Ppum: Great Hospital, Shame About Everything Else

[Ppum: Great Hospital, Shame About Everything Else]

Sumber: http://malaysiandigest.com/top-news/477222-great-hospital-shame-about-everything-else-.html
 

THE University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) is situated amidst the lush campus of University Malaya, at the south-west corner of Kuala Lumpur.

Established in the 1960s, UMMC is renowned for its professionally trained and specialist medical services, particularly for having the best Centre for Asthma Disease in Malaysia.

UMMC provide services that are divided into private and general wards, offering medical access for all income groups.

Although the medical services offered at the exclusive private wards of University of Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) is costly, it is also known to offer a more comprehensive level of medical services than compared to UMMC.
 

Patients are waiting for the doctors for their treatment/mDAccording to the medical centre’s Patient Information Department’s 2011 UMMC Annual Report, outpatient treatment at the medical centre has increased by 43.7% or 396,343 patients in the span of 10 years.

In 2011, there were 906,162 outpatients seeking treatment at UMMC.

The report also indicate that there were 51,256 inpatients seeking treatment at the centre, representing an increase of 2.8% or 1,413 patients in 2011 compared to only 49,843 in 2010. 

The number of beds in 2011 was 911 with a rate of usage of 78.8%.

These facts showed that people are confident with the level of integrity and medical service offered at the hospital.

But will the hospital be able to cope with the ever-increasing number of patients?

Malaysian Digest posed this question to members of the public at the hospital recently.

The hospital has seen some expansion to deal with the rising number of patients from year to year.

But according to Mie, 30, a visitor at the hospital, the presence of the new hospital buildings has caused parking problems for both visitors and patients.

“We had to park 300 metres away from the hospital, which is an inconvenience.
 

“So for me, I had to arrive here as early as am just so to ensure that I can get a spot near to the hospital and meet a 10am doctor’s appointment,” he explained.

He however added that despite of this inconvenience, it will not stop him from seeking specialist treatment at the hospital.

“But I will ignore problems like this because it’s hard to find affordable specialist services like at UMMC in KL – it is the best there is,” said Mie when met by mD.

Parking is also a problem with other visitors at the hospital. 

“I live in Kerinchi, which is very near to the hospital and even I have trouble to find a parking spot,” said hospital patient Filzah, 20, adding that parking is the only real problem she encountered at the hospital. 

“Despite the limited parking, the toilet and lift facilities at the hospital are fine,” said Filzah, perhaps insinuating that it may not be the case with other hospitals in the city.  

But for another patient we interviewed, he found the hospital services to be unsatisfactory. 

Raja, 24, a worker at a local university, said he had previously experienced medical treatment for asthma at the hospital as an inpatient......................................................................

Baca Lanjut: http://malaysiandigest.com/top-news/477222-great-hospital-shame-about-everything-else-.html

[Ten New Year Resolutions For Muslims]

Sumber: http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/475312-ten-new-year-resolutions-for-muslims.html

Ten New Year Resolutions For Muslims

Muslims should renew their faith this Hijrah/Google ImagesMuslims should renew their faith this Hijrah/Google ImagesALL people agree that Planet Earth rotate on its axis the same way but a day that marks a New Year isn’t the same for everyone. 


In Malaysia, while everyone observe the January to December Gregorian calendar, other calendars, normally one based on race and creed, are also observed and celebrated. 

So it is normal for Malaysians to celebrate various New Years during the course of the Gregorian year, which falls on a different day of the month for people of different race and faith.

According to the Chinese lunisolar calendar (which observes the moon phase), the Lunar New Year normally takes place in February.

While the Sikh community celebrate Vaisakhi as a festival, some Hindus celebrate Vaisakhi as it marks the start of the New Year in April, according to the Hindu solar calendar.

As for the Malay Muslims in the country, the New Year is observed when the new Islamic calendar, the Takwim Hijrah, marks Awal Muharram, which is today.

It marks the start of the 1435 Hijrah lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.

Muḥarram means "forbidden", so called because in Islamic history, battle was set aside (Haram) during this month. 

It is also a significant date marked on the calendar to commemorate the migration (Hijrah) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina.

Awal Muharram is also the day where Muslims would reflect on their inner self and past deeds, and take a spiritual ‘migration’.

In Malaysia, Awal Muharram or Maal Hijrah is recognised as a public holiday.

But unlike the typical countdown clocks, balloons, fireworks, noise makers and party hat rituals the people of the world display when a new Gregorian calendar unfolds, Muslims celebrate the New Year by offering fasting, prayer and worship. 

On their New Year, Muslims would congregate for various religious gatherings, Quranic recitations, prayers and listening to sermons held at mosques or prayer halls (surau) - or involve themselves in other activities relevant to the celebration of Awal Muharram.

The only element of celebration that a Muslim can share with others when it comes to ushering in the new calendar is the making of resolutions. 

But for Muslims, the only weight-loss program is the shedding past sins and an overall renewal of their faith.

In light of Awal Muharram, here are the ten things a Muslim can do to become a better Muslim in the 1435 Hijrah calendar, as suggested by Malaysian Digest readers.



1) Do Things In The Name Of Allah

“Muslim” means “those who submit to the Will of Allah”. 

So, with Allah in mind, a Muslim should begin their day and end their day with doing deeds according to His Will. That is ideally how a Muslim should choose to live their life, by executing every daily action with Allah, the Creator, in mind. 

There are many du'as (supplication) in which a Muslim should recite before they perform our daily obligations, such as driving, having a meal, going to the bathroom, etc.

To remember Allah should be a Muslim’s starting point when walking on a fresh spiritual journey towards the straight path.



2) Doing Good Deeds And Staying Away from Bad Deeds (and Bad People) 

“A man is known by the company he keeps” – the saying may be rooted in Islam.

In Islam, having good company is better than being alone, but being alone is better than keeping bad company.

The strength of influence is explained in a Hadith (a collection of traditions containing sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that, with accounts of his daily practice [the Sunnah], constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Qur’an).

The Prophet said: “A person is on the religion of his companions. Therefore let every one of you carefully consider the company he keeps.” [Tirmidhi]



3) Be Positive And Be Patient

Going through ups and down is part and partial of our daily life. 

Everyone has their good days and their bad days, but it is how they manage these challenges that set them apart from others. Do not dwell into your sorrows too much and try to remember that there's a silver lining to everything.

As stated in the Qur'an, “We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient).” Surah al-Baqarah:155.



4) Pray 5 Times A Day

The five daily prayers is the foundation of what it means to be a Muslim. 

“Islam” means “submitting to the Will of Allah”. Therefore, everything that a Muslim does stands on him worshipping his Creator. 

Sadly, many Muslims in Malaysia give more attention to work than to their obligatory prayers.

To become a better Muslim, start the journey by mending our relationship with our Creator. Apart from remembering Him in our daily actions, we should remind ourselves that prayer is the key to directly communicate with our God.

If we fear we might forget the prayer times, technology can come in handy and there are phone apps which can notify the prayer times accordingly.

It is time for us to submit to the Will of Allah, if we are to be thankful.  

“And if you were to count Allah's favours, you would not be able to number them; most surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. [Sūrah al-Nahl: 18]



5) Forgive and Forget

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "The most complete in faith are those best in their character, those who are easy to socialize with, and those who get along with others and others get along with them. There is no good in the one who cannot get along with others and others cannot get along with them." (Tirmidhi).

The Hadith above talks about maintaining good relationship with others, and forgiving and forgetting is definitely one of the ways. Holding on to grudges, creating rumours, gossiping, idle talk, is not the way to go if we wish to have a pure heart and soul. 

One should stop assuming and thinking the worst in another in order to remain a healthy relationship. Let go, move forward and continue to meet new and better people in the future.


............................. ..................


Baca Lanjut: http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/475312-ten-new-year-resolutions-for-muslims.html

[Fresh Grads Tolong Baca: Kenapa Majikan Kurang Mengambil Fresh Grad.]

Sumber: MalaysianDigest.com

 

We're Sorry - You're Not Hired Because You Just Graduated

 

UNIVERSITY graduates are forever going to get the short end of the stick. 
 

If they thought years of tertiary education was tough on their brain and financial resources, when they graduate, things are about to get worse.

Because they are not going to get employed. Well, at least most of them aren’t.  

Every year, some 180,000 fresh graduates enter the labour market, and for most of these graduates, they will be left standing with their scrolls firmly in their hand and mouths agape, because employers everywhere aren’t interested in hiring.

A recent revelation by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) revealed that the number of job vacancies registered by employers in June 2013 dropped by 35.7% to 107,796 compared with 167,968 vacancies at the same time last year.

According MEF there are fewer openings now because about 915,000 private sector employees had been retained in the workforce for the next five years.

With the slowing down of the world economy that triggered a significant drop in exports, manufacturing companies for example, are taking austerity measures in managing costs, so they either respond by letting go of their existing staff or have entirely stopped hiring new ones. 

Fresh out-of-the university graduates are sidelined because companies are no longer interested in training them and instead favour experienced manpower.

Last week, we reported that the number of unemployed persons, as of July 2013 is at 3 per cent, according to Department of Statistics Malaysia.

Although economically it places our country at zero unemployment, we only need to take a look beyond the official numbers to see that there are actually 421,200 people out there who are not working – out of which, a small chunk is new graduates.

Why shouldn’t our new graduates be competitive in the labour market? What’s missing from them?

Malaysian Digest looks deeper into some of the root causes for the lack of competitiveness and desirability of fresh graduates in Malaysia. 

Though different companies look for different criterias in their candidates, these companies do share one common criterion – all of them start their evaluation by going through the candidate’s resume.

So how do our graduates fare?

"It all depends on the (respective) professions but coming from the legal profession, I first look at the results (of various achievements) from their resume, and then I look into how they speak. The business that we’re in, the language commonly used is English. 

“So (fluency of the English) language is very important," the managing partner of Naqiz and Partners, Syed Naqiz Shahabuddin, explains.

According to Syed, his company over the years had developed a unique methodology on how they evaluate their candidates by going through their resumes.

"Our firm has grown (through the years), (today) consisting of 30 lawyers in Kuala Lumpur and 10 lawyers based in Jakarta.  

“We are also listed in directories of top-tier firms. So now we can afford to be choosier. 

“(We went) from accepting graduates (who scored an) under a 3-point CGPA (result) to only recruiting those who are 3-point scorers and above,” added Syed.

Syed also said that besides judging candidates on their examination results, he also judges them on their personality traits and saw that self-confidence in new graduates does not score very high.  

"Our graduates seem to be lacking in confidence.” 

Glaring errors in resumes are also apparent with new graduates.

“And in our field, first impressions are important. There are no shortcuts to success but these graduates need to relook at their resumes before submitting it. 

“Grammatical errors are (not tolerated). Prepare a decent photo of yourself and dress to impress during the interview," is Syed’s blunt advice to job-hunters out there. 

Sharing his personal experience, Syed told us of a particular bad interview session where he had to abruptly leave the room.

"I once had a candidate who was a graduate. He came to the interview like he was in a great hurry. He also brought his bike with him, was improperly dressed and sweating profusely. He was so smelly that I couldn't stand it any further and left,” said Syed, with hints of a quiet laughter. 

Syed then goes back into serious mode.

"The danger about fresh graduates you train them (only to see them) leaving (the job) anyway. The women, meanwhile, may opt for other priorities in life such as ending up as housewives, or migrate, or even leave to open up a business of their own, which I completely understand.  

“However, there is always room for (new grads). They would have to start from the bottom such as formatting and researching," said Syed.

Apart from the legal profession, what do other employers think of the competitiveness of fresh graduates?

 

 

--bersambung--

Co-founder and creative director of Louco Media Sdn Bhd., Ahmad Aizat Paharodzi, said he personally favours fresh graduates over experienced staff.

"For us in the creative field, the term experience is different than other sectors as working experience is not our top priority when seeking candidates. As long as the candidate knows how to use the software and have the experience in using it, have keen interest and creativity, then you're mostly hired. 

"In this industry, we start from the bottom. So hiring fresh graduates is not an issue since they are economical to us as well," said the 28-year-old boss.

However, Aizat, who had co-founded the small setup four years ago with his friend and colleague, A'riff Abdullah, said he had felt disappointment from the fresh graduates he had previously interviewed.

"About 50% of the fresh graduates I had interviewed basically did not know what it is they wanted to do and this led to not having the urge and interest in the field. These fresh graduates are just too pampered," he said with a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

Although this is so, Aizat said he does think the other 50% had left a positive impression on him.

"The good thing about the young and fresh graduates is that some of them are a lot more creative, having grown up with new technology, and can pick up new software faster. Because of this exposure, we prefer the fresh graduates more for their creativity and fresh minds," explained Aizat.

In the creative field, Aizat said resumes and portfolios are important, but not as crucial as the keen interest and a creative mind.

"When studying a course in design, you should obviously know the basics, such as Microsoft Office. Those things, does not need to be highlighted in your resume if you are in this field. 

Aizat had also seen candidates that went a bit too far in trying to leave a flowery impression.

"We had an incident once where a candidate actually made her resume sweetly scented. I find this unnecessary though. If you wish to be in this field, you need to have the drive and effort to learn and explore more on your own.

“Qualification is important, but most creative people are not top students anyways and it doesn’t matter to us. As long as you can do work and are creative, that is what we look for," he said.

What about the point of view of HR departments? Any advice?

Human Resource Manager of Aydeross Resources Sdn. Bhd. Natasha Zain said many fresh graduates would simply apply for a job without even going through the requirements given.

"We understand that not all employers are created equal. But most of them candidates, who had the skills and capabilities to make the cut of a second interview, blew it because of their disastrous interviewing skills.

"As a head of Human Resource, the first think I look at is the resume. Most fresh graduates don't understand that we want to see clarity and definition in a relevant, concise and focused form. An overly long resume is not at all impressive but a ridiculously short resume is equally dangerous as well," she said.

Natasha said most fresh graduates are not prepared for their interview and that they take things for granted.

"Proofread your resume before sending it, do not dress for failure, and since most fresh graduates are internet savvy, spend a few minutes to research on the new company or business.

Natasha added the some of the graduates seem to lack professional courtesy, all the small things that are overlooked by them.

"In order to improve, candidates should make a right sized resumes. It's a door opener. Ask really good questions in the interview, it matters. Dress up, as it will make you feel better during the interview, and stay focused," she said.

The effectiveness of Malaysia’s economic transformation nearing 2020 is highly dependent on the capability of its labour workforce in taking the country towards the high-income nation target. 

So before they can become useful to the country, new graduates must transform themselves into highly competitive individuals, equipped with sharp wit, a high intellect and measureable results. 

They must be presentable in appearance, methodical yet steadfast in their approach, and carry the kind of confidence to hold their head high at all times.  

Only then will they be ready for that job interview. 




-mD