It is a little past midnight somewhere in Malaysia. A desk lamp, a cooling cup of kopi-o, and a logbook open beside the rig. A Class B operator, who has spent years working the HF bands at 50 W, looks at the dial and thinks of the day the band plan opens up: more power, more bands, the 9M prefix. Quietly, to the empty room: “This year, I sit for Class A.”
If that sounds like you, this post is for you. The MCMC SEMS portal has published the November 2026 sittings of the Radio Amateur Examination (ORAEA) for operators moving up to Class A. There are 20 sessions across Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan, all starting at 2.00 PM (the Sabah sessions on 12 November start at 2.30 PM).
Why Class A?
Class A is the top of the ladder. Per JASRA’s Introduction to Amateur Radio, a Class A operator uses the 9M prefix and enjoys full amateur privileges: HF up to 1,000 W PEP, the LF/MF experimental bands, and microwave bands from 1,240 MHz (some subject to MCMC approval). Class B is limited to 50 W PEP on HF.
To sit the exam you need to hold an AROC Class B and have held an Apparatus Assignment (AA) Class B for at least one year. The Class A paper has 50 multiple-choice questions in 1.5 hours, pass mark 74%, in English or Bahasa Malaysia, with no Morse test. The exam fee is RM50, paid with a voucher through MCMC’s e-payment portal. The annual AA fee for Class A is RM36.
The deadlines are close. Very close.
As of 29 October, series 111 to 114 have already closed for applications. These still accept applications:
- Series 115, Pasir Mas (Kelantan), exam 10 Nov, closes 29 Oct.
- Series 116, Kulim (Kedah), exam 11 Nov, closes 30 Oct (shown as full at the time of writing).
- Series 117, Kota Tinggi (Johor) and Miri (Sarawak), exam 12 Nov, closes 2 Nov.
- Series 118, Putatan, Tawau, Sandakan and Keningau (Sabah), exam 12 Nov at 2.30 PM, closes 2 Nov.
- Series 1110, Semenyih (Selangor), exam 17 Nov, closes 5 Nov.
Where are the seats?
Each venue holds only 10 candidates, and several are already full: Ipoh, Putrajaya, Jitra, Kuala Lumpur and Kulim. Venues with the most room when I looked were Kuching, Miri, Sandakan, Kota Tinggi, Semenyih and Durian Tunggal. The chart shows every venue (venues whose closing date has passed, such as Sibu and Labuan, can no longer be applied for, even if seats remain).
An old operator’s advice
- Do not wait for the last day. Seats are limited to 10 per venue and fill silently.
- Study the regulations as seriously as the theory. The syllabus covers operating rules, radio and electromagnetic theory, antennas and propagation, and radio setup and safety.
- Respect the power. 1,000 W is a privilege that brings responsibility: clean signals, good grounding, safe antennas, and consideration for your neighbours.
- Use your experience. Your years on the air are the best preparation. Turn operating habits into exam answers.
- Be an Elmer. Once you pass, help the next Class C and Class B operator on the way up.
- Missed this round? More sessions will follow. Use the time to study and come back stronger.
Ringkasan (Bahasa Melayu)
Peperiksaan Amatur Radio (ORAEA) November 2026 untuk operator yang mahu naik ke Kelas A (9M) dibuka di 20 sesi seluruh negara. Beberapa pusat telah penuh dan tarikh tutup permohonan semakin hampir (siri 115 pada 29 Okt, siri 116 pada 30 Okt, siri 117 dan 118 pada 2 Nov, siri 1110 pada 5 Nov). Semak kekosongan dan mohon terus di portal SEMS MCMC: sems.mcmc.gov.my. Telefon: 03-8688 8000.
Sources: MCMC SEMS, Examination Information and JASRA, Introduction to Amateur Radio. Seat numbers are a snapshot and change constantly.
Good luck to every candidate. We hope to hear your new 9M callsign on the air soon. 73!
