My driving license (First stage - In Johor Bahru)

I got my driving license at September 2005. I believed that was the biggest achievement in my life so far. However the process of getting it was not easy at all.

It was my dream to drive since i enterred university. However, I know that my parents would not allow me to try it. Thats why i never mention this to them until the last year of my degree study.

It was the time i got call for interview from Altera in Penang. Even though my parents were worry about my life here, but they let me tried with the interview as they understood that my job opportunity was limited. After i came back from the interview, i raised up about my wish to get a driving license as transportation is the most critical issue have to be settle if i would work in Penang. However, they still not allowed my to do so and suggested me to hire an indonesean drive etc. to overcome this issue. Anyway, it might be a destined that i failed to get the job offer and so, this topic was dropped as well.

As i was failed in the interview, i felt that degree is not enough for me to get a job. I rejected call for interview from Intel Penang and decided to pursuit my master degree through research in my university. With great luck i managed to get a project which sponsored by Intel while having another government scholarship as well. Therefore i managed to save an good amount of money within the period of my research. At the end of my research, i managed to secure a job in Intel Penang. So i raised up my wish of getting driving license again to my parents, after a proper survey on the process of getting it.

Eventually my parents was agreed to let me try on it, as they realised i had done a lot of survey and abled to buy a car myself. On the first stage of getting my license, i must say thanks here to my junior. She was the person who fetched me to hospital to initiate the process of driving accessment. She also the first person who gave me full support in getting driving license before my parents did.

But the process was not go smoothly. I failed my first accessment. I was supposed to get myself a modified car which suit for my physical capability for the accessment. However, i had no idea where to get such car and so my father driven my brother's proton saga to hospital. Furthermore, it was a manual gear car without power steering. First i failed to turn the steering within the duration required, failed to shift my leg from accelerator pedal to brake with the speed required, couldnt change gear freely and failed to do some other actions that required.

The doctor was very reluctant to passs me. However, she said she salutes my determination and thus gave one more chance and wanted me to bring an automatic gear car for second accessment. In fact i was almost gave up and not really felt wanted to go for the second accessment. But since we had made the appointment so we just went for the second accessment next day without any expectation. After i finished all the action required, the doctor had a discussion with her assistant and eventually announced that i barely passed the accessment. This announcement was really surprised me and i was almost cried. :)

With the doctor's approval i went to the JPJ (Transport and Roads Council) to apply for the driving course and hoped that i abled to get my license in 2 months time before my first day of report to Intel. The JPJ guy seem no confident on me and refuse to approve me to register for driving course. However, according to procedure they have to approve me as i already got the doctor's approval. That guy even question the doctor's judgement and ask me dont risk my life to drive. After very long time of confrontation they eventually changed their talk. I was shocked that they told me i have to get my ownself a car which was modified and suit for my accessment. I was been understood that the driving school would provide me with such car but they told me not, Without other choice i have to buy myself a car.

The problem i faced that time was whether i want to risk my money for it. After discussion with family i decided to give it a try. If i fail to get license then my parents can have the car. I spent around 1 month to select, buy, and modify my car. I bought a Perodua Kenari which is very suitable to me. I practiced drive around my home under my father guidance but result was not encouraging. As the time left was not enough for me to complete the driving course as well, i decided to bring my car to Penang and get my driving license here.