MBAM JULY 2026 WEBSITE MESSAGE

Greetings to all MBAM members, affiliates, and partners.

It is my distinct honour to address you as your newly elected President for the 2026–2028 term following our 72nd Annual General Meeting. This election marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time the presidency has been entrusted to a leader from the M&E sector rather than civil structure contractors, proving that MBAM represents everyone who builds this country. As we navigate rising costs, industry pressures, and global uncertainties, our unity remains our greatest leverage. I extend my deepest gratitude to our council members for their trust, to our returning Secretary-General Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz, and to my predecessor, Immediate Past President, Oliver H.C. Wee, for his exceptional leadership over the last four challenging years.

The new council has hit the ground running to address critical industry issues. We are closely monitoring the Ministry of Home Affairs’ new Expatriate Employment Pass (EP) rulings, which mandate strict local succession plans for foreign talents earning under RM20,000. Because our sector heavily faces local labour aversion, these rules pose a real hurdle for contractors trying to secure skilled talent. To address site safety and operational concerns, we have already renewed our close ties with authorities, hosting a productive engagement on June 22 with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Malaysia led by its newly appointed Director-General, Hajah Hazlina Yon, ensuring worker well-being remains a non-negotiable priority across Malaysia’s infrastructure development.

Looking ahead, I invite you all to the 12th edition of the MBAM OneBuild Exhibition from August 5–7 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Themed “Smart Cities, Building Tomorrow,” this premier event will showcase digital construction, BIM, and green tech across 400 booths from 22 countries. Co-located with OneWare (the hardware exhibition), it will gather our entire ecosystem under one roof, and we are highly honoured that our Minister of Works, YB Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, will officially declare it open next month. I look forward to your continuous support as we embark on this new term together.

Thank you and keep building!

KENNETH LIEW KIAM WOON

President, MBAM