< Previous18 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 A warm welcome and greetings to our readers, We are pleased to present you MBJ 117. For Malaysia, the incentives in the 2020 Budget may just be the boost needed for the various Digital Economy initiatives, as they form a combination of infrastructure, applications, education and corporate upskilling needs. Some examples included under infrastructure is the RM21.6 billion fibre and connectivity plan and the RM250 million allocation to further close connectivity gaps in Sabah and Sarawak – two large states with predominantly rural and remote living populations. As the construction industry comes to grasp with the 2020 Budget, we share key industry stakeholders’ viewpoints, including their take on the construction economy and its prospects moving forward, in this edition of MBJ 117. Also, of interest to readers in this issue would be reports on several key events, such as our Building & Construction Conference and Human Resources Conference. We are always keen to deliver useful articles. MBJ 117 features Part 1 of ‘Overview of Slope Stability Problems’ by Ir Neoh Cheng Aik; Final Part of a four-part article on ‘The Essentials of Progress Reporting in Construction Industry’ by Sr Ong Hock Tek, ‘Post-installed Reinforcement System: Latest Guidelines and Standards Relevant to Malaysia Practice’ by Ir Dr Daniel Looi and Ir. B.H. Ng; ‘Recent Amendments to the Limitation Act 1953’ by Chu Ai Li and Karen Ng Yueh Ying; ‘Groundwater as Water Supply in Malaysia – Conjunctive not Alternative’, courtesy of OCNED Water Technology Sdn Bhd, NIRAS A/S and ONWATER Sdn Bhd; ‘Embracing Technology: Prefabricated Bathroom Unit (PBU)’ by Dr Natasha Dzulkalnine, Ir Dr Zuhairi Abd. Hamid and Maria Zura Mohd Zain of CREAM; and ‘Demand for Plastic Materials in Vietnam’ and ‘100,000 Apartments Needed Annually in Yangoon’ by MATRADE, apart from various reports on MBAM activities. As always, we seek your assistance to help increase the visibility of our publication by displaying them at your offices or on your coffee tables. We hope that with increased visibility, more would actively participate in the association. We would like to take this opportunity to record our appreciation for your continuous support. Should you have any feedback, we welcome you to send them over. I hope readers had a good year in 2019, as we look forward to a better construction industry in 2020. Until we meet in the next issue, happy reading. Yours sincerely, Steven Shee Editor, Master Builders Journal Editor’s Note is published quarterly by the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) No. 2, Jalan 2/109E, Desa Business Park, 58100 Kuala Lumpur. MBJ Editorial Board PRESIDENT Foo Chek Lee VICE PRESIDENT & COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Steven Shee Boo Cheong COUNCIL MEMBER & COMMITTEE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Loh Mei Ling GENERAL MANAGER Lenny Lim Len Wei MANAGER Lim Jong Joan SENIOR ASSISTANT MANAGER Mohd Hanif Ismail SENIOR PR EXECUTIVE Chew Chee Yan ADMIN OFFICER Nur Fatin Shahira Ramlee Publishing Agency Memo Publishing Sdn Bhd ask@memo.com.my Printer Vivar Printing Sdn Bhd Lot 25 & 27, Rawang Integrated Industrial Park, Jalan Batu Arang, Rawang, 48000 Rawang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Publication Disclaimer The publication has been compiled by Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) with great care and we disclaim any duty to investigate any product, process, service, design and the like, which may be described in this publication. The appearance of any information in this publication does not necessarily constitute endorsement by MBAM. There is no guarantee that the information in this publication is free from errors. MBAM does not necessarily agree with statements or opinions expressed in this publication. Copyright Master Builders Journal is the official journal of and published four issues yearly by Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), and distributed by Pansing Marketing Sdn Bhd. The Publisher retains the copyright over all materials published in the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced and transmitted in any form or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without the prior written permission from the publisher. Master Builders Journal (MBJ) Call for Articles Article contributions on topics relevant to the construction industry are highly encouraged. Contact ed@mbam.org.my for more information on requirements or to submit your article proposals for publishing consideration. Individual formwork solutions custom-tailored to your requirements for your bridge project. 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Creating new paths Project: Eyiste Viaduct, Turkey Use the free Doka AR- VR app and see more pictures from the project.20 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 MBAM Council Members July 2018 – June 2020 President Foo Chek Lee, JMW / Pembinaan Mitrajaya Sdn Bhd Immediate Past President Datuk Matthew Tee Kai Woon, DPSM / Bina Puri Sdn Bhd Deputy President Tan Sri Sufri bin Haji Mohd Zin, PSM, SSAP, DPTI / Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd Vice Presidents Liew Hau Seng / IJM Corporation Berhad Oliver Wee Hiang Chyn, AMN / Pasukhas Construction Sdn Bhd Dennis Tan Soo Huang / OCNED Water Technology Sdn Bhd Dato’ Ubull Din Om, DIMP / Gamuda Berhad Steven Shee Boo Cheong / Sunway Construction Sdn Bhd Secretary-General Eric Yong Shang Ming / Crest Builder Sdn Bhd Treasurer-General Kenneth Liew Kiam Woon / LFE Engineering Sdn Bhd Deputy Secretarv-General 1 Ong Ka Thiam, AMN / WCT Berhad Deputy Secretary-General 2 Yeoh Keong Yuan / Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn Bhd Council Members AI-Ambia Sdn Bhd / Chong Tat Yam Bauer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd / Ir Au Yong Yoke Lin Bina Puri Sdn Bhd / Png Choon Yam Fajarbaru Builder Sdn Bhd / Dato’ Sri Eric Kuan Khian Leng, SSAP Ikhmas Jaya Sdn Bhd / Ang Wei Zhen lreka Corporation Berhad / Lau Yew Mun MMC Corporation Berhad / Ir Chee Weng Loon Mudajaya Corporation Berhad / Ir Anthony Teoh Teik Thiam Norwest Holdings Sdn Bhd / Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz, DMSM Premier Construction Sdn Bhd / Dato’ Alex Wee Cheng Kwan, DIMP Rooframes Resources Sdn Bhd / Fong Tet Yoong Satujaya Sdn Bhd / Michael Yap Kok Wai Setia Precast Sdn Bhd / Datuk Ir Kow Choong Ming, DPSM Trans Elite Group Sdn Bhd / Tan Zi Ni VSL Engineers (M) Sdn Bhd / Nalla Sundran Pertama Crane & Engineering Sdn Bhd / Alec Chong Sun Park TYT Builders Sdn Bhd / Tan See Sen Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pembina Malaysia / Sinn Fuh Ming Penang Master Builders & Building Materials Dealers Association (Kim Tin Seah) / Alvin Yeow Ah Choy Sabah Builders Association / Datuk Goh Wah Yong @ Gerald Goh, PGDK Honorary Members HONORARY LIFE PRESIDENTS Datuk Lai Foot Kong, PJN, JSM Lai Moo Chan, JMN, KMN HONORARY BUILDERS Lau Mun Cheong, JMN Tan Sri Datuk Tee Hock Seng, JP HONORARY ADVISORS Dato’ Ir Tan Kia Loke, DSNS, JMN, AMN, AMT, PJK Dato’ Ng Kee Leen, DIMP, KMN HONORARY ADVISOR (LEGAL) John Tong HONORARY ADVISOR (EDUCATION) Chua Siow Leng, KMN HONORARY ADVISOR (TAXATION) Yee Wing Peng Affiliate Members 1. American Concrete Institute Malaysia Chapter 2. Building Materials Distributors Association of Malaysia 3. Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pembina Malaysia 4. Institut Bina Bangunan Berkanun Malaysia (The Chartered Institute of Building) 5. Kelab Sosial Lighthouse Kuala Lumpur (Lighthouse Club Kuala Lumpur) 6. Malacca Building Contractors Association 7. Malaysia Mobile Crane Owners Association (1987) 8. Malaysia Quarries Association 9. Malaysia Occupational Scaffolding Association 10. National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association of Malaysia 11. Penang Master Builders & Building Materials Dealers Association (Kim Tin Seah) 12. Perak Contractors Association 13. Perak Plumber’s Association 14. Persatuan Ampunya Jentera Pembinaan Berat Malaysia (Malaysia Heavy Construction Equipment Owners’ Association) 15. Persatuan Industri Komputer Dan Multimedia Malaysia 16. Persatuan Kontraktor India Malaysia 17. Persatuan Mesin Angkat & Kren Menara Malaysia 18. Persatuan Pembinaan Kelantan (Kin Cho Hong) 19. Persatuan Pembinaan Kuantan 20. Persatuan Pembinaan Terengganu 21. Persatuan Pemborong-Pemborong & PembekaI-Pembekal Barang Barang Bangunan Kedah 22. Persatuan Rakan-lndustri Rekabentuk Dalaman Malaysia (Malaysia Interior Industry Partners) 23. Persatuan Tinsmith Wilayah Persekutuan Dan Selangor (Tinsmith Association Selangor And Federal Territory) 24. Persatuan Tukang Paip Kuala Lumpur Dan Selangor 25. Port Dickson Builders’ Association 26. Sabah Builders Association 27. Sarawak Building & Civil Engineering Contractors Association 28. Sarawak Sibu Division Building & Civil Eng Contractors Association 29. Segamat Builders Association (1973) 30. Selangor & Federal Territory Builders Association 31. Selangor & Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Kin Cho Hong 32. Selangor Brick Factories Association 33. The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia 34. The Johore Master Builders Association 35. The Malaysian Lift & Escalator Association 36. The Malaysian Water Association21 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 MBAM New Members Membership Figures as at 6 December 2019 16,822 Total outreach including affiliates About MBAM The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) plays an important role in the development and advancement of the construction industry. For the past few decades or so, we have represented Malaysia’s construction industry as its voice during various key phases. Dedicated towards promoting and developing the construction industry in Malaysia, MBAM has evolved into a cohesive umbrella organisation. We have earned international recognition through our affiliations with the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA) and the ASEAN Constructors Federation (ACF). We have also successfully hosted the 20 th , 29 th and 44 th IFAWPCA Conventions in 1983, 1998 and 2018 respectively. Through the memberships in IFAWPCA and ACF, the MBAM members are part of the international construction fraternity. MBAM is also a member of The Building Industry Presidential Council (BIPC), where members comprise of Presidents from Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM), Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA), Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM). The formation of BIPC is a quantum leap in terms of cooperation among the industry players in the country to look into the interest of the construction industry from a wide spectrum of trades. MBAM members are also from entities that are directly and indirectly linked to the construction industry. This includes specialist sub-contractors, building material suppliers, manufacturers and trading companies. With both local and international presence, MBAM is well poised to effectively represent the Malaysian construction industry as a single, unifying voice to the relevant government authorities as well as various organisations and bodies. Ordinary Members 1. Abadi Piling Sdn Bhd 2. Buildmann Construction Sdn Bhd 3. DBM Engineering Sdn Bhd 4. Khidmat Hijau Sdn Bhd 5. MGT M&E Engineering Sdn Bhd 6. SF Contracts Sdn Bhd 7. V-Cool Engineering (KL) Sdn Bhd Associate Members 1. BW Scaffold Industries Sdn Bhd 2. Eagles Consultants Sdn Bhd 3. Envitech Sdn Bhd 4. Giant Leap Construction Sdn Bhd 5. Glozons (M) Sdn Bhd 6. Master HOD Sdn Bhd 7. Perunding ETN 8. Suzhong Construction (M) Sdn Bhd 9. Syarikat M.F 10. Turner International Malaysia Sdn Bhd 11. Wang Display Solution New Members as at 6 December 2019Graduate Alumni Members 1. Chau Thin Yee 2. Heng Ji Yong 3. Khor Thean Seng 4. Liew Mei Mei 5. Loh May Kei 6. Mohamad Ikhwan Nizam Bin Ahmad 7. Teena Shangari A/P T.Chandran 8. Voo Vi Vien 9. Yap Li Jun22 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 MBAM Comments on BUDGET 2020 The Malaysian construction industry is facing a slower growth overall this year. According to a government report, the value of construction work done in the third quarter this year was RM36.1 billion compared to the second and first quarters at RM35.9 billion and RM37.4 billion respectively. It is expected that the construction industry will achieve a growth of only 1.7 % this year compared to a growth of 4.2 % last year. There is a decline in the growth for the residential and non-residential building sectors by 2.7% and 11.6% respectively in the third quarter of this year. This year, the private sector continues to propel the construction activity with a 54% share value of construction work done compared to the public sector, which accounted for a 46% share. However, according to the recent budget, the construction industry is expected to achieve a growth of 3.7% next year. During the recent tabulation of the Budget for the year 2020, our government had allocated about RM30 billion for development projects. With this announcement, our construction industry will look brighter as the government will continue with people- centric projects in line with the theme ‘Driving Growth and Equitable Outcomes Towards Shared Prosperity’. These development projects include affordable homes, government housing quarters, water reticulation and water treatment plants, clinics, schools, rural roads and airport expansions. All these, in one way or another, will require participation from contractors and industry players. MBAM hopes that the government will quickly kick- start the tendering of projects and implement them so that the economic multiplier effect for the projects can be quickly felt by all the industry stakeholders. At MBAM, to enhance our competitiveness and to ensure sustainability, we are embarking on a journey to educate and equip our members with necessary knowledge to enhance their techniques and skill sets, especially with regards to Industry Revolution (IR) 4.0 and the digitalisation of the construction industry. MBAM has also been actively organising IR 4.0 related activities, such as technical visits to an Industrialised Building System centre and factory, Building Information Management Centre, as well as talks on funding IR 4.0 by government agencies, among other activities. Feedback As the year is coming to an end, we hope readers and members will share with us how we can serve you better in the year 2020. Happy New Year 2020 and happy reading! Yours sincerely, Foo Chek Lee JMW MBAM President From the Desk of Foo Chek Lee MBAM President MBAM has appealed to the government to speed up the implementation of approved projects to keep the construction industry moving. “ ”REGISTER NOW!24 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 Goals, Aspirations and Outlook on the Industry: 2019 and Beyond Cover Feature How did the construction industry fare this year? What can industry players and stakeholders look forward to in the year 2020 and beyond? Minister of Works, YB Tuan Baru Bian, CIDB Chief Executive, Datuk Ir Ahmad ‘Asri Abdul Hamid and several association leaders share their outlook on the industry along with goals and aspirations for their respective sectors. T he announcement of a number of government projects under Budget 2020, which include mega- infrastructure projects within the country, such as the Pan-Borneo Highway, Bandar Malaysia and the Rapid Transit System from Johor to Singapore, as well as other projects involving the upgradingand maintenance of public facilities and the development of rural areas serve as a confidence boost to the flagging construction industry, which saw a worrying downtrend in its overall growth in recent years. As local contractors look forward to increased job opportunities, measures to address current challenges faced by industry players come into consideration. These range from ongoing issues such as a shortage of construction workers and skilled labour to the impact of disruptive technologies on smaller industry players – all of which contribute to the rising costs of doing business. MBAM looks to the local authorities and association leaders from various sectors for a more in-depth look at the industry and its various sectors, covering past performances, goals and their outlook on the future of the industry. 25 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 Cover Feature Datuk Ir Ahmad ‘Asri Abdul Hamid CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CIDB YB Tuan Baru Bian MINISTER OF WORKS (MOW), MALAYSIA their industries’ competitiveness via the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). The Malaysian construction industry has not been at the forefront of the technology as most works are still being done manually. There is a need to initiate radical and incremental innovations whereby IR 4.0 will be the platform for the construction industry to transform itself from a low- productivity manual-driven industry to a high-value competing one. However, the Malaysian construction industry is complacent in the conventional ways of doing things. The resistance towards moving into automation and mechanisation needs to be addressed promptly. Modernised construction systems such as the Industrialised Building System (IBS) are yet to be fully embraced by the construction industry. The construction industry still relies heavily on manpower, evidently on unskilled labour, which leads to lower quality and productivity of construction work. Machines are getting smarter, and cheap labour is not sustainable. It is foreseeable that the construction industry will be evolving into automation and digitalisation. To do this, the construction industry needs to be ready to embrace technology in order to maximise productivity and profitability while being cost-effective by leveraging on IR 4.0 technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Automation and more. Hence, the Ministry of Works is moving towards ‘digitalising the construction industry’ with a focus on upgrading and optimising productivity in the construction industry through technology, to push forward the initiatives of technology advancement, digitalisation and innovation. These initiatives are intended to address future challenges and issues in the construction industry, including better management of construction waste, improved facility management and better project delivery. Why do you think those areas are important and how can industry players, related trade or governing bodies and other stakeholders contribute/nurture its development? Throughout the years, major advanced economies have moved their construction industries from mechanisation to automation. In keeping pace with these advanced economies, Malaysia itself needs to be ready to move with digitalisation. In the digital age today, the adoption and adaptation of new technology and innovation is no longer an option but a necessity in our quest to enhance the productivity of the construction industry. We are living in an age of unprecedented challenges in current construction practices such as labour intensiveness, high rate of fatality, ageing population, migration and cultural diversity, urbanisation, rise in the use of the robots, high volume of industrial waste, environmental damage and high cost of building. As a developing country that is driven by domestic demand and broad- based growth, Malaysia cannot run How do you think the construction industry fared overall in 2019 and how did it compare to the last five years? The construction industry is subdued in 2019. Based on the data of construction works done by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), the current construction activities in 2019 were from the existing works already in the pipeline. The Government’s decision to revive some of the mega projects that have been shelved, such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Kuala Lumpur- Singapore High Speed Rail and Mass Rail Transit 3 projects have, in a way, mitigated the negative growth of the construction industry. However, the effect of these revived projects may only be felt in 2020. Which areas in the construction industry do you think requires the most attention, to spur growth in the industry? The next industrial revolution is taking shape around the globe. Major advanced economies around the world are expecting a significant boost to Q&A with Ministry of Works (MOW) and Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB)26 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 Cover Feature from the issues of outdated technology, shortage of manpower and increasing costs across all sectors, to mention a few. Hence, our priority includes empowering human capital through reskilling and upskilling on the latest digital technology to fill the growing need for skilled labour in this industry and to reduce the talent gap. It complements our ultimate goal of the industry to create adequate local products and talents for the future. The Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP), which was launched in 2015 as the 5-year Construction Master Plan has been reviewed to strengthen the mechanism and targets of the master plan. The Ministry of Works together with various ministries and agencies are commited in propelling the initiatives and mechanisms under the CITP and the IR 4.0 road map to address the challenges that persist in the construction industry. The Ministry of Works and its agencies are in the process of benchmarking the accomplishments under the 11 th MP as well as identifying and recommending new policies, strategies and programmes to achieve the targets of the 12 th MP. In line with the Ministry of Works’ goal towards digitalising the construction industry, we expect IR 4.0 and smart construction to play a significant role in the industry as we move towards 2020 and beyond. Through CITP and the IR 4.0 road map, the ministry will focus on embracing global construction technology such as smart life-cycle, automated construction equipment and technology to digitalise the construction industry. It is time for local contractors, industry associations and technical agencies in general to work together in making the Malaysian construction industry a stronger player and contender in the technology field, both locally and abroad. What is your outlook on the industry in the next year and beyond? 2020 and beyond promise a positive outlook for the construction industry. Construction works will be mainly supported by infrastructure or civil engineering works. The recent 2020 Federal Budget provides the largest development expenditure since 2015, of which around RM30 billion worth of construction works is expected to be implemented in 2020, with the biggest amount allocated for road maintenance and repair, upgrading and maintenance of schools as well as the upgrading and new development of hospitals. However, it is possible that the private sector will be slowing its development plan for 2020 based on the Business Conditions Index (BCI) from the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), which reportedly posted the lowest level since 2008. Apart from this, it is expected that the construction industry will be posting a more modest growth of 5.0% and below in the future. The years of the construction sector growing mightily with double-digit growth of 18.2% in 2012, 10.8% in 2013 and 11.8% in 2014, previously riding on infrastructure mega projects have somehow came to braking point. Based on its current needs and more prudent spending, the government will continue its policy of spending sensibly on construction projects. We will also be working along the recently launched Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV2030). The 7 Strategic Thrusts aim to propel the goal of providing a decent standard of living for all Malaysians in order to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals. Under the proposed 15 Key Economic Growth Activities (KEGA), IR4.0 plays a major role in boosting the digital economy through technology and skilled workers to improve productivity and quality in order to remain relevant and be able to meet future economic needs. For the construction industry, we support the idea of IR4.0 domestically as well as exploring the potential ASEAN market to boost the national economy through restructuring and enhancing the country’s business and industrial ecosystems. All these initiatives and government’s agenda to push the country’s development in every aspect has one ultimate goal, which is to increase the standard of living for the betterment of the rakyat. What improvements/new developments within the construction industry can industry players look forward to in the short and medium terms? Short Term a) Sustained work book order, amid challenging construction market. b) More enforcement in construction regulations. Medium Term a) Higher uptakes in IBS system. b) New strategy TVET empowerment committee, which translates into more skilled and knowledgeable workers. c) Revival of deferred/ reviewed construction projects. The Budget 2020 with the theme ‘Driving Growth and Equitable Outcomes Towards Shared Prosperity’ has outlined quite a number of opportunities for the construction industry players in areas such as rural development and improving roads and highways. As the main ministry that spearheads infrastructure development, Ministry of Works will collaborate with other ministries to ensure all infrastructure projects are developed and maintained as planned and based on the needs and requirements of the rakyat. The Ministry is especially thankful for the approval of the 165-kilometre Trans Borneo Highway connecting Sabah and Sarawak to Eastern Kalimantan. An important component of this project is the package worth RM600 million for the 40km Jalan Kalabakan-Serudong and the construction of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security 27 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #117 Cover Feature Complex (CIQS) and government housing quarters. The positive impact of this project includes economic growth of the area that will have a multiplier effect on other industries, for instance, foreign investment, tourism and housing. It will generate quality inclusive development towards a high-income economy and the well-being of the communities. I would also like to urge industry players to explore opportunities abroad as the government will provide a RM1billion 1 to 5 matching guarantee for dedicated private equity funds in an effort to catalyse and promote financing to construction consortiums bidding for overseas projects. This initiative is expected to attract more investors to offer equity for local contractors bidding for foreign projects. The fund will also improve Malaysia’s balance of payment as well as increase the competitiveness and ability of industry players globally. In shaping the future of the construction industry, players along the value chain need to prepare strategically to thrive in the anticipated challenges. This includes attracting new talents apart from reskilling and upskilling the existing workforce to keep up with the current mechanism of doing business. The industry needs to understand that future scenarios require substantially different skills than what we have today. Hence, the process of reskilling and upskilling must be done promptly as a way of preparing the industry towards taking up opportunities in the future. Furthermore, the industry is expected to be alert and explore other incentives offered by the government, which are managed by various ministries. For example, green financing comprising various tax incentives and low interest rate loans will encourage the industry to implement sustainable elements at the project inception, including using construction technology methods such as IBS and BIM. These opportunities need to be exploited to ensure penetration of new market segments and business opportunities. What’s on your wish list for the next year and in the next five years with regards to the construction industry? 2020 It is high time for the construction industry to be sustainable amidst the challenging economic environment. To this end, the Ministry will provide support and facilitate industry players in implementing sustainable practices in the Malaysian construction industry, as this requires significant investment costs. This financial constraint impedes the implementation of new technological concepts. Coupled with the lack of a push factor in regulations and uncertainty in actual costs, developers and contractors have low interest to invest in new technoloy such as green building technology. Higher costs incurred for the import of green materials and technology also hinder the shift towards sustainability. As for skilled workers, benchmarking and exposure to international platforms such as the World Skills Competition (WSC) enable us to set international standards especially for the Akademi Binaan Malaysia (ABM) syllabus and curriculum. The WSC standard will enable ABM to transform into a World Class TVET Institute. This initiative will provide opportunities to the youth in skilled professions with high salaries in special skill sets such as 3D Digital Game Art, Architectural Stonemasonry and Concrete Construction Work. Although it is a monumental task to address every single aspiration of the construction industry, the Ministry of Works will always strive to evolve and meet world standards. I have made it my utmost priority to ensure the continuity of all industry players and also the needs of the rakyat as a whole. Next 5 Years One of our goals is for the construction industry to embrace IR4.0 by using less unskilled workers and more automation, i.e. to have a larger percentage of projects using IBS and more future mechanisation to be developed. The Ministry through CIDB also hopes that more local workers will be absorbed into the construction industry with better pay, working facilities, safety, quality, as well as developing and retaining skilled and knowledgeable workers. While BIM and IBS are among the initial focusses for development in this sector, the government is also keen to identify the feasibility of other types of technologies for implementation in Malaysia. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the top 10 disruptive technologies in construction, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), pre- fabrication, wireless sensors, 3D printing and automated and robotic equipment are affecting the entire industry. Apart from that, WEF has also listed cloud and real-time collaboration, augmented reality and visualisation, advanced building materials, big data and 3D scanning as contributing disruptive technologies. As CITP is ending in 2020, the Ministry is heading into new synergistic collaborations with other ministries and agencies to establish joint programmes, with commitment andparticipation from private sectors. My vision is to provide access to shared prosperity via an infrastructure development roadmap to create an infrastructure ecosystem that will synergise and collaborate with other ministries and private sectors; to transform Malaysia into a country with first-rate road links in South East Asia for trade, business and tourism. — YB TUAN BARU BIAN, MINISTER OF WORKS “ ”Next >