From 20 to 21 January 2026, the Federal Scholarship Interview Session for the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) programmes was successfully held at Le Méridien Hotel, Putrajaya. This rigorous selection process marks a critical step in nurturing future Public Health Medicine Specialists under the Federal Training Award (Hadiah Latihan Perseketuan) by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).
Co-Organised by Ministry of Health and Universiti Putra Malaysia
The session was co-organised by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr Norliza Ahmad, Chair of the Public Health Conjoint Committee. Her team at UPM coordinated the meticulous planning and logistics of this multi-day assessment.
National Collaboration and Participation
The selection process brought together representatives from:
- Eight public universities: Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM);
- Ministry of Health Malaysia; and
- College of Public Health Medicine, Academy of Medicine Malaysia.
Universiti Malaya was represented by Professor Dr Victor Hoe and Dr Bala Murali Sundram, both of whom served as panel interviewers and essay assessors across the two-day session.
Multi-Component Assessment for Holistic Selection
The candidate selection process was both comprehensive and competitive, comprising four key components:
- Logbook review to assess candidates’ practical experience;
- MEDEX Public Health Medicine Examination, a standardised MCQ assessment;
- Essay writing to evaluate critical thinking on current public health issues; and
- Interview sessions, focusing on four domains: professionalism and communication, motivation and preparedness, career direction and resilience, and analytical thinking and integrity.
Conducted across four dedicated interview rooms, candidates were evaluated individually by multidisciplinary panels. Interviews lasted 10 minutes per candidate, with each panel assessing independently to ensure fair and objective scoring.
Selection Outcome and Implications
The selection meeting convened on 22 January 2026 to finalise results. Successful candidates will be offered placement in the MPH programme at one of the participating universities, with the opportunity to progress into the DrPH programme. The four-year training aligns with the national agenda to expand Malaysia’s pool of trained Public Health Medicine Specialists.
Reflecting on Public Health Advancement
This annual selection process is more than an academic exercise, it reflects Malaysia’s commitment to building a resilient public health workforce. In a post-pandemic era, strengthening public health leadership is vital for health system preparedness, equity, and innovation. This programme ensures that only well-rounded, capable professionals are entrusted with this responsibility.
Article written by Victor Hoe
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