PRESIDENT MESSAGE-MARCH
I hope you had a good Chinese New Year holiday because this year will be another eventful year for the Association. We have already lined up several events in March. Among the events are the IBS Seminar 2018 on 28th March 2018 and the first out of nine Sessions of Practical Construction Contract Administration/Management on 22nd March 2018. Apart from that, the preparation to organise the 44th IFAWPCA Convention is also well underway.
Before us lies an extended final sprint in a challenging year of various big scale events. This will demand a lot from all of us, especially as our normal activities are still on along with the additional workload. I hope together we can continue to work hard and progress into another successful year for the Association!
JOINT INDUSTRY MEETING: FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION ON PROPOSAL TO GOVERNMENT ON HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT OF FOREIGN WORKERS
MBAM Vice President, Ir. Chuan Yeong Ming and MBAM Council Member, Datuk Astaman Bin Abdul Aziz (1st & 2nd from left) representing MBAM
During the meeting
The meeting was attended by MBAM Vice President, Ir. Chuan Yeong Ming, MBAM Council Member Datuk Astaman Bin Abdul Aziz, MBAM HR Committee Member, Mr Mazlan Haron and MBAM Manager, Mr Mohd Farhan on 5th February 2018 at Wisma FMM, Bandar Sri Damansara. The purpose of the meeting was to obtain input and reach a consensus on further details required on holistic management of foreign workers to be submitted to the Government through YB Dato’ Sri Mustapha Mohamed Minister of Minister of International Trade and Industry and to be included in the paper to Cabinet.
*The proposal on Holistic Management of Foreign Workers was submitted to MITI on 6th February 2018.
STUDY VISIT TO GAS DISTRICT COOLING PUTRAJAYA-PLANT 3
The participants was given a brief safety briefing before the study visit
Group photo of the participants with the GDC people
On 7th February 2018, a total number of 12 MBAM members led by MBAM Treasurer-General and Chairman of Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Committee, Mr Kenneth Liew organised a study visit to Gas District Cooling (GDC) Putrajaya-Plant 3 hosted by GDC (Putrajaya) Sdn Bhd. The study visit aims to create awareness and enhance our members’ knowledge on gas district cooling.
GDC is the Malaysia’s largest district cooling provider serving Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). GDC assets encompass of 8 co-generation / district cooling plants with total combined capacity of 59 MW electric, 442 ton / her steam, 147,000 RT & 238,000 RTh chilled water. After a briefing on safety procedures, members proceeded to the plant for visit. For plant 3, it is located in Precint 5 Putrajaya. With a total of 7,200 RT chilled water output, it was commissioned in 2008 and it plant setup with 5 direct fired chiller and 1 electrical chiller. Overall, the feedbacks received from the participants were the visit was educational and had enhanced their knowledge gas district cooling system.
PERSATUAN INDUSTRI KOMPUTER DAN MULTIMEDIA MALAYSIA (PIKOM) CHINESE NEW YEAR DINNER
MBAM Vice President, Mr Oliver Wee with the other guest at the PIKOM Chinese New Year Dinner
The Chinese New Year dinner organised by our affiliate member PIKOM on 7th February 2018 at Sime Darby Convention Centre was attended by MBAM Vice President and Chairman of ICT Committee, Mr Oliver Wee and MBAM Assistant General Manager, Mr Lenny Lim.
The event besides being a celebratory affair also gave the opportunity for PIKOM members to network with other industry players and guests. Chairman of PIKOM, Mr Ganesh Kumar Bangah delivered the welcome speech and wished all attendees a healthy and prosperous year of the Dog and hoped that members will continue to participate and support industry initiatives. MBAM is more than happy to attend such well organised affiliate events. We cherish the opportunity to continue to build our network and maintain our relationship with PIKOM, our member since 2016.
PERSATUAN PEMBINA PORT DICKSON’S 49TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER AND CHINESE YEAR NEW CELEBRATION
Presentation of souvenir to Persatuan Pembina Port Dickson
The Port Dickson Builders Association’s 49th Anniversary celebration was held on 11th February 2018 at the Duke Restaurant in Lukut, Port Dickson. In my opening speech, I gave a short briefing on the Malaysian economy which was expected to maintain a 5.5% growth, supported by the many government projects such as the East Coast Rail Line, MRT Line 2 and 3, Pan Borneo Highway and numerous Perumahan Rakyat projects.
The construction industry is projected to achieve RM180billion projects in 2018. However, despite such rosy outlook there are challenges facing the industry such as issues of levy of foreign workers borne by employers as well as the requirements of accreditation for skilled workers and supervisors. I cautioned that there are penalties for failure to adhere it. All contractors must quickly apply for accreditation for their workers and supervisors and seize the current offer of reduced fees charged by CIDB. The contractors need to upgrade their skills and change their mindset to adopt new technologies such as IBS, BIM to face the changing environment.
INTERVIEW WITH FOCUS MALAYSIA
During the interview session
The Focus Malaysia writer, Ms Sonia Ramachandran paid a visit to MBAM to interview me on the labour issues. With the E-Card (enforcement card) programme for unregistered foreign workers ended on 30th June last year and the rehiring programme ending six months after that. At present, employers now have to pay almost double to bring in legal foreign workers after absorbing all fees for recruiting the foreign workers.
In addition, the property sector are also facing with a slowdown due to slow sales and stringent lending requirements. The construction fraternity are worried that these problem will lead to higher costs of doing business which will have a ripple effect to the consumer such as increase of property prices. It is important that the authority to set up a council that consists of industry players and Government to look into the problems related to the industry and to come up with a solution that benefits both parties.
Majlis Penghargaan Dan Perlantikan Ahli MAJLIS Negara bagi Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan Tempoh 2018-2021
MBAM Council Member cum Chairman of Safety & Health Committee, Mr Michael Yap was appointed to represent MBAM to serve as a member of the National Council for Occupational Safety & Health (NCOSH) for the new term from 1st Feb 2018 to 31st January 2021 (3 years).
An Appointment of New Council Members and Appreciation Ceremony was held on 13th February 2018 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Mr Michael Yap as the new MBAM NCOSH member and MBAM Vice President, Ir. Chuan Yeong Ming as an ex-NCOSH Member attended the ceremony.
46TH BUILDING INDUSTRY PRESIDENTS’ COUNCIL (BIPC) MEETING
The BIPC meeting
The exchange of chairmanship for BIPC council from REHDA to MBAM
Starting from 2018, MBAM is taking over the Chairmanship of the Building Industry Presidents’ Council (BIPC) from Real Estate & Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) for the duration of one year. I will be representing MBAM as the Chairman of BIPC. The BIPC was formed to be a pro-active meeting of Presidents of Institutions in the Building Industry. We are fortunate to have the support from the other six Association namely Real Estate & Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA), Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM), Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM), The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) and Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP).
FELLOWSHIP NO 2/2018
MBAM council members are among the people that were present during the fellowship
Group photo of fellowship goers
Laubros Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd sponsored the second MBAM Fellowship which was held on 27th February 2018 At Mandala Café & Bar, Publika. The fellowship was well attended by 103 pax. The Managing Director of Laubros Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Lau Chuan Hoo and Vice President, Business Development, Datin Kelly Lau were also present during the fellowship. MBAM President, I delivered the welcome speech and thanked the sponsor for their generosity and for being active and participating in MBAM related activities. I also took the opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year. Datin Kelly Lau also delivered a speech on behalf of the sponsor and welcomed everyone to the event.
Foo Chek Lee JMW
President