PRESIDENT MESSAGE JANUARY 2023
COURTESY VISIT TO MINISTER OF WORKS, YB DATO’ SRI ALEXANDER NANTA LINGGI
On the 29th of December 2022, MBAM with a delegation consisting of myself, MBAM Immediate Past President, Tan Sri Sufri Hj Mhd Zin, MBAM Secretary General, Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz, MBAM Vice-Presidents Mr Eric Yong and Mr Richard Wong and MBAM Executive Director, Ms Loh Mei Ling met with YB Dato’ Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister of Works Malaysia for a courtesy visit and brief dialogue session on the current issues facing the construction industry.
Among the topics discussed during the dialogue session were the issues faced by the construction industry in the post-covid era ranging from the fluctuation of materials prices, shortage of labour as well as the lack of projects. The minister acknowledged the issues raised by MBAM and has agreed to look into the matter while also working with the relevant Ministries to expedite the issues at hand.
MBAM had also proposed holding quarterly dialogue meetings with the YB Minister to brief and update the Minister on the latest developments and issues in the construction industry. The much-needed assistance by the Government will help contractors’ complete projects in a timely manner and avoid termination or abandoned projects.
BUILDING INSPECTOR ISSUES
MBAM has taken measures in addressing issues on defects raised by Building Inspectors at Vacant Possessions. We are aware of building assessment reports which have been prepared by ‘defect inspectors’ engaged by homeowners for completed housing projects. Many of these reports contain hundreds of alleged building defects, most of which are within the contract tolerance and/or industry tolerance while some of them are purely aesthetic in nature.
Furthermore, building checkers have also improperly relied on the QLASSIC CIS7:2021 standard as a guide to determine defects during the vacant possession inspection. The house buyer’s demand for flawless workmanship coupled with the contractor’s obligation to rectify defects that appear between the period the Certificate of Practical Completion were issued and the expiry of the two-year Defect Liability Period has indeed caused a worrying trend in the construction industry.
In order to rectify the issues at hand, MBAM had recently met with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Senior General Manager Development Sector, Puan Zainora Zainal on the 3rd of January to further discuss on the issues surrounding these group of building checkers who are not accredited by any authority. MBAM hopes that CIDB will closely look into the matter as there were already cases at the Homebuyers Claim Tribunal where contractors have been asked to rectify defects identified by building checkers.
Simultaneously, MBAM will also be organising a webinar on Building Defects and QLASSIC which is to be held on the 14th of February and is seeking participation from members so that the issues faced by members can be highlighted while also allowing the invited speakers and panellist to raise awareness and clear any doubts regarding building checkers, building defects and QLASSIC.
I would also like to take this opportunity in wishing a Happy Chinese New Year to those celebrating and may your year ahead be blessed with long-lasting prosperity!
Oliver HC Wee
MBAM President