lambat sekali, kita dah nak tutup Dik" but I charmed my way into getting him to sort it out. Then there was another lady who bullied and complained her way to get them to sort it out. Well, whatever works really! Yup...beg, charm or bully...
So, once the employment agreement was sorted and chopped, I scanned and emailed the documents to my maid. On top of that, the maid has to get a letter of 'release' from the head of the village (ketua kampung) to say she is allowed to go and work in Malaysia. Yup...as I say Mission Impossible. Alhamdulillah she got it all done and got the card.
With all the hassle...at least she simply strolled out of the country and back here with me!
So, for hassle free return and not having to pay fines and penalties blah blah... just sort these things out preferably NOT a day before your maid wants to go back.
Showing posts with label ABC on relocation to Malaysia: Applications and government office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ABC on relocation to Malaysia: Applications and government office. Show all posts
Friday, 31 August 2012
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Tips on the phases of relocating from London to M'sia
Life is good Alhamdulillah. I have learned that life is always good if we remember to be grateful to Allah SWT and to have complete trust in Him.
Since I came back to Malaysia, at least another eight of my friends have also returned and not to mention so many others whom have returned before me. I am certain there are many whom I do not know of but have also decided to relocate back to Malaysia.
I have come to a conclusion that there are several things in common amongst those who return from London to Malaysia. Therefore, I would like to provide some tips based on our experiences to those intending to return to Malaysia.
1. When you first come back you will experience the feeling of complete excitement. After all, for most of us, we were born here and grew up here. You will enjoy the 'honeymoon' period, you will appreciate all the little things such as the sound of Adhan (well, I did and still do), the prayer room at every shopping mall and petrol station, the pasar tani, the variety of food and fruits, the 'Teh tarik', the scenery, the people. Everything is new and yet, reminds you of your past.
2. After the 'honeymoon' period which may last up to 2-3 months, you will start to experience some amount of frustration as you encounter things like government agencies, visa issues, work issues and bureaucracy. You will experience the stress of driving and wish that you were back in the UK. You will start to miss certain things like proper driving, efficient system and professionalism. Well, I call this the 'adjustment' period. Things are different here but different doesn't mean better or worse.
Somethings are definitely deficient but other things are better and may compensate for the things that you are missing from the UK. During this period, you may not be able to exactly pin point what are the things that you miss or why you miss them but it doesn't matter, your feelings are validated. You have spent a certain amount of time abroad whether it is 5 years or 17 years (like myself) but you are used to a particular system and now, you have to re-adjust yourself and your expectations. It is not easy and you might feel the resistance to change. Resistance is good because you need to hold on to the good things, the good aspects of UK that you have developed in yourself but you need to let go of other things which may not be so good in order to accommodate yourself in this new environment.
3. This adjustment period may last up to 2 years. It maybe quicker for some people to adjust especially for those who return earlier and it is certainly easier for children to adjust compared to their parents. During this period, you may sometimes wonder "Why the hell did I come back?" You may start to doubt your decision. You may consider moving back to the UK. Indeed, some people do end up moving back to the UK or seeking their fortunes elsewhere in the world.
During this time, it is actually advisable to go back to the UK for a visit. In fact, most of us including myself did exactly just that. No matter how organized you are, you will need to go back to the UK at least within the first 1-2 years of your return to Malaysia. You may need to pick up your tax return check, pay your last bills, sort out your bank account and the most important thing is to go back and remind yourself what you left behind.
There was a real good reason why you decided to leave your built up life of x amount of years, shipped all your possessions half way across the world, drag your children with you and leaving all your friends behind. So, go back and remind yourself why you left. Whilst you are there, use the opportunity to visit your friends, go back to your favourite hang-out place and restaurants, do the things you enjoyed previously and eat the things you loved to eat. You will remember the beautiful life you had, the good times but you will also remember why you decided to leave. (or if not, you may decide you want your old life back)
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed my short visit to the UK seeing all my friends again, eating Ryvita with cream cheese and smoked salmon but...I knew I didn't want to live there anymore. I had 17 wonderful years but I'm ready to move on.
4. Finally you will get to the 'settling' phase. This is where I am now. I am finally settled. Some may never get to this phase and if so, you may decide to move away. It doesn't matter cause the most important thing is that you have tried. However, if you do reach the settling phase then it is important for you to keep the good things that you have learned from the UK. Not everything from the UK is good. There are many not so good things which I can talk about but that will take a few more posts.
When I say the good things I mean the good attitude such as discipline, punctuality, professionalism, politeness, straight to the point, no pussy-footing, being civilized, treating others equally and with respect. It doesn't matter if you are surrounded by hooligans but it is your behavior and attitude that is important. You do not need to step down to the level of others.You define who you are and remember, Islam defines who we should be.
So, you will start to rebuild your life here in Malaysia. I believe there are so much more opportunities here for you and your children especially when your family are here and your friends are here. No doubt, it is a very strange, colourful and bizarre place; but if you are the type of person who enjoys a busy social life, to experience new and strange things, to spent most of your weekends surrounded by family and friends, to travel and see the most beautiful beaches and natural environments, to improve your skills in dealing with difficult personalities then, this is the place for you. It is a place full of challenges. One thing for sure, life is never boring!
Since I came back to Malaysia, at least another eight of my friends have also returned and not to mention so many others whom have returned before me. I am certain there are many whom I do not know of but have also decided to relocate back to Malaysia.
I have come to a conclusion that there are several things in common amongst those who return from London to Malaysia. Therefore, I would like to provide some tips based on our experiences to those intending to return to Malaysia.
1. When you first come back you will experience the feeling of complete excitement. After all, for most of us, we were born here and grew up here. You will enjoy the 'honeymoon' period, you will appreciate all the little things such as the sound of Adhan (well, I did and still do), the prayer room at every shopping mall and petrol station, the pasar tani, the variety of food and fruits, the 'Teh tarik', the scenery, the people. Everything is new and yet, reminds you of your past.
2. After the 'honeymoon' period which may last up to 2-3 months, you will start to experience some amount of frustration as you encounter things like government agencies, visa issues, work issues and bureaucracy. You will experience the stress of driving and wish that you were back in the UK. You will start to miss certain things like proper driving, efficient system and professionalism. Well, I call this the 'adjustment' period. Things are different here but different doesn't mean better or worse.
Somethings are definitely deficient but other things are better and may compensate for the things that you are missing from the UK. During this period, you may not be able to exactly pin point what are the things that you miss or why you miss them but it doesn't matter, your feelings are validated. You have spent a certain amount of time abroad whether it is 5 years or 17 years (like myself) but you are used to a particular system and now, you have to re-adjust yourself and your expectations. It is not easy and you might feel the resistance to change. Resistance is good because you need to hold on to the good things, the good aspects of UK that you have developed in yourself but you need to let go of other things which may not be so good in order to accommodate yourself in this new environment.
3. This adjustment period may last up to 2 years. It maybe quicker for some people to adjust especially for those who return earlier and it is certainly easier for children to adjust compared to their parents. During this period, you may sometimes wonder "Why the hell did I come back?" You may start to doubt your decision. You may consider moving back to the UK. Indeed, some people do end up moving back to the UK or seeking their fortunes elsewhere in the world.
During this time, it is actually advisable to go back to the UK for a visit. In fact, most of us including myself did exactly just that. No matter how organized you are, you will need to go back to the UK at least within the first 1-2 years of your return to Malaysia. You may need to pick up your tax return check, pay your last bills, sort out your bank account and the most important thing is to go back and remind yourself what you left behind.
There was a real good reason why you decided to leave your built up life of x amount of years, shipped all your possessions half way across the world, drag your children with you and leaving all your friends behind. So, go back and remind yourself why you left. Whilst you are there, use the opportunity to visit your friends, go back to your favourite hang-out place and restaurants, do the things you enjoyed previously and eat the things you loved to eat. You will remember the beautiful life you had, the good times but you will also remember why you decided to leave. (or if not, you may decide you want your old life back)
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed my short visit to the UK seeing all my friends again, eating Ryvita with cream cheese and smoked salmon but...I knew I didn't want to live there anymore. I had 17 wonderful years but I'm ready to move on.
4. Finally you will get to the 'settling' phase. This is where I am now. I am finally settled. Some may never get to this phase and if so, you may decide to move away. It doesn't matter cause the most important thing is that you have tried. However, if you do reach the settling phase then it is important for you to keep the good things that you have learned from the UK. Not everything from the UK is good. There are many not so good things which I can talk about but that will take a few more posts.
When I say the good things I mean the good attitude such as discipline, punctuality, professionalism, politeness, straight to the point, no pussy-footing, being civilized, treating others equally and with respect. It doesn't matter if you are surrounded by hooligans but it is your behavior and attitude that is important. You do not need to step down to the level of others.You define who you are and remember, Islam defines who we should be.
So, you will start to rebuild your life here in Malaysia. I believe there are so much more opportunities here for you and your children especially when your family are here and your friends are here. No doubt, it is a very strange, colourful and bizarre place; but if you are the type of person who enjoys a busy social life, to experience new and strange things, to spent most of your weekends surrounded by family and friends, to travel and see the most beautiful beaches and natural environments, to improve your skills in dealing with difficult personalities then, this is the place for you. It is a place full of challenges. One thing for sure, life is never boring!
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
How to renew your maid's visa in Malaysia without tears
I was totally and utterly amazed at how the process was made so quick and easy for employers.
If this is your first time renewing your maid's visa...
Don't fret! the process is mainly computerized with minimal forms to be filled.
Just make sure you complete the process within 3 months of the visa expiring.
The process is as below:
1. Go to FOMEMA which is at Pusat Bandar Damansara. (please see change of address in comments below) There is a single page form that you need to fill in. Choose the clinic that you would like to conduct the medical examination for your maid. The list is on the board at FOMEMA. You need to bring:
- Maid's passport
- Know her worker's no
- Bank draft - for fees amount, check with FOMEMA. At present for a female is RM190.
- Photocopy of Maid's passport and visa.
new Fomema address is: Changed 25/2/2014
Menara Takaful
level 1, No 4
jalan Sultan Sulaiman
Tel: 03 227222711
The process took virtually half an hour for me. I was given a computer slip to be brought to my chosen clinic.
2. Go to the chosen clinic. The clinic will perform the standard test of checking the urine, Xray, blood and doctor assessment. The process takes around 2-3 hours but you can leave your maid there and go shopping. You can check the results at FOMEMA website within 7-10 days. If your maid has passed her medical examination, the results will say 'proceed to immigration'.
3. Go to immigration. I chose to go to the one at Sri Hartamas which has become my favourite hang out place. The immigration department is within the Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) building adjacent to Mahkamah Syariah. The only problem is lack of parking space but if you're the 'love to walk' type, you can simply park at the Mahkamah Syariah and walk over.
You do not need to fill in any forms. Just bring your maid's passport and your IC. Go to the number counter and take a number. I had to wait around 30-40 minutes but waiting is not a problem when you have a good book to read. When my number was called, I handed over the documents. The lovely immigration officer was very efficient and friendly. She told me to go to the payment counter. You need to check with immigration for the fees. The fees is dependent on the maid's country of origin. I had to pay RM495.00!!!
After completing payment, I handed the passport back to the nice and friendly immigration officer and within 5-10 minutes she returned the passport to me with the visa. I was like..."It's done? Wow! that was quick!"
I don't know what happened but for the first time since I returned to Malaysia, I have to say to a government department, well done for being efficient and for a good experience.
Oh! and if you ever go to Sri Hartamas immigration, you must stop over at Solaris Dutamas which is almost opposite of the KDN building, after the traffic light cross junction by Jalan Duta. It has nice restaurants and coffee shops; just a nice place to hang out with friends.
If this is your first time renewing your maid's visa...
Don't fret! the process is mainly computerized with minimal forms to be filled.
Just make sure you complete the process within 3 months of the visa expiring.
The process is as below:
1. Go to FOMEMA which is at Pusat Bandar Damansara. (please see change of address in comments below) There is a single page form that you need to fill in. Choose the clinic that you would like to conduct the medical examination for your maid. The list is on the board at FOMEMA. You need to bring:
- Maid's passport
- Know her worker's no
- Bank draft - for fees amount, check with FOMEMA. At present for a female is RM190.
- Photocopy of Maid's passport and visa.
new Fomema address is: Changed 25/2/2014
Menara Takaful
level 1, No 4
jalan Sultan Sulaiman
Tel: 03 227222711
The process took virtually half an hour for me. I was given a computer slip to be brought to my chosen clinic.
2. Go to the chosen clinic. The clinic will perform the standard test of checking the urine, Xray, blood and doctor assessment. The process takes around 2-3 hours but you can leave your maid there and go shopping. You can check the results at FOMEMA website within 7-10 days. If your maid has passed her medical examination, the results will say 'proceed to immigration'.
3. Go to immigration. I chose to go to the one at Sri Hartamas which has become my favourite hang out place. The immigration department is within the Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) building adjacent to Mahkamah Syariah. The only problem is lack of parking space but if you're the 'love to walk' type, you can simply park at the Mahkamah Syariah and walk over.
You do not need to fill in any forms. Just bring your maid's passport and your IC. Go to the number counter and take a number. I had to wait around 30-40 minutes but waiting is not a problem when you have a good book to read. When my number was called, I handed over the documents. The lovely immigration officer was very efficient and friendly. She told me to go to the payment counter. You need to check with immigration for the fees. The fees is dependent on the maid's country of origin. I had to pay RM495.00!!!
After completing payment, I handed the passport back to the nice and friendly immigration officer and within 5-10 minutes she returned the passport to me with the visa. I was like..."It's done? Wow! that was quick!"
I don't know what happened but for the first time since I returned to Malaysia, I have to say to a government department, well done for being efficient and for a good experience.
Oh! and if you ever go to Sri Hartamas immigration, you must stop over at Solaris Dutamas which is almost opposite of the KDN building, after the traffic light cross junction by Jalan Duta. It has nice restaurants and coffee shops; just a nice place to hang out with friends.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Applying for Permanent Residency for children less than six years old in Malaysia
My one simple advice to any parent who wants to apply for PR or citizenship for your children. Try to do it when the child is less than six years old. If the child is less than six years old, the process is simple and quick(er). I add the 'er' because in reality it is not actually that quick and may still take more than a year or two years. It is easier though, trust me...I'm a doctor!
So, I'm going to talk about the PR process cause I've talked about citizenship previously. Just go to the local immigration office closest to you. You have to fill up forms and do lots of photocopying. Make sure you photocopy everything and make extra copies just in case...
You and your child will be called for an interview at the immigration office. If the child is more than six years old, the interview process is more complicated involving other government agencies.
Once the interview is over and paper work sorted, you need to wait around 4-6 weeks before you will receive a letter that says "dengan sukacitanya..." meaning your application is successful.
You will then have to pick up your sticker from the main immigration office at Putrajaya. The 'permit masuk' counter is next to the 'pekerja asing' counter so, don't queue in the wrong counter. The 'entrance permit' counter is virtually empty compared to the 'foreign workers' counter.
Go and see the officer. They will take a photocopy of the letter that they sent to you in the first place, photocopy of the child's passport including the last visa sticker and photocopy of your ID. Give them the child's passport and go off for two hours for lunch or sight seeing. Come back in two hours and the passport with sticker will be returned to you. Oh! and you have to pay a fee...but please check with the immigration office as the amount may change over time.
I don't know if the government offices have become more efficient since I've moved to this country or I've just become accustomed to it. Anyway, going to Putrajaya is always a nice trip for us especially visiting the 'Pink Mosque' by the lake.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Applying for a visa for your spouse
This is a straight forward process provided you know what you're doing and you have all of the relevant documents.
1. Get the forms from your local imigration department. You do not need to go to PutraJaya. If you live in Selangor, you can go to Shah Alam or Damansara if you live in KL. There maybe other places but you need to find out.
2. Fill in the forms which is quite A LOT!!! You need to get Signature from PesuruhJaya Tinggi for 2 Surat Akuan (usually will be within same building as the imigration department) and Stamp Duty Chop from Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri for your security bond (LHDN is usually in another building but close by)
3. Hand in all the stuff including all required photocopy of documents.
4. For those who get married overseas please make sure you get a marriage certificate from the mosque or equivalent with the marriage date.
5. You MUST register your marriage at Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri when you return to Malaysia preferably within the first year of your marriage. They will keep your overseas marriage certificate, so make sure you get a few certified copies because Imigration wants to see your overseas certificate as well.
6. If your husband is a convert, make sure he gets a conversion certificate from your local mosque or relevant mosque (in UK it would be Regent's Park Mosque). Of course you DON'T NEED a piece of paper to become a Muslim rather, all you need is to affirm that There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of God; (Shahadah) but for the purpose of imigration, just get a certificate. We are after all dealing with a non-Khilafah country.
7 After handing in all of the forms and documents, they will give you a reference number inside your passport, you ring them in one weeks time and if your application is successful, you bring your passport and get the visa (and of course pay your fees and BOND - I won't tell you how much cause it may change with time but safe to say keep a couple of thousands in your bank)
8. Relevant documents includes husband birth certificate, passport; your ID card, birth certificate and the PASSPORT you had when you got married (not recent), your children's birth certificate and visa or citizenship certificates, marriage certificate etc...
8. MAKE SURE YOU BRING ALL ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS TO BE VERIFIED BY THE OFFICER.
Regarding work/sponsorship:
If your husband has a job, you can apply for permission to work at the same time as the visa application. You must bring the offer letter plus company profile that has been endorsed by the company secretary.
If your husband has not got a job yet, he will need a sponsor. The sponsor could either be yourself (if you are working and earn more than RM2000 a month) or someone else. If it is someone else, they need to fill in one of the forms.
Once your husband gets a job, then you can apply for work permission.
You and your husband MUST be present at the time of application and renewal. The first visa is for 6 months then, potentially annually.
Questions.
Will I get my security bond back?
Only if your husband dies or if the two of you get a divorce (with proper divorce papers)
Is this process the same for wife?
Don't know...
I hope this has been helpful to the relevant people; please note that this is only based on my personal experience and the rules are constantly changing. To find out about the latest guidelines and further information please contact your local imigration office.
1. Get the forms from your local imigration department. You do not need to go to PutraJaya. If you live in Selangor, you can go to Shah Alam or Damansara if you live in KL. There maybe other places but you need to find out.
2. Fill in the forms which is quite A LOT!!! You need to get Signature from PesuruhJaya Tinggi for 2 Surat Akuan (usually will be within same building as the imigration department) and Stamp Duty Chop from Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri for your security bond (LHDN is usually in another building but close by)
3. Hand in all the stuff including all required photocopy of documents.
4. For those who get married overseas please make sure you get a marriage certificate from the mosque or equivalent with the marriage date.
5. You MUST register your marriage at Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri when you return to Malaysia preferably within the first year of your marriage. They will keep your overseas marriage certificate, so make sure you get a few certified copies because Imigration wants to see your overseas certificate as well.
6. If your husband is a convert, make sure he gets a conversion certificate from your local mosque or relevant mosque (in UK it would be Regent's Park Mosque). Of course you DON'T NEED a piece of paper to become a Muslim rather, all you need is to affirm that There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of God; (Shahadah) but for the purpose of imigration, just get a certificate. We are after all dealing with a non-Khilafah country.
7 After handing in all of the forms and documents, they will give you a reference number inside your passport, you ring them in one weeks time and if your application is successful, you bring your passport and get the visa (and of course pay your fees and BOND - I won't tell you how much cause it may change with time but safe to say keep a couple of thousands in your bank)
8. Relevant documents includes husband birth certificate, passport; your ID card, birth certificate and the PASSPORT you had when you got married (not recent), your children's birth certificate and visa or citizenship certificates, marriage certificate etc...
8. MAKE SURE YOU BRING ALL ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS TO BE VERIFIED BY THE OFFICER.
Regarding work/sponsorship:
If your husband has a job, you can apply for permission to work at the same time as the visa application. You must bring the offer letter plus company profile that has been endorsed by the company secretary.
If your husband has not got a job yet, he will need a sponsor. The sponsor could either be yourself (if you are working and earn more than RM2000 a month) or someone else. If it is someone else, they need to fill in one of the forms.
Once your husband gets a job, then you can apply for work permission.
You and your husband MUST be present at the time of application and renewal. The first visa is for 6 months then, potentially annually.
Questions.
Will I get my security bond back?
Only if your husband dies or if the two of you get a divorce (with proper divorce papers)
Is this process the same for wife?
Don't know...
I hope this has been helpful to the relevant people; please note that this is only based on my personal experience and the rules are constantly changing. To find out about the latest guidelines and further information please contact your local imigration office.
Friday, 12 March 2010
Applying for a Medical job in Malaysia
I am going to try and make this short and sweet simply for the benefit of anyone out there planning to come back to Malaysia.
The first thing to do is to apply for registration with MMC (Malaysian Medical Council) so, please refer to my earlier blog. They will give you a letter confirming your full registration (if you qualify) then;
Applying to Kementerian Kesihatan at Putrajaya
Take the letter from MMC and you must fill in 'borang maklumat diri'; KKM is responsible for posting. They decide which hospital or clinic you will work in. They give you 3 choices in the form i.e to choose for your hospital. Once you've filled in the form, hand it in to the person in charge.
You then go to SPA (suruhanjaya perkhidmatan awam) and they do the perlantikan - you can fill in the form online, they will call you for interview within 2-3 weeks and will then give you an offer letter. You will then be contacted by KKM for induction. The process from start to finish is around 2-3 months.
All doctors returning from overseas starts at Gred UD41 (salary around RM3000 - RM4000); For that reason alone, I believe many Malaysian doctors do not want to come back. If you are a specialist, you need to apply to KKM bahagian pakar so, please contact them first.
Applying to University
There are a few new Medical Faculties such as at UiTM, USIM, IIU Medical Faculty and other places. UM and UKM are very much established. Hospital UM is in Petaling Jaya, and HUKM is in Bangi. UPM has its own hospital Putra near Serdang. USIM is in Nilai but its medical faculti is in KL and attached to Hospital Ampang, IIU is in Gombak and UiTM is in Selayang and attached to hospital Sungai Buluh.
Get in touch with someone at the Faculti you're intending to work in e.g. Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine etc...try to make an appointment to see them, hand in your application form with documentations; Each University have their own application forms so, if you're applying to various Universities be prepared to fill in lots of forms and photocopy a lot of your documents. you will be called for an interview. Interviews are conducted every 6-8 weeks.
Once the Medical Faculty have made a decision, they will need to apply to the University itself for their agreement so, this is a very tedious process that can take up to 2-3 months. Even after your application is successful, it takes another few weeks or sometimes a month before you will get your offer letter because it has to be signed by Pendaftar so...YOU MUST HAVE SABR AND TAWAKKAL...
Applying to private
If you are over 45 you are exempted from compulsory service, you can apply to any private hospital, private clinic or private universities; approach the hospital and speak to the person in charge or consultant. They will call you for interview, have their board meeting and offer you a job. Remember to negotiate your salary before hand. The process can still take between 2-3 months depending on how efficient things are.
So, there you go...I think my blog is now complete. I hope that it has been helpful and from now on...I'll just write my thoughts or other experiences from time to time. Those intending to come back, I hope I haven't scared you off and hope that maybe I've inspired you a little...
The first thing to do is to apply for registration with MMC (Malaysian Medical Council) so, please refer to my earlier blog. They will give you a letter confirming your full registration (if you qualify) then;
Applying to Kementerian Kesihatan at Putrajaya
Take the letter from MMC and you must fill in 'borang maklumat diri'; KKM is responsible for posting. They decide which hospital or clinic you will work in. They give you 3 choices in the form i.e to choose for your hospital. Once you've filled in the form, hand it in to the person in charge.
You then go to SPA (suruhanjaya perkhidmatan awam) and they do the perlantikan - you can fill in the form online, they will call you for interview within 2-3 weeks and will then give you an offer letter. You will then be contacted by KKM for induction. The process from start to finish is around 2-3 months.
All doctors returning from overseas starts at Gred UD41 (salary around RM3000 - RM4000); For that reason alone, I believe many Malaysian doctors do not want to come back. If you are a specialist, you need to apply to KKM bahagian pakar so, please contact them first.
Applying to University
There are a few new Medical Faculties such as at UiTM, USIM, IIU Medical Faculty and other places. UM and UKM are very much established. Hospital UM is in Petaling Jaya, and HUKM is in Bangi. UPM has its own hospital Putra near Serdang. USIM is in Nilai but its medical faculti is in KL and attached to Hospital Ampang, IIU is in Gombak and UiTM is in Selayang and attached to hospital Sungai Buluh.
Get in touch with someone at the Faculti you're intending to work in e.g. Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine etc...try to make an appointment to see them, hand in your application form with documentations; Each University have their own application forms so, if you're applying to various Universities be prepared to fill in lots of forms and photocopy a lot of your documents. you will be called for an interview. Interviews are conducted every 6-8 weeks.
Once the Medical Faculty have made a decision, they will need to apply to the University itself for their agreement so, this is a very tedious process that can take up to 2-3 months. Even after your application is successful, it takes another few weeks or sometimes a month before you will get your offer letter because it has to be signed by Pendaftar so...YOU MUST HAVE SABR AND TAWAKKAL...
Applying to private
If you are over 45 you are exempted from compulsory service, you can apply to any private hospital, private clinic or private universities; approach the hospital and speak to the person in charge or consultant. They will call you for interview, have their board meeting and offer you a job. Remember to negotiate your salary before hand. The process can still take between 2-3 months depending on how efficient things are.
So, there you go...I think my blog is now complete. I hope that it has been helpful and from now on...I'll just write my thoughts or other experiences from time to time. Those intending to come back, I hope I haven't scared you off and hope that maybe I've inspired you a little...
Shipping arrived...and advice on what to bring from UK
My shipping arrived from the UK as promised right before Chinese New Year. I must say the shipping company I used was very efficient from the UK end but when it came to Malaysian end...it was very worrying. I didn't know who to contact and when I was given a number, they were very unprofessional. Finally, I was given an office number and managed to speak to a proper person. Anyway, my shipping did arrive Alhamdulillah but I wouldn't recommend this company.
The best thing about bringing back things from the UK is that you have an instant home. It is a nice feeling to have familiar things and the kids seem more relaxed once they have their familiar toys and books.
I didn't bring back a lot of furniture, just the ones I really like. You can get nice furnitures from Malaysia and if you have a big budget, you could get beautiful wood furnitures. Just do some window shopping first and go to proper furniture shops rather than the ones inside the supermarket. Have a look around 'local' shops.
Things you would like to bring back from UK
1. Children's books: Books are expensive in Malaysia although there are some 'book fairs' around - at the moment there's a book fair at Jalan Tunku Abdur Rahman. Otherwise, try and get books from bargain bookshops in the UK (and I'm not talking about Waterstones) or you can get some cheap books from internet bookstores such as 'bookpeople' or 'red house' or amazon.
2. You can get all kitchen items for reasonable price especially if you go to 'Kedai serbaguna'. Cooking pots can be expensive especially branded ones so, if you have those in the UK then, bring them along in your shipping. Also can't seem to find any hand-blender here???
3. Baby items: I would advice you bring back a year's supply of nappies especially if your child is in nappy pants. Nappies are expensive around RM30 - RM40 if you want the good quality ones. I got some promotion packs back in the UK for easy up pants; they cost me £2.99 each. If your child is on powdered milk then, it is a good idea to bring a year's supply as well. Powdered milk here is expensive. However, if your child is already on cow's milk then, you'll be okay. They have fresh milk and full cream milk and low fat milk here. It taste nice (my Luqy loves it) and cost only RM4.50 - RM 5.50 for 1 Litre carton.
4. Spices - you might want to bring back Olive oil, rosemary, mixed herbs and other European spices. You can get them here but they are expensive. If you have a jar of them back in UK, just put them in a box. You can virtually get every kind of food here, you can even get strawberries if you miss them that much but they're just costly. And you know how me and kids love cheese...somehow...we don't seem to love cheese so much here in Malaysia; maybe due to the hot weather like I haven't had chocolates for ages.
5. Clothes: you can get clothes here for reasonable price.If you're one of those 'branded types' then, best to get all your kid's clothes from the UK. I used to get all of my children's clothes during the summer/winter sales and buy it for the whole year or two. Branded clothes are expensive here but you can always get clothes from Pasar Malam if it's only for pyjamas...
My advice from personal experience is that if you're spending for a whole container or half a container then, BRING EVERYTHING WITH YOU.
The best thing about bringing back things from the UK is that you have an instant home. It is a nice feeling to have familiar things and the kids seem more relaxed once they have their familiar toys and books.
I didn't bring back a lot of furniture, just the ones I really like. You can get nice furnitures from Malaysia and if you have a big budget, you could get beautiful wood furnitures. Just do some window shopping first and go to proper furniture shops rather than the ones inside the supermarket. Have a look around 'local' shops.
Things you would like to bring back from UK
1. Children's books: Books are expensive in Malaysia although there are some 'book fairs' around - at the moment there's a book fair at Jalan Tunku Abdur Rahman. Otherwise, try and get books from bargain bookshops in the UK (and I'm not talking about Waterstones) or you can get some cheap books from internet bookstores such as 'bookpeople' or 'red house' or amazon.
2. You can get all kitchen items for reasonable price especially if you go to 'Kedai serbaguna'. Cooking pots can be expensive especially branded ones so, if you have those in the UK then, bring them along in your shipping. Also can't seem to find any hand-blender here???
3. Baby items: I would advice you bring back a year's supply of nappies especially if your child is in nappy pants. Nappies are expensive around RM30 - RM40 if you want the good quality ones. I got some promotion packs back in the UK for easy up pants; they cost me £2.99 each. If your child is on powdered milk then, it is a good idea to bring a year's supply as well. Powdered milk here is expensive. However, if your child is already on cow's milk then, you'll be okay. They have fresh milk and full cream milk and low fat milk here. It taste nice (my Luqy loves it) and cost only RM4.50 - RM 5.50 for 1 Litre carton.
4. Spices - you might want to bring back Olive oil, rosemary, mixed herbs and other European spices. You can get them here but they are expensive. If you have a jar of them back in UK, just put them in a box. You can virtually get every kind of food here, you can even get strawberries if you miss them that much but they're just costly. And you know how me and kids love cheese...somehow...we don't seem to love cheese so much here in Malaysia; maybe due to the hot weather like I haven't had chocolates for ages.
5. Clothes: you can get clothes here for reasonable price.If you're one of those 'branded types' then, best to get all your kid's clothes from the UK. I used to get all of my children's clothes during the summer/winter sales and buy it for the whole year or two. Branded clothes are expensive here but you can always get clothes from Pasar Malam if it's only for pyjamas...
My advice from personal experience is that if you're spending for a whole container or half a container then, BRING EVERYTHING WITH YOU.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Applying for Citizenship for your child
If you are Malaysian and your child is non-citizen, you can apply for citizenship with Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN). Again, most people would skip this section as it may not apply to them but I hope it is informative to many others.
This is by NO means official at all, again simply based on my understanding. For further information contact your local JPN Department. Please correct me if any of these information are wrong or if things have changed.
1. You pick up a form from JPN and fill it in; and photocopy all the documents requested e.g. child's and parent's birth certificate, passport, ID card (if you have one), marriage certificate etc...
2. Take forms and documents ALONG WITH THE ORIGINALS to JPN counter. You do not need to go to PutraJaya, you can go to any local JPN that deals with citizenship. (I must say the JPN in Shah Alam provides tip-tip service! Very clean, new building and no waiting at all). You MUST bring your child; they need to be finger-printed.
3. You need to pay RM10.00 processing fee and they will give you BORANG B which you need to apply for schooling. It is a receipt of your application.
4. The process takes 24-36 months.
5. If your application is successful, they will send you a letter inviting you to pick up another letter from KDN (Kementerian Dalam Negeri). You go to KDN at a specific time and place to pick up the letter. If you can't make that specific date, you MUST inform them in advance and organise for another date or you can pick the letter from KDN at PutraJaya. However, you must bring your child/children along.
6. After picking up that letter from KDN as a confirmation of your child's citizenship, you take the letter to any JPN and you will be asked to pay a fee of RM100 and give recent copy of passport photograph of your child (I think it is 3 copies???).
7. It then takes another 3-6 months before your child will get their certificate. Hence, they still can't apply for schooling as citizens according to Jabatan Pelajaran.
Don't know about you, I am completely lost by now and still confused about the status! Best to still apply for social pass visa.
DECLARATION: Above information is based on personal knowledge not based on any official capacity. For official information visit JPN/KDN website or please contact them directly. You will find useful addresses and phone numbers at their website
This is by NO means official at all, again simply based on my understanding. For further information contact your local JPN Department. Please correct me if any of these information are wrong or if things have changed.
1. You pick up a form from JPN and fill it in; and photocopy all the documents requested e.g. child's and parent's birth certificate, passport, ID card (if you have one), marriage certificate etc...
2. Take forms and documents ALONG WITH THE ORIGINALS to JPN counter. You do not need to go to PutraJaya, you can go to any local JPN that deals with citizenship. (I must say the JPN in Shah Alam provides tip-tip service! Very clean, new building and no waiting at all). You MUST bring your child; they need to be finger-printed.
3. You need to pay RM10.00 processing fee and they will give you BORANG B which you need to apply for schooling. It is a receipt of your application.
4. The process takes 24-36 months.
5. If your application is successful, they will send you a letter inviting you to pick up another letter from KDN (Kementerian Dalam Negeri). You go to KDN at a specific time and place to pick up the letter. If you can't make that specific date, you MUST inform them in advance and organise for another date or you can pick the letter from KDN at PutraJaya. However, you must bring your child/children along.
6. After picking up that letter from KDN as a confirmation of your child's citizenship, you take the letter to any JPN and you will be asked to pay a fee of RM100 and give recent copy of passport photograph of your child (I think it is 3 copies???).
7. It then takes another 3-6 months before your child will get their certificate. Hence, they still can't apply for schooling as citizens according to Jabatan Pelajaran.
Don't know about you, I am completely lost by now and still confused about the status! Best to still apply for social pass visa.
DECLARATION: Above information is based on personal knowledge not based on any official capacity. For official information visit JPN/KDN website or please contact them directly. You will find useful addresses and phone numbers at their website
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Bureaucracy, bureaucracy, bureaucracy
24th December 2009
A day before Christmas...I am imagining in Britain there will be mad rush for shopping, people going off on holidays, cooking Turkey etc...but over here, life is as usual. No shopping stress or mad rush. (there's always mad drivers though)
Anyway, today was my first encounter with the government agency. Went to KDN at PutraJaya to get a document. I was warned many times by my friends about the bureaucracy here and boy! they do not dissappoint. This was my first encounter and every encounter after that was as bad as this one...There is always something that is not right, wrong forms, wrong documents, can't find the relevant documents, need more photocopying, need documents from another agency, the person dealing with the issue has gone for lunch and the list goes on and on....
Well...at least they were very friendly and polite. When they couldn't find the document I needed. They said to me "Puan, bertenang dulu" (ma'am, be calm) and that really made me more panicked. It so happened they couldn't find the document and I had to call back. They promised to try and find it as soon as possible. Anyway, fast forward a few days...finally they found the document a week later. Point is...if you're dealing with these kind of stuff you need a lot of patience and perseverence. It is truly character building. You need to truly self-reflect. I thought about a lot of things whilst I was waiting in that air-conditioned room, in a nice comfy chair...like
1. This wait is nothing compared to the wait in Akhirah. I am comfortable, I am sitting down, it is not hot, there's no sun on top of my head and me drowning in my sweat. It made me think a lot about myself and how I have been very spoilt.
2. Have I become a very demanding Westerner expecting things to fall at my feet? Everyone else is sitting calmly...waiting and waiting...Do I lack Sabr (patience)? Am I a spoilt-brat? Is making a fuss or being over demanding or complaining too much makes me...emm...British?
Anyway, I'm sure we require a more effective and efficient system but at the same time self reflection and remembering Akhirah is a good thing.
Some useful information about Government offices:
They are usually open by 8.30am
They close for lunch between 1 - 2pm
They close and everyone ready to go home by 5pm
Make sure you bring your ID card with you; you need it to enter the building.
Bring all documents necessary plus extra photocopies
If you are waiting for a specific document to be ready for collection, call first.
Always ask the name of the person you speak to on the phone for reference when you come to pick up your document.
A day before Christmas...I am imagining in Britain there will be mad rush for shopping, people going off on holidays, cooking Turkey etc...but over here, life is as usual. No shopping stress or mad rush. (there's always mad drivers though)
Anyway, today was my first encounter with the government agency. Went to KDN at PutraJaya to get a document. I was warned many times by my friends about the bureaucracy here and boy! they do not dissappoint. This was my first encounter and every encounter after that was as bad as this one...There is always something that is not right, wrong forms, wrong documents, can't find the relevant documents, need more photocopying, need documents from another agency, the person dealing with the issue has gone for lunch and the list goes on and on....
Well...at least they were very friendly and polite. When they couldn't find the document I needed. They said to me "Puan, bertenang dulu" (ma'am, be calm) and that really made me more panicked. It so happened they couldn't find the document and I had to call back. They promised to try and find it as soon as possible. Anyway, fast forward a few days...finally they found the document a week later. Point is...if you're dealing with these kind of stuff you need a lot of patience and perseverence. It is truly character building. You need to truly self-reflect. I thought about a lot of things whilst I was waiting in that air-conditioned room, in a nice comfy chair...like
1. This wait is nothing compared to the wait in Akhirah. I am comfortable, I am sitting down, it is not hot, there's no sun on top of my head and me drowning in my sweat. It made me think a lot about myself and how I have been very spoilt.
2. Have I become a very demanding Westerner expecting things to fall at my feet? Everyone else is sitting calmly...waiting and waiting...Do I lack Sabr (patience)? Am I a spoilt-brat? Is making a fuss or being over demanding or complaining too much makes me...emm...British?
Anyway, I'm sure we require a more effective and efficient system but at the same time self reflection and remembering Akhirah is a good thing.
Some useful information about Government offices:
They are usually open by 8.30am
They close for lunch between 1 - 2pm
They close and everyone ready to go home by 5pm
Make sure you bring your ID card with you; you need it to enter the building.
Bring all documents necessary plus extra photocopies
If you are waiting for a specific document to be ready for collection, call first.
Always ask the name of the person you speak to on the phone for reference when you come to pick up your document.
Monday, 15 February 2010
My encounter with MMC
11th December 2009
Today I had my first encounter with a Malaysian Government Agency; I went to visit MMC (Malaysian Medical Council) with my dad. It was nice to be treated with respect and be called 'Doctor'; never felt respected before in UK as a doctor. Even my dad got confused when they started calling me “doctor” and he was saying, “Which doctor?”; I guess it never occurred to him that his little daughter is now somebody respectable. It was quite funny actually.
I kept asking her questions about my application and after every question, she would say...”nanti, saya tanya pegawai (hold on, let me ask the officer in charge)” and I'm thinking to myself, if you can't answer any of my questions without speaking to the pegawai (officer) then, why don't I just speak to the officer myself; but apparently that is how things are done here. At least, she was very polite and nice.
I quickly realised that when it comes to government applications, I must take documents, photocopying, dates and endorsement very seriously. Even if you get one thing 'wrong', like the wrong colour form or undated documents, things will become 10 times more difficult. Every photocopy document has to be stamped and endorsed by a lawyer or some government official.
My advice to anyone considering to register with MMC:
1.Download the application form from MMC website and fill everything in. They will give you a list of all documentations that is required.
2.Make sure you get a testimonial from your consultant after every job that you have completed. If you can't get one from your consultant then, get one from the Medical personnel or in my case, from my VTS co-ordinator. The testimonial is very simple; it just needs to say something like....
“This is to confirm that Dr so and so was working at so and so hospital as a (grade) in (what specialty) from what date to what date”. If you want to give more information for e.g. On your performance or duties then you can add those things.
MMC requires testomony from all jobs you did within the last 3 years. However, I would recommend that you get testimonial from all jobs you ever did because you will need that if you are applying for job at Kementerian Kesihatan or some University Hospital application. If you are a GP trained in UK (like me) then it is easier to get a testimony from your VTS co-ordinator stating all the jobs you did during your VTS rotation. That means you do not need to approach all of your ex-consultants which could be tricky if they had retired, on prolonged leave or on holiday.
2.Make sure all your documents are photocopied and that the photocopies are endorsed by a lawyer or medical officer (like the GMC or equivalent) or Malaysian Hicom.
3.If your certificate is for some reason (like mine!!!) undated then, make sure you get them dated by your medical school/hospital. Otherwise MMC might have to call them to confirm that you did qualify from that Medical school.
4.It is better to send your application by hand (even if it is via someone else like family member or trusted friend) rather than post – as it has been known to get lost (not by the post-office) and make sure that you get a notice of receipt. You can make your application whilst still in the UK, post it to your family member and get them to take it for you to MMC. They will still need to see your original copies but you can do that later when you have arrived in Malaysia.
5.A top tip is if you are more than 45 years old, you are exempted from compulsory service so, you can go straight into private work (I believe – unless they change this man made law again).
So, that is the boring bit I'm afraid but pretty useful information I hope for those who are now in my position. When I decided to write down my experiences, it was also with the intention of helping those like me. Alhamdulillah I did get some useful tips from people but most of the time I was in the dark, groping for some light or rope or whatever to guide me to where I wanted to go. Most people who were in my position had established their lives and moved on. Many have forgotten all the details of their plight and little annoyances that they went through to get to where they are. I don't blame them. Nobody wants to remember details of their dealings with government officials. Even for me, it all seems a long time ago but I wanted to put this down in my blog for the benefit of anyone out there considering to return to Malaysia. I just hope that it will prepare them for some of the difficulties ahead.
Link to MMC website for information
http://www.mmc.gov.my/v1/
Today I had my first encounter with a Malaysian Government Agency; I went to visit MMC (Malaysian Medical Council) with my dad. It was nice to be treated with respect and be called 'Doctor'; never felt respected before in UK as a doctor. Even my dad got confused when they started calling me “doctor” and he was saying, “Which doctor?”; I guess it never occurred to him that his little daughter is now somebody respectable. It was quite funny actually.
I kept asking her questions about my application and after every question, she would say...”nanti, saya tanya pegawai (hold on, let me ask the officer in charge)” and I'm thinking to myself, if you can't answer any of my questions without speaking to the pegawai (officer) then, why don't I just speak to the officer myself; but apparently that is how things are done here. At least, she was very polite and nice.
I quickly realised that when it comes to government applications, I must take documents, photocopying, dates and endorsement very seriously. Even if you get one thing 'wrong', like the wrong colour form or undated documents, things will become 10 times more difficult. Every photocopy document has to be stamped and endorsed by a lawyer or some government official.
My advice to anyone considering to register with MMC:
1.Download the application form from MMC website and fill everything in. They will give you a list of all documentations that is required.
2.Make sure you get a testimonial from your consultant after every job that you have completed. If you can't get one from your consultant then, get one from the Medical personnel or in my case, from my VTS co-ordinator. The testimonial is very simple; it just needs to say something like....
“This is to confirm that Dr so and so was working at so and so hospital as a (grade) in (what specialty) from what date to what date”. If you want to give more information for e.g. On your performance or duties then you can add those things.
MMC requires testomony from all jobs you did within the last 3 years. However, I would recommend that you get testimonial from all jobs you ever did because you will need that if you are applying for job at Kementerian Kesihatan or some University Hospital application. If you are a GP trained in UK (like me) then it is easier to get a testimony from your VTS co-ordinator stating all the jobs you did during your VTS rotation. That means you do not need to approach all of your ex-consultants which could be tricky if they had retired, on prolonged leave or on holiday.
2.Make sure all your documents are photocopied and that the photocopies are endorsed by a lawyer or medical officer (like the GMC or equivalent) or Malaysian Hicom.
3.If your certificate is for some reason (like mine!!!) undated then, make sure you get them dated by your medical school/hospital. Otherwise MMC might have to call them to confirm that you did qualify from that Medical school.
4.It is better to send your application by hand (even if it is via someone else like family member or trusted friend) rather than post – as it has been known to get lost (not by the post-office) and make sure that you get a notice of receipt. You can make your application whilst still in the UK, post it to your family member and get them to take it for you to MMC. They will still need to see your original copies but you can do that later when you have arrived in Malaysia.
5.A top tip is if you are more than 45 years old, you are exempted from compulsory service so, you can go straight into private work (I believe – unless they change this man made law again).
So, that is the boring bit I'm afraid but pretty useful information I hope for those who are now in my position. When I decided to write down my experiences, it was also with the intention of helping those like me. Alhamdulillah I did get some useful tips from people but most of the time I was in the dark, groping for some light or rope or whatever to guide me to where I wanted to go. Most people who were in my position had established their lives and moved on. Many have forgotten all the details of their plight and little annoyances that they went through to get to where they are. I don't blame them. Nobody wants to remember details of their dealings with government officials. Even for me, it all seems a long time ago but I wanted to put this down in my blog for the benefit of anyone out there considering to return to Malaysia. I just hope that it will prepare them for some of the difficulties ahead.
Link to MMC website for information
http://www.mmc.gov.my/v1/
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