Kuala Lumpur: The existing ePlacement selection system, which previously relied on a first-come, first-served approach, is set to be replaced with a new system that prioritizes transparency, fairness, and merit-based criteria, according to Health Director-General Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan. Consequently, the ePlacement application dates initially scheduled for March 25, 26, and 27 have been canceled and postponed until a new date is announced.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Muhammad Radzi stated that the Ministry of Health (MOH) plans to reopen applications within six to eight weeks following the finalization and testing of the new system’s sustainability. This revised system is designed to address both current and future cohorts, ensuring fairness across the board.
Dr. Muhammad Radzi assured that while transparency and fairness are prioritized, the delivery of essential services remains the primary goal of the ePlacement system. The MOH intends to hold engagement sessions with medical officers to provide detailed information about the changes to the system.
The new ePlacement 2.0 system will also consider the welfare of applicants, focusing on filling vacancies based on availability and existing posts. Dr. Muhammad Radzi noted that Sabah and Sarawak currently hold over 50 percent of these vacancies.
The MOH will provide ongoing updates and guidelines regarding the ePlacement 2.0 system to ensure that medical officers use the system ethically and responsibly, maintaining the transparency of the process.
Referring to a technical disruption on February 27, which led to the cancellation of placement selections for 2,245 medical officers, Dr. Muhammad Radzi explained that unusual access caused the system to receive over 19 million hits, leading to database inaccessibility. This issue resulted in more placements being approved than the original quota allowed, with less than one percent of placements filled in Sabah and Sarawak despite 50 percent of vacancies being there.
Dr. Muhammad Radzi clarified that the disruption was not related to cybersecurity issues, as confirmed by the National Digital Department and the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), with no intrusions reported to CyberSecurity Malaysia.