PRESIDENT MESSAGE-SEPTEMBER

As we celebrate the 59^th Independence Day of our beloved country, Malaysia, I wish all of us will come together in the enduring spirit of Malaysia to continuously move forward to bring our country to a greater milestones. 

When the Declaration of Independence was read by the first Chief Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman on 31^st August 1957 at the Merdeka Stadium in the presence of thousands of people including Malay Rulers, members of the federal government, and foreign dignitaries. They have left a legacy that lives on today through generations of Malaysian who enjoys the labour of the people from the past.

Just as this day serves as a reminder of the immeasurable bravery of those who have made Malaysia what it is today, it also renews in us the solemn duty we share to ensure our Nation continue to grow and prosper.  We must not simply commemorate the work begun almost 6 decades ago to go into waste. May the spirit of our forefathers continue to live on and be cherished by the younger generation. Selamat Hari Merdeka!

The following are the main events for this month:

CEO FACULTY TALK FROM POLITEKNIK SULTAN SALAHUDDIN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Sufri during his talk

Group photo with the students and lecturers of Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin

The Chairman of MBAM Education Committee, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Sufri bin Haji Mohd Zin was invited to deliver a talk at the Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah on 3^rd August 2016. The talk was attended by around 250 students from three Diploma programmes: Civil Engineering, Building Services and Wood-based Technology. In his presentation, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Sufri talked about his experiences in his early years, from his studying days to his most recent projects in Sarawak. He also touched on a lot of related topics such as on entrepreneurship, on being street smart versus book smart and on the issue of women in the construction industry. After his talk, the floor was open to Q&A session and Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Sufri was kept busy fielding a lot of questions from the students who wanted to know about the secret to his success. The event concluded with a presentation of memento from the management of the Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah to Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Sufri for taking time off his busy schedule to deliver the talk, followed by a luncheon hosted by the Politeknik.

Overall the talk was well received and the students left the hall feeling inspired to succeed in life and career in the construction industry.

COURTESY VISIT AND DIALOGUE WITH CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS (CIARB), MALAYSIA BRANCH

Discussion in session

Presentation of Memento to Mr Lam Wai Loon, Chairman of CIArb

The meeting was held on 3^rd August 2016 at Tan Sri Datuk Tee Hock Seng’s Conference Room. Representing MBAM were MBAM Vice President and Chairman of MBAM Contracts and Practices Committee, Mr Oliver Wee, Deputy Chairman of MBAM Contracts and Practices Committee, Mr Steven Shee, Committee Member of MBAM Contracts and Practices Committee, Mr Khoo Cheong, MBAM Senior Manager, Mr Lenny Lim, MBAM Assistant Manager, Mr Mohd Farhan Mohammed Din and I.

Representing Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Malaysia Branch were:

1. Mr Lam Wai Loon, Chairman
2. Mr Thayananthan Baskaran, Deputy Chairman
3. Ms Serene Hiew, Honorary Secretary
4. Mr Foo Joon Liang, Committee Member
5. Ms Lye Ca-ryn (Tentative), Assistant to Hon. Secretary

Overall, it was a successful first meeting and we hope some beneficial collaboration can materialise out of the meeting. It was also decided that a joint memorandum of understanding should be signed by both organisations.

COURTESY VISIT AND DIALOGUE TO MEET THE MINISTER OF FINANCE 2

Meeting with the Minister of Finance II, Y.B Datuk Johari bin Abdul Ghani

A token of appreciation was presented to Y.B Datuk Johari bin Abdul Ghani

MBAM conducted a Courtesy Visit to see Y.B. Datuk Johari bin Abdul Ghani, Ministry of Finance II on 4^th August 2016 at the Ministry of Finance, Putrajaya. The visit was attended by the following: –

1. Mr Matthew Tee, Immediate Past President
2. Mr Dennis Tan, Secretary-General
3. Mr Ong Ka Thiam, Deputy Secretary General 1
4. Mr Abdul Rashid Bin Abdul Rahman, alternate Council Member
5. Mr Lenny Lim, Senior Manager
6. Mr Michael Thong, Senior Manager and I.

Topics discussed include our appeal for the further reduction of import duties on heavy machineries in the construction industry, issue of proposed safeguard measures on the import of steel bars and the grounds for rejecting it by MBAM, as well as GST related issues.

Through the courtesy visit and dialogue, MBAM sought the Ministry of Finance’s help on all the matters raised to protect the interest of our Members. Overall, it was a productive visit and a token of appreciation was presented to YB Datuk Johari bin Abdul Ghani, Ministry of Finance II for his hospitality. It is hoped that the visit will contribute to closer cooperation between the Ministry and the construction industry especially MBAM.

COURTESY VISIT AND DIALOGUE WITH SIN CHEW MEDIA CORPORATION (SCMC)

Group Photo with the representative from Sin Chew Media Corporation

MBAM Secretary-General, Mr Dennis Tan, MBAM Treasurer-General, Mr Kenneth Liew, MBAM Senior Manager, Mr Lenny Lim, MBAM Manager, Ms Chai Min Fung, MBAM Executive Officer, Ms Abbie Ng and I participated in a courtesy visit and dialogue with Sin Chew Media Corporation (SCMC) representatives on 5^th August 2016.

Mr Koo Cheng, Executive Director, Mr Choo Joo Kian, News Editor, Mr Yeoh Yee Soon, Senior Account Manager (Direct) and Mr Low Kon Sin, Senior Manager (Corporate Communication & Promotion) represented SCMC. Mr Koo Cheng thanked MBAM for the visit and welcome the opportunity for better cooperation between the two organisations.

Issues affecting the construction industry were highlighted during the dialogue and Mr Dennis Tan suggested a column for MBAM to voice current issues. Mr Koo mentioned that he will let the editorial team bring up in their discussion on the request raised. A souvenir was presented to Mr Koo to commemorate the visit. Also presented was a copy of the MBAM 60^th Anniversary Coffee Table book and Master Builders Journal latest publication.

Overall, the visit achieved the aim to introduce MBAM representatives to key media and editorial representatives from SCMC.

POLITEKNIK UNGKU OMAR 45^TH CONVOCATION

MBAM Vice President/Chairman of MBAM Education Committee giving his speech

During the Graduation ceremony

Chairman of MBAM Education Committee, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Sufri was invited to be the VVIP Guest for the Politeknik Ungku Omar 45^th Convocation Ceremony for students of Civil Engineering Department held on 9^th August 2016 at Dewan Jubli Perak, Politeknik Ungku Omar, Ipoh. A total of 462 students of Civil Engineering Department graduated on that day, and we hope that all of them will enter the construction industry full of spirit to take it to the next level. Politeknik Ungku Omar is working together with MBAM on a work based learning (WBL) programme for its engineering students and we look forward to continue and expand on this partnership for the betterment of the industry.

COURTESY VISIT AND DIALOGUE WITH KUALA LUMPUR REGIONAL CENTRE FOR ARBITRATION (KLRCA)

A token of appreciation was presented to Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo

An informal meeting took place with Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo

As part of MBAM series of activities with the aim to have better working relationship with all stakeholders of the construction industry, MBAM Contracts and Practices Committee organized a courtesy visit to KLRCA, Bangunan Sulaiman on 17^th August 2016.

Attending from MBAM were:

1. MBAM Vice President/ Chairman MBAM Contracts and Practices Committee, Mr Oliver Wee
2. MBAM Deputy Chairman of Contracts and Practices Committee, Mr Steven Shee
3. MBAM Senior Manager, Mr Lenny Lim and I

The Director of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA), Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo welcomed MBAM representatives and mentioned that he would like to see better collaborations with regards to CIPAA and arbitration related training programmes. He also expressed his hope to see more contractors joining the arbitration training programme. Datuk Professor mentioned KLRCA is willing to share updated statistics on CIPAA with MBAM. Overall, it was a productive meeting with KLRCA which is an adjudication authority under the Construction Payment & Adjudication Act 2012 (CIPAA).

SESSION 4: RISK MANAGEMENT & RISK MANAGEMENT, INSURANCES AND BONDS/ DETERMINATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Sr. Ht Ong during the in class session

The participants that attended the final seminar

Sr. Ong Hock Tek, Managing Director of BK Entrusty trained 50 attendees who turned up for the fourth and final session of Practical Construction Contract Administration/Management on 18^th August 2016 at MBAM Training Centre. This final session focused on “Risk Management and Insurances/Bonds & Determination and Dispute Resolution”.

 As a whole, the attendees of the programme learnt how to better understand and evaluate the risk associated with the commercial terms and conditions typically found in all construction contracts. It is hoped that the programme has increased the participants’ knowledge on how to lessen or eliminate commercial risk through successful negotiation of a contract’s commercial terms and conditions.

MBAM ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT 2016

The top three winner of the MBAM Annual Golf Tournament 2016

The VVIP Flight players

Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) organised its Annual Golf Tournament on 20^th August 2016 at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, Shah Alam. The event was attended by the Director General, Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia (DOSH), YBhg. Dato’ Ir. Mohtar bin Musri as the Guest of Honour and as one of the players. There were 128 players turned up and total of 34 flights in the 18-point shotgun start tournament for the early morning golf which teed off at 8:00 am.

The following were the winners for this year’s tournament:

Overall

Novelty

The golf tournament is part of MBAM’s effort to build better rapport between MBAM members, build closer relationship with related Ministries, Departments and Agencies and to gather funding for MBAM activities especially the MBAM Education Fund.

MBAM SCHOLARSHIP AWARD 2016

The recipients of the MBAM scholarship awards 2016

The presentation of the MBAM Scholarship Awards 2016 was held on 20^th August 2016 at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, Shah Alam (GGCC) in conjunction with the MBAM Annual Golf Tournament 2016. The Chairman of Education Fund Board of Member (BoM), Mr Chua Siow Leng and I presented the Scholarship to 10 deserving recipients. Meanwhile, President of Lighthouse Club Kuala Lumpur, Mr Roderick Noble presented their Lighthouse Club scholarship to the selected recipient for this year, Ms Hor Yan Qi.

The recipients of the MBAM Scholarship Awards 2016 are as follows:

**Sponsored by Lighthouse Club Kuala Lumpur

MBAM Council Members and Education Fund Board of Member (BoM) decided to increase the value of the scholarship from RM8,000.00 per annum to RM10,000.00 per annum. The last increase was in 2013 and the inflation as well as the cost living has increased significantly for the past three years. The increase in the value of the scholarship is to assist the students in view of the increase in the cost of living and education expenses in general. The scholarship will be disbursed in two instalments in February and August/September upon verification of semester examination results.

MBAM 2-DAY SEMINAR ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH (OSH) & WORKSHOP ON HEAVY LIFTING PLAN

A token of appreciation was presented to the GOH

Among the participants of the seminar

The Seminar on Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) and Workshop on Heavy Lifting Plan was held on 24^th to 25^th August 2016 at Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya. The seminar was jointly organised by Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) Safety and Health Committee together with Penang Master Builders & Building Materials Dealers Association (PMBBMDA). This Seminar was also supported by Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB) and Social Security Organization (SOCSO), and endorsed by National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) and Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH).

The opening ceremony of the seminar was attended by the Director of Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Penang, Ir. Mohd Rosdee Bin Yaacob as the Guest of Honour. A total of 116 participants attended the event. The second day of the Seminar was held in a workshop format, focusing exclusively on heavy lifting plan, which is an important part of many current and upcoming projects.

COURTESY VISIT AND DIALOGUE WITH SELANGOR AND FEDERAL TERRITORY KIN CHO HONG

Meeting in session

Presentation of Souvenir by MBAM President, Mr Foo Chek Lee

The visit took place in Tan Sri Datuk Tee Hock Seng’s Conference Room on 25^th August 2016. Representing MBAM were MBAM Secretary-General, Mr Dennis Tan, MBAM Executive Director, Ms Loh Mei Ling, MBAM Senior Managers, Mr Lenny Lim and Mr Michael Thong and I.

Attending from Selangor and Federal Territory Kin Cho Hong were Mr Leong Kien Keong, Chairman of Selangor and Federal Territory Kin Cho Hong. Also present from Kin Cho Hong were Mr Leong Foo Yew, Mr Tee Seng Kong, Mr Alwin Liew, Mr Liew Yu Chan, Dato’ Ng Tong Chun and Mr Liong Ban Lee.

The purpose of the meeting was to invite Selangor and Federal Territory Kin Cho Hong to be MBAM Council Member and also to discuss pressing issues.  It is hoped the meeting will spark further dialogues with MBAM Affiliate Members so that MBAM can continue to represent our Members with a stronger voice.

Foo Chek Lee

President