E-housemen done. Now What?

Post e-housemen, you might be wondering what to do.

You have read the offer letter and they involve some very foreign things. Fret not! It's actually rather simple. Unless you have to find accommodation and move, then it's not so simple, but it's part of growing up so yay!

Anyway.

Remember those forms from before? Copy them, at least twice, so you have 3 copies. Keep them in a special file. We'll call it 'Special File'.

What forms?! You ask.

Okay, let me explain lah...
And for the stuff below that you can keep in a file, keep them in that Special File for ease.

1) By now you would already have received your SPA offer letter. You can't fill out e-housemen without it after all. With that offer letter, they would have given you 3 copies of Surat Terima Pelantikan, and would have asked you to download the other two items from their site online (portal SPA): the Surat Akuan Sumpah (SPA.6C) and Borang Pemeriksaan Doktor untuk pelantikan ke Perkhidmatan Kerajaan.

This requires seeing a medical officer and above, and also a commisioner of oaths, or pesuruhjaya sumpah.
And make sure someone witnessed your medical check-up forms prior to doing the medical check-up!

THESE things, complete them before your PTM date and make at least 2 copies. Then make 3 more copies just to be sure so you have 6 copies. If you have the money and printer, make as many copies as you can afford to without being (too) ridiculous.

Then keep them safe.

2) Do you have a KWSP account? No? Then, please go to the nearest KWSP branch and sign up. All you need is your IC with a working chip. They have super useful kiosks with very helpful and friendly staff to help you (especially the one in Kajang, don't ask me why I went to several KWSP branches lol). Not a single cent to spend, too! Keep the slip of registration, then activate your iAkaun online. You can do that in the office itself or at the comfort of your home.

If you've just made your KWSP account, you will have no account statement available to print. For now I merely made several copies of my registration confirmation slip and had a couple verified, just to be safe. I am sure the hospital admin will brief you on this later (along with the account verification, see number 5).

3) Take/print out passport pictures. Lots of them. I believe there will always be a need for more passport pictures in your entire working life. Print out 12, why not.

I suggest 20 at least, to be scattered to the winds so that you can find smaller stacks of them if you happen to forget where you put the initial stack. Dead serious yo.

4) Make your official stamp and name tag. Many people say the hospital can do this for you, but it's always better to be prepared (and have extras). Therefore, make them yourself. A portable type of stamp with 5 lines cost me RM 33 per stamp. I made 2. The normal non-shiny name tags, in large, cost me RM 5.50 each.

For my stamp, the details I included were:

DR. FULL NAME

MBBS (UNI NAME)

PEGAWAI PERUBATAN UD41

MMC NO. 12345

HOSPITAL NAME

Centered and CAPSed, the lot of it.

Many chose to omit the name of uni, but I've been posted to that hospital before and all the HOs I saw had their uni name in their stamp, so I figured better safe than sorry. Also I am rather proud of my alma mater, no matter what people say. 'Tis the time to be proud of your alma mater, and make them proud!

But to be safe, the format most used is without uni name, and with the words 'Pegawai Perubatan Siswazah' (not Pegawai Perubatan UD41) to emphasize your provisionally-registered status. Haha.

Each hospital has their own way of making your official chop. In most hospitals, they do not actually mind how your chop is organized as long as the details are true and you don't misuse it.

Also, if you lose your official chop, you have to make a police report. No kidding. So keep it safe!

5) Go to your current bank account- the checking account, that is- and ask for an account verification to be printed out. I believe if you have one of those tiny books (buku simpanan) you just need to copy that, but most of us these days do not.

In any case, just go to the information counter and say you are to start working and your employer requires your account details. They know what you need, and will ask for your bank card/IC (can't remember which or if it's both, but it's something you should have with you at all times anyway). Then they will immediately print out a single sheet with your name, IC number and account number, among other things. The bank staff will stamp it with that particular branch's special chop, and sign it- these are required. It takes almost no time at all and doesn't cost a single cent.

I did this in CIMB, and on top of the document are the words 'CASA Account Relationship Inquiry'. If you have several accounts in the same card, make sure you remember the account number that you want your checking account to be- as the document will only state one account number.

Make copies and have them verified.

6) Photocopy (at least 3 but I recommend ~10) and place in Special File:

• SPM results
• Medical degree
• MMC temporary practicing certificate
• SPA offer letter
• Own IC
• Birth certificate
• Parents' IC (Unsure if needed now; will update later) - You actually do not need this, but you will need to know your parents' full names, IC numbers, addresses, phone numbers and marriage date (?) to fill out your HRMIS form later when you report to your respective hospitals (after PTM).

Currently, other than the account statement I am not 100% sure if you need to verify any of the above copies. You may do so to several copies, to be safe.  My hospital administration did not require verified copies and only asked for ONE copy of each thing- maximum 2, one of which they returned to me anyway (the Surat Penempatan from KKM, the one you print after filling out e-Housemen). I think it's because they cared enough to photocopy the documents on their own, because I've heard friends from other hospitals required more than 3 copies of each thing!

7) The rest of the items on your KKM letter of placement will be done during hospital orientation/after PTM, so don't worry. This includes surat akujanji, laporan perubahan, and tapisan keselamatan kasar- the latter of which is fully online. Source of information: Call to KKM.

The tapisan keselamatan can be done after your PTM, but if you are unsure just wait until your hospital orientation. They will guide you on how to properly fill out your details.

8) For those posted far away from home, this is the time to start looking for rentals, movers and transportation methods. I will probably update my personal thoughts on moving in coming posts, to make it easier for first-time movers- at least based on my very green experience. Many do not bring enough things to hire movers and can ask their parents or other family members to help. That is even better :)

May Allah ease everything!



P/S.: This info will hopefully be updated periodically as I discover more of the proper methods, after having done them and confirmed them with suitable individuals/authorities.

E-Housemen: The Force Awakens

I have gone through the much-anticipated, arrhythmia-inducing process of applying through e-Housemen and would like to share it here... To the best of my abilities.

Sorry for the lack of screenies because as you may know, it is a very rushed process and you cannot backtrack to the actual forms once you are done.

In preparation, 

I read the e-housemen guidebook which can be found online or after the KKM e-mail reaches you. I read it again and again to familiarize myself with the steps listed.

I sought to be in a place where the internet is strongest. This means NO MOBILE INTERNET and possibly leaving the comfort of your own home to be in the cyber cafe... Or to a friend's house. I noticed a lot of people living in more remote areas had the problem of their process 'hanging' due to unfavourable internet connection or device capability.

Prepare your best device. Try to avoid cellphones, and use a PC that is not ancient or overencumbered. Most laptops work fine. Make sure you are able to type accurately and comfortably on that device.

I prepared my own information: SPA reference number (the one you need to fill in the acceptance letter, as written on your offer letter from SPA), full name, phone number, current correspondence address; most of these were already filled in but I double checked anyway. These I sequestered on a word document for easy copypasta.

I prepared the information for all my family members i.e. parents and siblings. This may include your spouse and children if you are married. Information needed: IC no., full name, local residential address (no option for other countries which I think is a major drawback), age, cellphone number, job. All in CAPS. There will be several rather redundant dropdown options for each family member, which are: Ethnicity, occupation field, occupation sector... They can slow you down more than you think. But my advice is not to leave any family member behind, or omit their details, to the best of your ability. There have been several people advising us to just skip all but one family member's details to get to the placement window quicker. Being the person that I am, I am not capable of doing such a thing, as they have warned you to fill in everything. I think knowingly omitting to key in your family members is kind of like falsifying your information.

I also opted for the Chrome autofill and autocomplete functions to be turned on so that the info is easily filled in. For autocomplete, I included my name, cellphone number, correspondence address in CAPS. I tried finding ways to input other necessary information into autocomplete; I think in the end, you may put anything in the name/address/phone number blanks which may be used in autofill once you start typing out in forms on your browser. You can try it.

You should also prepare mentally and spiritually. This is to ensure you have the smoothest process and choose what is best for you. This includes prayers, family and friend support, and basically gearing yourself up to not get your first choice (or even your second or third). Be prepared to lose and hope for the best!

You should have registered earlier according to your date of offer letter. It only requires your IC number, and the registration usually opens a couple of days before the application date. Be alert as it may open before the KKM email reaches you. On the registration date, your IC number is taken as your login name, and you will have to create your password for your login process. Retrospective advice? Make your password as easy and short as possible. It would help in the frenzy of application day.

On the day of applications

Ensure you wake up bright and early on the day the system opens and have had your breakfast.

Park your laptop somewhere close to the wifi router, or plug in the internet cable one hour prior (okay, 30 to 15 minutes before is actually very acceptable too).

Make sure you have all other unnecessary applications on your computer turned off- especially those that drain data.

Open website at http://ehousemen.moh.gov.my and find the Login page.

Log. In.

I started furiously logging in close to 15 minutes prior to my PC clock turning 12:00; I actually started trying 45 minutes prior and kept trying in shorter and shorter intervals, up until it turned 11:55, at which point my friend and I were inputting our login details continuously until we got accepted into the system at about 12:04. I lost count of the number of times I was denied access. I thought the people manning the servers might be having a chuckle about how kiasu people can be. In my defense, THIS CONCERNS A COUPLE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL YEARS OF MY LIFE OMG. Being cool just doesn't cut it!

Once I entered the systems, I noticed that most of my info was already keyed in in the first part of the form. I double-checked (rushingly) and filled out/chose the rest that is necessary: the No. Rujukan SPA, place of birth, number of siblings, religion, marital status, citizenship, number of children and sponsorship. From the e-housemen guide, these options can be seen. Then I clicked Seterusnya.

We come to the Family tab, which is probably the most time-consuming of all tabs. You may choose to ignore this tab in favour of moving forward more quickly in accordance to some people's advice. My advice is DON'T DO THAT as you should have read earlier. Here the info I have mentioned in preparation is needed. Sometimes it's quicker to type 'em in. It depends on how proficient you are at copying and pasting, or typing out information- which says a lot about your undergraduate days (hint hint)! Persevere in putting in your family credentials! I was being verbally obnoxious about it but my friend kept reminding me that your family is a blessing. You know it's true, but in the moment do you really? *laughs* When the youngest sibling has been completed, I gave my entire family a once-over, making sure the names and IC numbers and family relations are correct (rushingly), then clicked Seterusnya.

Then we come to the most confusing (but briefest) tab which is the Education tab. According to the manual this is for other qualifications than SPM and your medical degree; with the drop-down you can see it actually involves your pre-university courses or other degrees you may have taken. Foundation is notably not included. Some people who did the university foundation course just chose 'TIADA'; others put 'LAIN-LAIN', and chose the year they finished said pre-university programme regardless. Then click Seterusnya.

FINALLY the most important tab. Shriek!
This goes without saying, as you have probably visualised doing this a thousand times by the time you get to this spot. I know I did.

It's simple enough- you can choose to place yourself in a hospital or delay.

Choose your chosen hospital's state from the drop-down menu, then choose the hospital with available vacancies in that state in the drop-down menu below it. Make sure you choose the correct hospital as some states have several similar-sounding hospitals (notably, JB) and in the process you might not have noticed. Check as many times as you can afford, choose the hospital and send.

If your chosen hospital is not there, choose your next best hospital. If you refuse, and this has already been discussed with those who matter to you, you may delay instead by going to the Penangguhan tab. No one I know did this but the instructions are in the official guide.

They will confirm your chosen hospital with the next window. Read the name of the hospital and the state. Commit yourself as you cannot change this! Click on the 'PENGAKUAN' checkbox. Confirm your choice and hit send again.

A pop-up will appear! You have succeeded! Hooray! Praise be to God!

Print out your offer letter (saved in the computer as PDF form).
Screenie.
Post it on social media.
Go wild.

And pray to God you're prepared enough for a life as an HO in less than two months!


As for me, alhamdulillah. I got my first choice.
As soon as this was done with, my friend and I went to eat and settle some stuff, and we made our hospital stamps/chop and name tags.

Now I'm in the process of finding appropriate accommodation choices and thinking up ways to transport a gazillion books to said place before my PTM starts. OTL.