December President’s Message
MBAM STRENGTHENS ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH CIOB THROUGH SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), further strengthening its years of synergic partnership. Ms Caroline Gumble, CIOB Chief Executive and I signed the MoU on behalf of our respective sides.
MBAM as “The Prime Mover and The Recognised Voice of the Malaysian Construction Industry”, is committed to building a resilient, agile and sustainable construction society through various cooperation and collaborations with its members, ministries, government institutions and NGOs.
Our partnership with CIOB, the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership dates back to the year 2016 where CIOB first started as our Affiliate member till today, where CIOB Malaysia Chapter is now a Council Member of MBAM. CIOB’s presence also extends globally in areas of development, conservation and improvement of the built environment.
Through this MoU, we reaffirm this collaborative partnership as MBAM and CIOB continues to maximize our respective strengths and resources to complement each other’s strategic work whether it be in terms of education, training or activities concerning construction management and construction technology. Our partnership is particularly relevant in this post pandemic era as we move towards recovery in the construction sector where elevating our construction fraternity in the industry and society at large is our utmost priority.
We live in a challenging but exciting time and MBAM is optimistic about the future we will pave together. It is our hope that MBAM and CIOB continuously work together hand-in-hand to further foster collaborative partnerships for the betterment of the Malaysian construction industry.
MBAM HONOURS DESERVING INDIVIDUALS AND MEMBERS AT THE PRESENTATION OF MBAM LONG SERVICE AWARD 2021 AND 2022
MBAM commemorates and honours our Council Members, Members, staff of Secretariat, and deserving parties of the Association for their dedicated service and outstanding contributions over the past two years. Our award recipients consist of those who have completed 5 and 10 years of continuous service for the year 2021 and 2022 and this is by all means a remarkable achievement not only for them, but also for MBAM as a whole.
Although we wished to celebrate their achievements earlier, the pandemic has inevitably hindered our efforts in doing so. The construction industry’s journey to recovery post-pandemic has not always been smooth sailing but it is through their continuous dedication, commitment and loyalty to MBAM that I am optimistic of the future to come. I believe that with the right attitude and mindset they have demonstrated over the years, we will be able to push through and overcome any hurdles to come for the construction sector.
It is hoped that this momentous event will also serve as an inspiration to all our other members as we count on you in being a part of our drive to success. Congratulations once again to all award recipients and we look forward to your continued contributions to the Association.
Furthermore, MBAM is also proud of the constant support it received from its members for the past year and I sincerely hope that this support would continue to come, especially with the New Year ahead of us. MBAM has many exciting plans in the works for 2023 and will embark on new opportunities and initiatives for the betterment of the construction industry. As such, please stay tuned and we look forward to serving you better in the upcoming year!
LAUNCH NEW PROJECTS AND PROVIDE MORE FUNDING
MBAM believes that in order to guarantee the construction industry’s recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, the government needs to launch new projects. The recent announcement by the Minister of Economic that the new administration will examine the 12th Malaysia Plan was warmly received by MBAM. It is hoped that with this review, the construction sector can be better pump primed for a revival. After the Covid-19 pandemic, contractors are struggling financially and are looking for soft loans from commercial banks to lighten their load. Previously, the private projects were higher at around 70% while the public projects were lower at 30%. Now, the ratio of public to private projects is almost 50:50. In order to provide financing alternatives for contractors affected by the pandemic to survive and submit bids for new projects, MBAM believes that the government should get involved in the financial sector and intervene quickly to assist the construction industry’s recovery.
For those celebrating, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Oliver HC Wee
MBAM President