PRESIDENT WEBSITE MESSAGE – APRIL
CLAB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING 2/2011 AND CLAB BOARD OF ADVISORY MEETING 1/2011
Vice President Mr Aziz Tan Sri Bahaman, Secretary-General, Ir. Yap Yoke Keong and myself attended the CLAB Board of Directors Meeting 2/2011 while Dato’ Ng Kee Leen, MBAM Immediate Past President attended CLAB Board of Directors Advisory Meeting 1/2011 on 1st March 2011. MBAM will continue to work with CIDB to reduce the number of unskilled workers and pursue with the Government on the 5+5 renewal of work permits for skilled foreign workers. MBAM also discussed on conducting Trade Foreman Training for the construction industry in the near future.
MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MALAYSIA (MITI) INDUSTRIAL DIALOGUE SESSION WITH MEDAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
MBAM Council Member, Mr Thomas Samuel and MBAM PR Manager, Lenny Lim, attended the above session on 1st March 2011. MBAM presented on Essential building material prices which have increased tremendously recently especially in the beginning of year 2011 and this has increased the construction cost. Although import duty for long products (billets, bars and wire rods) have been reduced to 0-5% in 2010 and import duty for flat products to be reduced to 0-10% in 2018 MBAM has also requested for MITI to consider waiver of import duties for construction building materials immediately to cope with the changing and competitive global environment.
VISIT BY ASEAN CONSTRUCTORS’ FEDERATION (ACF) CHAIRMAN
MBAM hosted a visit from ASEAN Constructors’ Federation Chairman headed by Mr Jorge A. Consunji to enhance collaboration among ACF member organizations. The meeting was attended by myself, Immediate Past President, Dato’ Ng Kee Leen, Honorary Life President Dato’ Lai Foot Kong, Vice President Mr Aziz Tan Sri Bahaman, Vice President Dato’ Sri Sufri Mohd Zin, Vice President Mr Foo Chek Lee, Alternate Council Members, Mr James Wong, Secretary-General, Ir. Yap Yoke Keong, Deputy-Secretary General 1, Ir. Chuan Yeong Ming, Chief Operating Officer Ms Loh Mei Ling and Senior Executive Officer, Ms Lee Siew Mei. MBAM continues to look forward to further sharing of expertise, especially in the field of fast construction methods, manpower skills harmonization related issues, and international exposure so that MBAM members can further notch their presence in ASEAN and create a positive impact together. MBAM members can also look forward to tap on the networks of ACF and this will help MBAM members to execute large projects worldwide on joint ventures with ACF members where feasible.
INCLUSION OF MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION MALAYSIA (MBAM) IN FUTURE PEMUDAH CONSTRUCTION RELATED LABS
MBAM has also written to PEMUDAH on 14th March 2011 to consider including MBAM in future dialogues or meetings involving the various construction related labs so that the Association can contribute the expertise of MBAM and its members in the field of building and construction works to the task of improving the overall economy of the nation. The Association looks forward to closer rapport with PEMUDAH in our efforts in stimulating growth in the construction industry towards sustainable development and gearing the nation towards high income economy
REDUCTION OF IMPORT DUTIES FOR HEAVY MACHINERIES AND SAFETY AND HEALTH EQUIPMENTS
MBAM forwarded our comments on the memorandum drafted by The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on 16th March 2011 to submit a memorandum to the Government on the appeal for reduction of import duties for construction related heavy machineries which currently is in the region of 20% whilst in most ASEAN countries the import duty is in the region of 5% to 10%.
MBAM will also appeal for the reduction of duties for safety and health equipment so that construction players are willing to invest in new equipments for the continued safety of their employees.
A MOCK INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION COURT (ICC) ARBITRATION
A Mock ICC Arbitration organized by the Contracts and Practices Committee was held in MBAM Seminar Room on 17th March 2011. More than 45 persons attended the mock court. Attendees were given a good insight on how an actual arbitration was conducted and they also had a lively questions and answers session with speakers Mr Chang Wei Mun a Partner of Messrs Raja, Darryl & Loh, Mr Belden Premaraj, Managing Partner of M/s Belden and Mr Rajendra Navaratnam a Partner of Azman Davidson & Co.
MBAM FELLOWSHIP AT THE HILL
MBAM held its 2/2011 Fellowship at The Hill, Damansara Heights on 25th March 2011 where more than 95 guests turned up for the event. MBAM would like to record our appreciation and thanks to Liu Gong Group and Bina Puri Berhad for sponsoring this successful event. We hope more members will step forward to sponsor future events to forge a better collaborative relationship with members of MBAM so that the construction industry players can work together as one to quickly resolve issues affecting us as a whole.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION MALAYSIA
KWAN FOH KWAI J.M.N.
President