< PreviousCOVER FEATURE new technology should be viewed as an investment in the company's future, similar to the investment in construction machinery, which aims to increase productivity and profitability. How would you rate your own company's adoption of Construction 4.0? Our company has embarked on the initial stages of the journey, such as implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for finance and procurement. However, the main challenge lies in consolidating all aspects into a Common Data Environment (CDE), accessible to different departments with a user- friendly interface, which requires additional investment. What steps can MBAM take to facilitate and encourage the adoption of Construction 4.0 in the Malaysian construction industry? To promote the adoption of Construction 4.0, MBAM can play a crucial role by creating widespread awareness. This can be achieved through organising training and educational programs on new technologies, arranging conferences and workshops, facilitating networking opportunities for industry professionals, and advocating for government support and regulatory reforms. What are the benefits for companies that adopt Construction 4.0? What are the trade-offs between maintaining the status quo and embracing Construction 4.0? Avoiding technology and keeping the status quo may give the perception of cost-savings. However, by not progressing, companies also hinder their own growth and competitiveness in comparison to those already implementing Construction 4.0. It's unrealistic to expect young professionals, who are adept with smartphones and laptops, to enter and stay in an industry that relies on outdated tools like abacuses. As an example, in the past, due to licensing costs or affordability, small construction companies may have shared one or two computers for the entire organisation. Nowadays, each employee expects to have their own desktop or laptop for daily work. The advantages of adopting Construction 4.0 are numerous. It leads to increased efficiency, productivity, and safety, reduced labour costs, improved quality, and enhanced collaboration among project stakeholders. On the other hand, the trade-offs of maintaining the status quo versus embracing Construction 4.0 include the potential costs associated with implementing new technologies, the need for training and upskilling of workers, and resistance to change from traditional practices. Nevertheless, the benefits of embracing new technologies ultimately outweigh the costs, and companies that fail to adapt risk being left behind in an increasingly competitive market. Alex Liew Yoon Kit MBAM Council Member / MBAM Chairman of ICT- Automation-Robotics Committee / Glocomp Systems (M) Sdn Bhd 18 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #127COVER FEATURE Digital and technological innovations are transforming construction project delivery globally. How would you rate the Malaysian construction industry's adoption of Construction 4.0 compared to more advanced countries like Singapore or Australia? Transformation is always a challenging journey. However, it is inevitable, and we must embrace it to become more competitive, cost-efficient, and, most importantly, efficient. In general, the adoption of Construction 4.0 in Malaysia holds great potential for advancement compared to Singapore and Australia. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has identified 12 components in Construction 4.0. Prioritisation should be implemented to address the components that can be immediately tackled. In our opinion, the top priorities are Prefabrication and Modular Construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Cloud and Real-Time Collaboration. Some countries, like Singapore, offer various incentives to encourage the adoption of digital and technological innovations. In your opinion, what incentives would you like to see from the Government in assisting the Malaysian construction industry? Incentives play a crucial role in driving the initial adoption of Construction 4.0. There are two types of incentives that we consider important: matching grants and tax incentives. Matching grants will assist construction firms in managing cash investments into the Construction 4.0 journey. Once successful implementation and use cases are demonstrated, tax incentives can be provided for investments in human capital dedicated to this journey. Malaysia has always attracted cheap labour from its regional neighbours like Indonesia, Nepal and Bangladesh. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the availability of these workers. In your opinion, is now the best time for the construction industry to move from cheap labour to improving efficiency and productivity through mechanisation, BIM, IBS, etc? The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in many business sectors. Just consider the e-wallet; before the pandemic, it was not popular, but now almost everyone uses it. Even hawkers use it to receive payments. Therefore, we believe it is an opportune time for the construction industry to embrace transformation for improved efficiency and productivity. To remain competitive, tools such as BIM and IBS can elevate the game. What are the barriers, aside from the cost of adopting new technologies, that hinder the Malaysian construction industry from embracing Construction 4.0? The industry should view the adoption of new technologies as an investment rather than a cost. This change in mindset is essential. Another challenge is the availability of skilled talent to operate these technologies. The lack of trained engineers, quantity surveyors, and architects proficient in operating 19 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #127COVER FEATURE new technologies is a hindrance. Change resistance is also a barrier, as many construction companies are hesitant to trust new technologies and operate in new ways. Additionally, infrastructure readiness is an issue in certain construction sites located in areas with connectivity problems. Although information can be managed offline and synchronised later, it remains an issue. How would you rate your own company's adoption of Construction 4.0? A lot of progress on adoption, however, there is still a lot of work to be done. We have moved from our comfort zone to digitalise a lot of our business. Some of the initiatives that were done are automating business processes, and digitisation of documents to prepare for big data analysis. However, there is still much work to be done. We have stepped out of our comfort zone to digitise many aspects of our business. Some of the initiatives undertaken include automating business processes and digitising documents in preparation for big data analysis. I would say that this is a journey, and enhancements are necessary as we move along the journey. What steps can MBAM take to facilitate and encourage the adoption of Construction 4.0 in the Malaysian construction industry? MBAM is currently conducting a series of awareness campaigns to Prefabrication & Modular Construction 12 Key Technologies of Industry 4.0 Artificial Intelligence 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing Blockchain Autonomous Construction Big Data and Predictive Analytics Augmented Reality & Virtualisation Advanced Building Materials Cloud & Realtime Collaboration Internet of Things 3D Scanning and Photogrammetry Building Information Modeling Source: CIDB, Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan 2021-2025 20 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #127promote and educate our members about the adoption of Construction 4.0. We have organised multiple series of Digital Transformation education sessions, which are ongoing. Furthermore, MBAM also participated in the 1 st Digital Construction Summit to further raise awareness of Construction 4.0. MBAM collaborates with agencies such as CIDB E-Construct and CREAM to understand priorities, research, and development that we can share with our members and the industry. What are the benefits for companies that adopt Construction 4.0? What are the trade-offs between maintaining the status quo and embracing Construction 4.0? Embracing Construction 4.0 brings numerous benefits, including improved efficiency and productivity, increased competitiveness, and enhanced safety. Adoption of automation and BIM, for instance, can reduce wastage through clash analysis features, resulting in cost savings, improved efficiency, and increased productivity. Consequently, the industry can become more competitive and profitable while also enhancing safety measures. However, there are some trade- offs involved. Upfront investment is required to adopt Construction 4.0 technologies, and additional hiring is necessary, at least initially. As digital transformation progresses, cybersecurity threats must also be addressed, representing a new area of concern for the industry. Ong Chin Seong Chairman, PIKOM Digital and technological innovations are transforming construction project delivery globally. How would you rate the Malaysian construction industry's adoption of Construction 4.0 compared to more advanced COVER FEATURE countries like Singapore or Australia? Established construction companies dealing with major big projects locally and internationally will be the ones to adopt Construction 4.0 as they have the financial ability to invest in the technology. While the adoption by smaller construction companies will not be so soon unless a clear profit from the investment can be justified or certain measurements or requirements are enforced by the regulators that forced the companies to adopt the technology. E.g., Compulsory monitoring of project waste & carbon emission. We are also seeing that with the use of digital technologies like BIM which has been around for many years. The push for digital adoption in construction is now beginning in earnest. Some countries, like Singapore, offer various incentives to encourage the adoption of digital and technological innovations. In your opinion, what incentives would you like to see from the Government in assisting the Malaysian construction industry? The government identified manufacturing as one sector that financial assistance will help the sector leap into the digital age. MITI was entrusted with the drive to assist manufacturers. Maybe similar Industry 4.0 benefits to manufacturers and related service sectors can be extended to Construction companies. E.g., Industry4WRD Intervention Fund or a specific fund allocated by CIDB. Malaysia has always attracted cheap labour from its regional neighbours like Indonesia, Nepal and Bangladesh. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the availability of these workers. In your opinion, is now the best time for the construction industry to move from cheap labour to improving efficiency and productivity through mechanisation, BIM, IBS, etc? I think I can say categorically yes. This has been a bone of contention and finding the right balance is never easy. Maybe with the labour shortage arising from the pandemic, now is the best time to adopt digital technologies. This must be done with more training to increase skilled workers handling the technology tools. What are the barriers, aside from the cost of adopting new technologies, that hinder the Malaysian construction industry from embracing Construction 4.0? This would be best answered by the construction players themselves. One primary lament is cost and the need for changing the mindset of the business owners. What steps can MBAM take to facilitate and encourage the adoption of Construction 4.0 in the Malaysian construction industry? There have been regular awareness programs on the benefits of adopting digital technologies. We have also seen some Listing of Construction 4.0 suppliers categorise by types of digitalisation for construction companies, Training programs to upskill the site supervisors, project managers, etc. Maybe a bit more targeted approach for each company would help. What are the benefits for companies that adopt Construction 4.0? What are the trade-offs between maintaining the status quo and embracing Construction 4.0? 1. Improved productivity, efficiency and quality by using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) to streamline construction processes; 2. Increased safety through real-time monitoring of workers and equipment, as well as the use of drones and robots to perform dangerous tasks. 3. Enhanced sustainability by reducing waste, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions through the use of prefabrication, modular construction, and smart building systems. 21 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #12712 DECEMBER 2022 International Project Management Conference (IPMC) Industry & Practices IP MBAM President, Oliver HC Wee; Vice President, Richard Wong Kwan Song; Executive Director, Loh Mei Ling; and General Manager, Lenny Lim, attended the above opening ceremony on 12 December at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. PETRONAS Senior Vice President, Project Delivery and Technology, Datuk Bacho Pilong, delivered the welcome speech and Secretary General, Ministry of Works, Malaysia, Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Uzir delivered the Keynote Address on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof. MBAM President (centre) with the Secretary General, Ministry of Works, Malaysia, Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Uzir 24 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #127Progress Meeting & Discussion— Report of the Effectiveness of QLASSIC and SHASSIC 2 DECEMBER 2022 An internal progress meeting and discussion were held at the MBAM Training Centre on 2 December 2022, with the main objective of sharing the findings of the survey on QLASSIC and SHASSIC that was held from 20 October 2022 to 22 November 2022. MBAM Council Member cum Technical and IBS Committee, Co- Chairman Nalla Sundran thanked the selected panel from the Technical and IBS Committee and the Safety and Health Committee for attending the meeting. Some recommendations on the current QLASSIC and SHASSIC were discussed during the meeting, as well as on the new rates for QLASSIC and SHASSIC assessment by CREAM. All the recommendations and comments were included in the final report that was submitted to CIDB on 21 December 2022. Meeting—with REHDA on Defects Raised by Building Inspectors 15 DECEMBER 2022 Construction and Built Environment Productivity Nexus (COPERN) Governing Committee Meeting 16 DECEMBER 2022 Internal progress meeting MBAM Council Member, Tang Juang Yew; and General Manager, Lenny Lim, attended the above meeting at Wisma REHDA which was chaired by REHDA Deputy President, Datuk Ho Hon Sang. A takeaway from the meeting was the agreement to jointly submit a recommendation to BIPC on the issue of defects raised by building inspectors before the next BIPC meeting. MBAM additionally agreed to work with REHDA in parallel to meet CIDB and the Ministry of Local Government Development officers on the issue, and the matter of the recognition (or certification) of such building inspectors and their recommendations. MBAM Deputy Secretary General 1, Ir Anthony Teoh attended the above online meeting on 16 December 2022. The meeting was to discuss the interim report findings on a study to have an implementation strategy for the construction sector. The meeting deliberated on the productivity challenges moving forward for the construction industry, which is still facing many challenges post pandemic, especially in regards to manpower shortages, rising material prices, poor adoption of technologies and the lack of projects. Industry & Practices IP 25MBAM Long Service Award 2021 & 2022 9 DECEMBER 2022 Industry & Practices IP Abdul Rahim Senin Alec Chong Sun Park Chen Ka Kim Foong Seng Aun Fong Tet Yoong K. Devan Lee Eam Hooi Nalla Sundran Tuan Haji Noryani Md Nor Ong Teng Cheng • Safety & Health Committee Member • Council Member • MBAM Building Committee Member • Membership and Outreach Committee Deputy Chairman (Fellowship) • Safety & Health Committee Deputy Chairman • Safety & Health Committee Deputy Chairman 1 • MBAM Building Technical Sub Committee Member • 65 th Anniversary Dinner Organising Committee Member • 44 th IFAWPCA Convention Organising Committee Member • Machinery Resources Committee Member • Machinery Resources Committee Member • Machinery Resources Committee Member • Machinery Resources Committee Alt. Committee Member • Council Member • Membership Committee Joint Deputy Chairman (Affiliate) • Affiliate Membership Committee Joint Deputy Chairman • Technical & IBS Committee Member • Industrialised Building System (IBS) Deputy Chairman • 44 th IFAWPCA Convention Organising Committee Member • Safety & Health Committee Member • Machinery Resources Committee Member • Machinery Resources Committee Member • Council Member • MBAM Building Committee Member • Acting Chairman Technical & IBS Committee • Technical & IBS Committee Deputy Chairman • Construction Industry Trade Award 2019, 2020 Judge – Piling Category • MBAM Building Technical Sub Committee Member • 65 th Anniversary Dinner Organising Committee Member • 44 th IFAWPCA Convention Organising Committee Member • Technical (R&D & Standards) Committee Deputy Chairman • Safety & Health Committee Member • Alternate Council Member • Jun 2016 to-date • July 2018 to-date • Dec 2020 to-date • Dec 2020 to-date • Dec 2020 to-date • 2018-Dec 2020 • 2018-Sept 2020 • 2019-2019 • 2017-2018 • Jun 2016 to-date • Jun 2016 to-date • 2018 to-date • Jun 2016-2018 • Jun 2016 to-date • Dec 2020 to-date • 2018 to-date • 2018 to-date • Jun 2016 -2018 • 2017-2018 • Jun 2016 to-date • Jul 2018 to-date • 2014-2016 • Jun 2016 to-date • Dec 2020 to-date • Sept 2021 to-date • 2018-Sept 2021 • 2019 -Apr 2021 • 2019-Sept 2020 • 2019-2019 • 2017-2018 • Jun 2016-2018 • Jun 2016 to-date • 2016-Jun 2022 MBAM Award Recipients 2021 – Bronze Award (5 Years of Service) President Oliver HC Wee presented the MBAM Long Service Award to commemorate and honour Council Members, Members, staff of the Secretariat, and deserving parties of the Association for their contribution and dedicated services to the Association for the past years. The Awards was presented to recipients consisting of those that have completed 5 and 10 years of continuous service for the years 2021 and 2022. In his opening speech, President Oliver HC Wee congratulated all the Award recipients for achieving a significant milestone in their careers. He noted that MBAM was, unfortunately, unable to hold the celebrations earlier due to the unfavourable economic and pandemic situation. The construction industry’s journey to recovery post- pandemic has not always been smooth sailing, but through the continuous dedication, commitment, and loyalty of MBAM members, President Oliver believes that the association is well- positioned to tackle whatever challenges that may lay ahead. Congratulations to all MBAM recipients for 2021 and 2022! RECIPIENT NAMECOMMITTEEDURATION 26 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #127Industry & Practices IP Rozaimy Bin Amiruddin Tan Chien Wen Verdon Tan Premier Construction Sdn Bhd Rooframes Resources Sdn Bhd VSL Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd Setia Precast Sdn Bhd • Safety & Health Committee Member • Education/ Education & Special Institutions Committee Member • Machinery Resources Committee Member • Council Member • Machinery Resources Committee Alternate Deputy Chairman • Council Member • Council Member • Council Member • Council Member • Jun 2016 to-date • 2016 to-date • 2018 to-date • Jun 2016-2018 • Jun 2016-Jun 2018 • Jun 2016 to-date • Jun 2016 to-date • Jun 2016 to-date • Jun 2016 to-date MBAM Award Recipients 2022 – Bronze Award (5 Years of Service) Dato’ Alex Wee Cheng Kwan Chan Kheng Hoe Datin Chu Ai Li Dato’ Gary Ng Wah Seng Puan Hasnah Mohd Ali Dato’ Sri Sukumar Subrayalu • Council Member • Environment & Green Technology/ Environment, Green Technology & Sustainability (2021) Committee • Membership and Outreach Committee Deputy Chairman (Outreach) • MBAM Building Committee Member • 44 th IFAWPCA Convention Organising Committee Member • Contract & Practices Committee Member • Contract & Practices Committee Member • Technical & IBS Committee Member • Education & Special Institutions Committee Member • Publications Committee Member • ILO SfP Pilot Project Technical Working Group (TWG) Member • 44 th IFAWPCA Convention – Committee Member for Publication • Council Member • International Affairs Committee Member • 2018-Jun 2022 • 2018 -Jun 2022 • 2018-Dec 2020 • 2018-2018 • 2017-2018 • 2017 to-date • 2017 to-date • 2017 to-date • 2018 to-date • Jul 2018-Jun 2022 • Jan 2021 to-date • 2017-2018 • Dec 2020 to-date • 2010-2014 RECIPIENT NAMECOMMITTEEDURATION MBAM Award Recipients 2022 – Silver Award (10 Years of Service) Major (Rtd.) Leong Yee Keong Michael Thong Yew Meng Tan Zi Ni Crest Builder Sdn Bhd • Safety & Health Committee Chairman • MBAM Building Committee Member • Alternate Council Member • MBAM Building Technical Sub Committee Member • MBAM Senior Executive Officer • MBAM Manager • MBAM Senior Manager • MBAM Assistant General Manager • MBAM General Manager • Council Member • Membership Committee Deputy Chairman (Graduate Alumni) • Finance Committee Deputy Chairman • Machinery Resources Committee Member • 64 th MBAM Anniversary Dinner Organising Committee • 44 th IFAWPCA Convention Team Leader for Technical & Sightseeing Programme • Membership Committee Member • International Affairs Committee Member • Vice President • Secretary-General • Deputy Secretary-General II • Council Member • Dec 2011-Dec 2020 • Dec 2020 to-date • Jun 2018-Dec 2020 • 2018-Sep 2020 • 2011-2012 • 2013-2015 • 2016-2017 • 2017-Dec 2018 • Jan 2019-Oct 2022 • 2014 to-date • Dec 2020 to-date • Jun 2016 to-date • 2014 to-date • 2018-2018 • 2017-2018 • 2014-2016 • Oct 2011-2016 • Dec 2020 to-date • Jun 2018-Dec 2020 • Jun 2016-Jun 2018 • 2012 to-date RECIPIENT NAMECOMMITTEEDURATION 27 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #127Next >