JULY 2025 WEBSITE MESSAGE
MEETING WITH ONTARIO COMPANIES IN MBAM OFFICE IN PUTRA HEIGHTS FOLLOWING VISIT FROM HIGH COMMISSION OF CANADA
MBAM received a visit from the High Commission of Canada and Ms. Yamunah Kandasamy, Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada who overlooks the Cleantech and Energy Transition sector on 2 July 2025. MBAM was represented by Mr Oliver HC Wee, MBAM President, Mr Fong Tet Yoong, MBAM Deputy Secretary-General II and Mr Muhammad Fadzley Salim, MBAM General Manager. Post the above meeting it was agreed to host a meeting at MBAM Putra Heights for a roundtable discussion. It was informed that Ms Ellen Cao from the Ontario Government will be in attendance.
ANNUAL HR CONFERENCE 2025
The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) on 10 July 2025 held its much-anticipated Annual Human Resources Conference 2025 at Armada Hotel, Petaling Jaya, gathering many high level construction professionals, HR leaders, and industry stakeholders to discuss the evolving role of human capital in the construction sector. MBAM extended appreciation to Datuk Azman Bin Mohd Yusof, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Human Resources, who officiated the event as the Guest of Honour. He commended the Ministry’s continuous efforts in advancing national workforce development and fostering stronger collaboration between the government and industry players. The conference also featured focused sessions on flexible work arrangements, SOCSO benefits and claims, industrial skills frameworks, and bridging the talent expectation gap, offering attendees a comprehensive look at current trends and emerging needs in workforce management.
ABMS FASTRACK
The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) is proud to collaborate with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on the Anti Bribery Management System to promote the ISO 37001:2025 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS). We are also happy to work with SIRIM for the Fast Track Certification Programme on 15 July 2025. This initiative underscores our collective commitment to fostering integrity and transparency in Malaysia’s construction industry, aligning with Section 17A of the MACC Act and equipping contractors, particularly Grade G7, with the tools to implement robust anti-corruption measures.
Through this structured programme, MBAM encourages all members and industry players to seize this opportunity to adopt ISO 37001:2025, enhancing compliance, strengthening bidding eligibility, and building stakeholder trust.
With the introduction of Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, the responsibility for corporate integrity has grown. This section introduces corporate liability—meaning that if a company is found to be involved in corruption through its employees or associates, top management and the organisation itself can be held liable, unless it can demonstrate that it had adequate procedures in place to prevent such misconduct. ISO 37001 is globally recognised as one of the most credible frameworks for establishing these “adequate procedures.” Therefore, compliance with this standard is not just good practice—it is legal protection. Construction companies—especially G7 contractors—must now go beyond lip service. ABMS certification is no longer a nice-to-have, but a strategic necessity. It can protect companies from legal risks, strengthen their eligibility to bid for public sector projects, improve investor and client confidence, and most importantly, build long-term stakeholder trust.
The ABMS Fast Track Programme is designed to provide structured and accelerated support for companies to adopt and implement ISO 37001:2025 within a defined timeline. With expert guidance from SIRIM Academy and policy alignment through CIDB, we are confident this initiative will help reduce the learning curve and lower the barriers to implementation that have long discouraged companies from pursuing certification. We urge all MBAM members and contractors across Malaysia to take full advantage of this opportunity and to start preparing now—train your people, assess your internal controls, and engage with the consultants and experts provided under this programme. The time to act is now, especially with the 2026 compliance landscape rapidly approaching.
Oliver HC Wee KMN AMN
President, MBAM