President Message April 2021
How time flies that we are stepping into the second quarter of year 2021. But I am glad that the construction activities are getting back on track despite the hiccups and challenges faced along the way. I am sure we will continue to be resilient and rise stronger together.
Last month on 25 March 2021, MBAM paid a courtesy visit to the Senior Minister of Works. I was glad that few of my fellow Council and I got to sit down with YB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof to briefly discuss some of the main issues faced and the proposal on CIDB as the authority for the construction industry. I hope that our proposal will be taken into consideration as CIDB is the regulatory body taking charge of the construction industry who understands the industry well and knows the needs of the industry when it comes to any matters dealing with construction.
Group photo with YB Senior Minister of Works
Earlier in March, it was announced by the Government on a new ruling on the expansion of the Human Resources Development Fund (PSMB) Act 2001 (Act 612), which included the construction industry with effect from 1 March 2021. MBAM met with the Minister of Human Resources, YB Datuk Seri M. Saravanan in a recent engagement on 30 March 2021 to discuss further on the matter following our objection letter to the Ministry, as well as to the Ministry of Works and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia. MBAM also took the opportunity to raise the issue on the latest Amended Act 446 under the Emergency Ordinance. I hope that the Ministry of Human Resources will consider our appeal on the above issues.
Group photo with YB Minister of Human Resources
On 31 March 2021, MBAM Human Resources Committee organised a Seminar on Enforcement of the Latest Amended Act 446 under Emergency Ordinance & Site COVID-19 Management. With the success of over 120 participants, the Seminar was a very informative and engaging session with experts from the Ministry of Health, CIDB Wilayah Kuala Lumpur, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and Department of Labour (JTK) Peninsular Malaysia sharing their insights on the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact and ways to overcome some of the issues currently faced. The session definitely answered to most of the questions raised on the amended Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) under the Emergency Ordinance. I would like to thank the Organising Committee, distinguished speakers and participants for taking part in one of our first face-to-face events after one year while adhering strictly to the SOPs.
I hope that we will be able to organise more seminars as such to shed some light on some of the challenging issues faced by contractors. Therefore, I urge MBAM members to come forward and share with the Council and Secretariat on some of their pressing issues, which we will definitely try our very best to assist and provide solutions for.
Lastly, I look forward to seeing some of you at the upcoming 66th MBAM Anniversary Dinner on 9 April 2021. While we would like to have everyone around to celebrate our 66th Anniversary, we unfortunately have to limit the number of guests due to compliance with the SOPs. I also wish to share that MBAM Council members, Secretariat and event crew will be taking the lead to screen for COVID-19 tests before the dinner. Therefore, I encourage guests attending the dinner will be able to do the same too. Let us #kitajagakita to stay united and work together in the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Tan Sri Sufri Hj Mhd Zin PSM, SSAP, DPTJ
President, MBAM