[EDIT 3 APRIL 2010: suddenly received 10 e-mails out of the blue from total strangers asking for interview tips. Lol. I have edited something below, and toned down the article a bit.. hope it will help]

Quick 5-step guide for aspiring JPA scholars out there:

1. Read more. Fill your heads with current issues, news, worldly affairs and general knowledge. The more you know, the more you can answer the barrage of questions from the interviewers.

2. Be confident. Do not fret, fidget, frown, stare at the ceiling/floor etc. The interviewers want confident candidates.

3. Speak loud and clearly. Polish your speaking skills and practise speaking with fluency. If you can switch between Bahasa Malaysia with English quickly without any pause, it would impress them more. Do not stop for too long, and do not show any hints that you are uncertain. Make up believable information if you cannot think of any evidence or facts. Crap your way out if you have to, but credibility is important.

4. Be polite. Courtesy is important. JPA hates snobbish people who think they are good and deserve the scholarship. Fact is, 90% of people who think they deserve the scholarship do not get it. Why? Snobbishness, pride, vanity, selfishness. These are all big no-nos. Be polite when answering questions, and take queries not only with wit and intelligence but courtesy and good manners as well. Do not be overconfident. Most importantly, do not be too eager and attempt to take control of the interview. You will be crossed out from their list as soon as you show signs of overpowering snobbishness and stupidity (especially if you act you know everything while in fact you do not).

5. Dress properly. NEVER show up looking as if you just woke up. Comb your hair, tie it back, wear smart working attire and tidy up yourself. Be presentable. They are not interested in people who are trying to make a fashion statement.

I have been through the interview session and honestly it will not be as easy as you think it is. If  you are a debater, you are at an advantage but it does not mean they will see you in a different light. It all depends on the combination of intelligence, presentation, confidence, leadership and problem-solving skills you have.

Last but not least, be MATURE. I personally take this seriously. If you are childish, then even think of showing up at the interview, you will only embarrass yourselves. These guys are professionals, they are probably more knowledgeable than you are even if you shove your tiny little 16A1′s SPM slips right up their noses. They do not care if your head is bigger than theirs.  If your maturity does not weigh more than they expect it to be, then you can expect to fail.

Show a little bit more maturity and think out of the box. JPA looks for candidates who are patriotic, progressive, not afraid of changes, charismatic, intelligent, have good leadership abilities and the charm to pull it all off in a smooth slick way that would leave people’s jaws dropping on the floor.

Results do not guarantee your success. I have seen many cases of people appealing and complaining about how they cannot get the scholarship even if they get like a gazillion A1′s and how their co-curricular activities are better than others. There are also people who do not have perfect results yet they get the scholarship. It all depends on your performance during the interview, the academic qualifications you have and your achievements.

That is just the gist of it. Honestly, it might not work for some people. Do not be disappointed if you do not get the offer. There are plenty of opportunities available.

If there is any questions, contact me via the contact link on the top of the page, thank you. I cannot guarantee I can reply everyone, however.

And good luck!