Hi all.

Many of JPA scholars seem to be breaking their bond by applying jobs themselves and started working. We finished our studies last month in July btw. One already started training in overseas by private company, another going to MNC to work, another busy looking for work.

So one of my best friend who is also JPA scholar saw this and he too applied for a company himself and got offered rm3k/month. Now he is wondering whether to proceed on like the rest, and I too am concern. I did advise him not to.

Will the government know these people are breaking bonds? They seem to think the system is flawed and went with a head start anyway. Did anyone of you JPA scholars get catch by government before?

Are you sure you cannot work at all? As far as I concern, you can go and apply for the work but when they call and ask you to report duty, you should be ready to resign from your current job, and most of the time almost immediately. Speaking from experience, most of my friends wait for almost 1 year for the call and some of them even get released by JPA because there was no vacancy after 1 year. If you ask the officer, some of them will say that you can work with other company but be smart. Dont let them know.

Better to start working first. The government is currently undergoing a massive cost cutting exercise and hiring for non-critical positions has been frozen until further notice. Just submit your job application through SPA and go find a job elsewhere for the time being. Once a whole year lapses you can write in to request your bond be excused.

Oh okay thank you. Then I'll advise my friend to do so then. The MNC company did tie one of my friend into a contract of one year with the company.

Okay thanks. That's what they thought as well. Anyway I'll advise my friend to proceed with the job offer then.

for non critical courses, it is common for the gov to fail to offer a job to scholars...and if they don't/cannot give you a job after 6 months, you can apply for release from the bond....and will get it...

It's engineering though.

engineering is not a critical course...that refers to medicine/dentistry/pharmacy...many engineering scholars have been released...

jpa however, has never released any scholar in a critical course....although this may change, now that there are too many doctors....but unlikely...

yup. agree. engineering is not consider as critical course. most of my friends who did an engineering course released by JPA.

Well can break first, later think..
Don't headache.. Be happy..

how to apply jpa now?I want to try my luck(my mum cant afford to send me to uni without full scholarship)

Government knows.....government doesn't care

government doesn't want to absorb you into the civil service because:
it's running out of money
it doesn't want smart people showing how stupid the senior members of the civil service is, you have got a lot of unemployable IPTA graduates working in the civil service. So if you are an overseas graduate, very senang to show how incompetent the whole machinery is.

If you are able to find a job in the private sector, just go ahead and take it up. In fact I know a few who actually stayed abroad to work. Did not bother to lapor diri.......JPA also did not follow-up.

Technically, the JPA scholars do not break their bond if they decide to apply for jobs themselves.

Only when JPA call them to start working for JPA (or other companies as approved by JPA), and they refuse to abide by JPA call, then they are breaking their bond with JPA.

JPA can and will go after the scholars' guarantors if they break the bond without paying the penalty. JPA has so much experience dealing with these rogue JPA scholars, and one should not underestimate JPA's resolve to "handle" them.

Tell your friends.

If your friend is working in malaysia, regardless of local or foreign company, your friend can join the star program from talent Corp. Which technically can 'transfer' the bond to the current company. Nowadays gov so poor and couldn't afford to add more positions.

Hi guys

Do you know how to apply to release my bond? It is been 1 year since i registered in SPA.

This! They are getting stricter since a few years ago. I just graduated and haven't lapor diri yet, have to do it asap.

I might also ask for a release after 1 whole year

Just apply for a job and start working first. Dont sign any contract. In the current economic situation, you cannot afford to sit around.

can always work first, I know that some of the MNC outside is actually a partner with JPA and JPA would recognize those company as a place for their scholars to work.

You may want to check the JPA website for these.

Im already working but jpa didnt call me for work. I want to know how to apply to release my bond...

I will just continue working and not bother about the release letter. Understand that you use the scholarship and the obligation is there. Unless its absolutely necessary. If you are an enginner and if you insist on a release, they may just post you to the Statistics department and you will rot there for a number of years.

Hey guys, did you guys heard about Scholarship Talent Attraction and Retention (STAR) program?
Here is the quick intro about STAR program:

The Scholarship Talent Attraction & Retention (STAR) initiative is a collaborative effort between the Public Service Department (JPA) and TalentCorp that allows JPA scholars to serve their government bond in the private sector as a way of contributing back to the nation.
https://star.talentcorp.com.my/

Will this force us to work in Malaysia? Any ideas about the consequence when we reject or didnt apply STAR? I am planing to work oversea instead of public or private company in Malaysia.

Gomen will not force you unless you INSIST you want to work with them. Even then, they will tell you that they will notify you if there is a vacancy...that's a big IF...

A few of my cousin also under JPA and JPA has not provide jobs for few years ago already.

All of them cari sendiri jobs, majority has been release by JPA.

Yes its quite normal. You still need to go normal interview if you want to be hired as PTD for example (online exam, PAC assessment etc)

Can I know, so if one did not apply for STAR will not not facing any serious consequences right? If we just apply for SPA only.

Well I don't know about your programmes but according to mine, I am only obliged to work in Malaysia, be it private or public sector

Maybe my batch got lucky

Most, if not all of the JPA scholars that I know are forced to come back after their studies. But not all of them have to work or the Gov. Most go in to private sector.

Does it include foreign-trained medicine and dentistry graduates when gomen is short of housemanship slots ?

This post has been edited by zeng: Nov 24 2017, 07:48 PM

Ahh apologies but that one I am not sure.

From our correspondence, I observe that TalentCorp is quite explicit about the fact that they don't search out employment for you as a scholar, and based on what I see, there really isn't a way in which you can be compelled to work somewhere because of the nature of the scholarship beyond their calling you for interviews for the five jobs that you are obligated to apply for in the public sector.

Essentially, if you're a scholar, >>read your contract properly to understand what you can or cannot do, and make sure that you have a logical justification for why you do what you do, and that you have a paper trail documentation of correspondences with your scholarship agency and every single relevant stakeholder in your scholarship contract. <<

This post has been edited by Exoflare: Nov 26 2017, 12:20 AM

Based on what I observe from my correspondences, you need to apply for STAR, which should not be a problem if you have successfully completed the reporting process with SPA - You actually need to complete the reporting process before you can apply for STAR, so yeah that's not going to be an issue.

On the other hand, you should not be fearful of STAR because that will provide you with a host of job opportunities, and you will not be *compelled* to take a job that you do not want in Malaysia in any scenario. Although STAR does not actively secure employment for scholars, TalentCorp has an incentive to ensure that you stay in Malaysia, has an incentive to ensure that you are gainfully employed, and will probably make you ask yourself at some point what will happen if you work with a company locally but are posted overseas, or would like to work on contract or start a company amongst other things because you recognise that certain skills that you possess from your training cannot be put into the market otherwise.

The latter part of this line of thinking is something that I am presently trying to investigate.

Seems like it's the same deal for me. Are you JPA Ivy League dan Setara, or one of the bursary kids?

Program khas engineering KJPJ
Im studying in germany now

It is not a bad idea to make some money first while waiting for JPA

Pandai pun!

Im currently served for the gvermnt but intended to resign...received this offer 3 years after graduated but not applied for contract release...course in engineering..is it okay to resign without need to pay back the fine?...

can try appeal for early release.

Youve done it? Or any of ur frens?

my colleague. managed to get it. must give proper reason tho.

Ouh...interesting, mind if i get more detail on it ? Or can i contact him/her?

This issue has been for decades because too many scholars are being sponsored by JPA in a particular time. Unlike other private/statutory bodies scholars, they are hired immediately after they complete their undergraduate studies.

changed his no. so don't hv. you can try to check jpa website.

I am a graduate who work in private sector under the STAR programme. And it made no difference to your life at all, only it is considered that you are actually serving the contract period while you are working in private sector. Mine is 4 years down and 2 more to go.

Hi, I was wondering if I have worked under government for 2 years but wish to switch to private (critical course that has offered contract now so I don't think is critical anymore), is it possible to join STAR program? I have called jpa before but they doesn't seem bothered about the contract thing

This post has been edited by joanv: Mar 9 2018, 12:14 AM

You just have to serve the bond that you agreed and signed on.

Yeah, you can also opt not to serve or serve part of it but be ready to face the consequences. As the gomen is short of monies now, you can have the option to buy out your contract.

break the bond and pay.
it is integrity. government and society don't owe you. think how you can contribute to society.
it will be important, when its time for me to pick CEO, i pick somebody with a sense of honesty and integrity. for somebody who breaks bond and try to go around rules, will you hire him and think you can trust him ?

Just wanted to ask did you send the form provided by JPA?