PRESIDENT MESSAGE-FEBRUARY
We are celebrating the Chinese New Year in the middle of this month. I hope all of you will take a moment to spend time with your family and friends during this festive month before you push forward with your goals and reaching greater heights in this New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous New Year!
INTERVIEW BY JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (JICA)
The representatives from JICA
The meeting in session
The meeting between MBAM and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on The Study on Application of Development Experiences to Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) in Malaysia was held on 9th January 2018 at Tan Sri Datuk Tee Hock Seng Conference Room.
Under the partnership between MBAM and JICA, TCTP provides participants from developing countries with technical training for the purpose of transferring and sharing our development experience, knowledge and technology. The meeting focused on the Development Experiences of MBAM on Occupational Safety and Health and aimed at qualitative improvement of TCTP through a comparative study of development experiences in Malaysia and Japan.
MBAM is pleased with the outcomes of the meeting with JICA to enhance relationship and foster mutual understanding between the two countries besides sharing our experience in training and enhancement of safety and health in our construction industry.
MBAM TECHNICAL MACHINERY PRODUCT BRIEFING 1/2018
The representatives of the sponsoring company with Mr Thomas Samuel (2nd from left)
Among the participants of the technical briefing
The MBAM Technical Services Briefing 1/2018 was held on 12th January 2018 at Sunway Leadership Centre, Bandar Sunway, Selangor. The product briefing was attended by 170 pax. MBAM Alternate Council Member and Deputy Chairman of Publications and Outreach Committee, Mr Thomas Samuel delivered the welcome speech and extended his gratitude to Strainstall Malaysia Sdn Bhd for generously sponsoring the Technical Services Briefing.
Mr Julian Antony Allen, Technical Director, James Fisher Testing Services (JFTS) Division, James Fisher and Sons plc touched on a comprehensive range of services available within the field of foundation, material testing and structural health monitoring. The service provided support complex infrastructure projects throughout the asset lifecycle, from base line materials testing, to the design and installation of long term monitoring solutions and periodic structural investigation. Data management capability assists asset owners and operators to make timely and cost-effective decisions throughout and at the end of asset life were discussed.
Mr Justin St. George, Senior Engineer- Engineering Division, Strainstall Singapore Pte Ltd spoke on Bi –Directional Static Load Test which is an innovative pile testing method for the Static Load Test. The speaker touched on how this method works as well as the theory and methodology behind this method of installing the hydraulic jacks within the pile itself instead of on top of the pile, the installation procedures, and the key benefits on using this method.
Mr Damian Anthony Peter Griffiths, Regional Monitoring Solutions Manager (Malaysia), Strainstall Malaysia Sdn Bhd spoke on Structural Monitoring where he analysed the benefits of continuous and autonomous monitoring versus traditional methods and demonstrating the Smart Assets Management (SAM) TM for handling, processing and presentation of data. And finally, Mr Richard Yu, Technical consultant to Strainstall Malaysia and Managing Director of EMP Sdn Bhd, representative of Pile Dynamics USA presented on Thermal Integrity Profiler.
Overall, it was a very interesting programme with many members participating in the Question and Answer session.
MBAM FELLOWSHIP 1/2018
MBAM Council Member during the fellowship
Presenting a token of appreciation to representatives from Strainstall Malaysia Sdn Bhd
The product briefing was followed by the first MBAM Fellowship gathering for this year which was also sponsored by Strainstall Malaysia Sdn Bhd at Eight Gourmets Gala (EGG), Subang Jaya. The event attracted 270 pax. I delivered the welcome speech while Mr Jeffrey Aung, Senior Project Engineer, Strainstall Singapore Pte Ltd delivered a speech on behalf of the sponsor.
A token of appreciation was also presented to Mr Jasper Lee, General Manager of Strainstall Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Mr Jeffrey Aung, Senior Project Engineer, Strainstall Singapore Pte Ltd for the sponsorship of the fellowship.
PROGRAM DUTA GST- PEMATUHAN CUKAI BARANG DAN PERKHIDMATAN (GST) MELALUI PENDIDIKAN
During the talk by Tuan Mohamad Firdaus Bin Satibi
MBAM Treasurer General, Mr Kenneth Liew (4th from left) and Ms Tan Zini (3rd from left) with the representatives of Royal Malaysian Customs
The programme in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs, organised on 18th January 2018 at MBAM Training Centre was attended by 33 participant. Six “Duta GST” were presented to provide information and assistance on GST. MBAM Treasurer-General, Mr Kenneth Liew delivered the welcome remarks and thanked all the six “Duta GST”. They are Puan Juriah Noor Bt Juhari, Penolong Kanan Pengarah Kastam I, Puan Sabariah Bt Md Yusof, Penolong Kanan Pengarah Kastam II, Tuan Mohd Nor Kidahus Bin Mustafa @ Jusoh, Penolong Kanan Pengarah Kastam II, Tuan Mohamad Firdaus Bin Satibi, Penolong Pengarah Kastam, Tuan Shuhanizal Bin Mohd Shukor, Penguasa Kastam and Tuan Hasnul Rizal Bin Razali, Penguasa Kastam.
Puan Juriah Noor Bt Juhari thanks MBAM for organizing this programme and introduced all the six Duta GST member. Tuan Mohamad Firdaus Bin Satibi was the main speaker for this programme. He highlighted the constitution of taxable supply in construction sector. He further elaborated the various scenarios on time of supply and value of supply. The 2nd topic was the GST Treatment on Construction Industry such as Letter of Claims and Progress Payment. There were additional information on related GST issues, e.g. on treatment of retention sum, counter supplies or back charges, tender or contract deposit, compensation, supply for services and GST for government sector.
MBAM BASIC SCAFFOLDING (LEVEL 1) COMPETENCY COURSE – 34TH & 35TH INTAKE
During one of the in class session
Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) has organized a series of scaffolding training for our Members and industry players. The Level 1 (Basic) Scaffolding Course 34th and 35th Intake was successfully held on 22nd – 31st January 2018 with 24 participants. The courses were attended and briefed by MBAM Senior Assistant Manager, Mr Mohd Farhan Bin Mohammad Din.
This course is designed for any personnel involved in Heavy Industry and Construction and is especially relevant to personnel who are:
- Hands on personnel
- Safety & Health practitioners who are responsible to coordinate plan and implement scaffolding work at work site
For more information, please visit MBAM website: www.mbam.org.my or contact MBAM Secretariat, Mr Mohd Farhan, 012-213 3675 or Ms Chai Min Fung at 012-717
COURTESY VISIT & DIALOQUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA (TEEAM)
Presenting the 60th MBAM Coffee Table book as a souvenir
During the meeting with TEEAM
On 23rd January 2018, MBAM had a friendly dialogue with The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) at Tan Sri Datuk Tee Hock Seng Conference Room. The objectives were to enhance closer collaboration and to foster better understanding between both Associations.
The dialogue discussed both Associations’ role, function, activities, affiliation, collaboration in education and training, memorandum of understanding (MOU) partners, foreign workers, China Contractors, joint collaboration with MBAM in addressing government procurement, accreditation of supervisors and membership. Basically TEEAM have 3 kind of members: Manufacturer, Contractor and Trader.
Leading TEEAM to this dialogue was the President, Ir. Yong Ah Huat accompanied by International Affairs Chairman & Past President, Mr Suresh Kumar Gorasia, Assistant Honorary Treasurer & Publication Chairman, Mr Ooi Eng Guan, Council Members, Mr Lawrence Lai and Mr How Chee Seng and Executive Secretary, Ms Winnie Khong.
TECHNICAL VISIT TO BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY ZERO ENERGY BUILDING AND
STRAITS CONSTRUCTION INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTION AND PREFABRICATION HUB (ICPH), SINGAPORE
Group photo during the visit
Presentation of souvenir to the host for a successful visit
MBAM Deputy President & Chairman of International Affairs Committee, Tan Sri A.K Nathan led a 22-Member delegation to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Zero Energy Building (ZEB) and Straits Construction Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hub (ICPH), Singapore on 25th January 2018. MBAM Secretary-General, Mr Dennis Tan, MBAM Council Members, Datuk Astaman Bin Aziz and Mr Wilson Ang were among the participants. The purpose of the visit were to enhance members’ knowledge on the latest building construction technologies and innovations and also to discover the new innovations in the construction sector with sustainable design, prefabrication and precast to increase productivity and enhance long term sustainability.
MBAM delegates received warm welcome from Mr Tan Tian Chong, Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Gao Chun Ping, Director and Ms Alice Goh, Principal Manager, Built Environment Research and Innovation Institute of BCA, Singapore. BCA shared knowledge and experiences on the construction of the Zero Energy Building (ZEB), the adoption and implementation of Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) System in Singapore and how it results in improving construction productivity.
The building aims to achieve this through a combination of green building technology, clever building design that takes advantages of natural ventilation and lighting (this is called ‘passive design’), and the hamessing of solar energy.
MBAM delegates also took the opportunity to visit the Greyform building, an integrated construction and pre-fabrication hub (ICPH) by Straits Construction Group on the second half of the day. Straits Construction secured a contract from the Building & Construction Authority in May 2014 to build and operate an Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hub (ICPH). This new state-of-the-art highly automated plant was launched on 3rd October 2017, occupies 2 hectares of industrial land at Kaki Bukit, Singapore.
The plant will have an annual production capacity of more than 60,000 m3 of precast components, much more than what a conventional precast yard can produce with the same factory space. In addition to precast concrete production, the ICPH will also produce prefabricated bath units (PBU) which Straits Construction will manufacture under a Licensed Agreement with a major Italian PBU producer. MBAM delegates were abreast with the technologies and knowledge gained through this informative and interactive visit. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hub (ICPH).
44TH IFAWPCA MID-TERM EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
During the finance meeting
Group photo with the committee members
During the oath taking ceremony at the IFAWPCA Mid Term Executive Board meeting
The 44th IFAWPCA Mid-Term Executive Board Meeting was successfully hosted by the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd. (SCAL) on 25th – 26th January 2018 at the Marriott Tang Plaza Singapore. The Finance Committee which was chaired by me was held on 25th January 2018. The meeting reviewed the unaudited finance report of 2017 and noted an increase in income due to the increase of membership dues collected and the increased convention registration fees from Seoul Convention. Overall, the IFAWPCA Finance matters were in order.
IFAWPCA President, Datuk Matthew Tee chaired the 44th IFAWPCA Mid-Term Executive Board Meeting on 26th January 2018. Before the meeting was convened, the board observed a minute of silence for the past office bearers namely Mr David M. Consunji, Mr Sharad Kumar Gauchan and Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Yeoh Tiong Lay. IFAWPCA President, Datuk Matthew Tee then led the newly joined member the Construction Association of Bhutan (CAB), their appointed IFAWPCA Board Member Mr Thinlay Gyamtsho for oath-taking. The board warmly welcome the Construction Association of Bhutan (CAB) to IFAWPCA and look forward to their contribution and input.
I wish to take this opportunity to appeal to MBAM members to get yourself updated on the activities of the association through our various communication channels such as the Master Builders Journals, Bulletins, circulars, website and Facebook as the information will be useful to members especially on latest government policies and new developments affecting your organisation and businesses.
Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Holidays. Do travel home and back safely!
Foo Chek Lee JMW
President