AN OVERSEAS BRANCH PERSPECTIVE

AIK SIAW KONG (MALAYSIA)

11 TH NOVEMBER 2008

1.

BRIEF HISTORY OF MALAYSIA a) Where is Malaysia?

b) Historical Background

• British Colony From 1815 (142 years) • Independence • Malaysia 31.8.1957

1963 • Singapore left in 1965 • Capital Kuala Lumpur • New Administrative Centre: Putrajaya

c) d) e) Population

• 27.0 million 60% Malays 30% Chinese 10% Indian

Land Area 330,000 sq km Economy GDP/cap Petroleum Rubber, Tin, Oil Palm, Electronics and Tourism US$4,000.00

f) Climate Tropical 21 o C to 32 o C 2000mm – 2500mm annual rainfall g) Currency Ringgit Malaysia (RM) £1.0 = RM6.0

h) Time +8GMT

2.

• • • •

BRIEF HISTORY OF IHTMB Established – 1990 2 nd largest Overseas Branch Membership strength Hong Kong Branch – 250 nos.

– 500 nos.

Past Chairman

• Tan Sri Dato Ir. Talha Hj Mohd Hashim (1990 - 1992) • Tan Sri Dato Wan Abdul Rahman Yaacob (1992 - 1999) • Dato Ir. Chua Soon Poh (1999 - 2001) • Dato Ir. Mohamad Razali Othman (2001 - Present)

The current Committee Members: Chairman: Ir. Dato’ Mohamad Razali Othman Vice Chairman: Ir. Dato’ Mohamad Husin Hon. Secretary: Ir. Aik Siaw Kong Hon. Treasurer: Ir. Nitchiananthan Balasubramanian

Committee Members:

Dato’ Chua Soon Poh Tan Sri Dato’ Ir. Wan Abdul Rahman Ya’acob Tan Sri Dato’ Ir. Talha Hj Mohd Hashim Dato Dr. Azmi Hassan Ir. Yap Teong Aun @ Kannan Ir. Ng Kit Heng Dr. Leong Siew Mun Ir. Han Joke Kwang Ir. Zafrul Mahmood Nik Airina Nik Jaffar Dr. Safry Kamal Hj. Ahmad Dr. M A Shahid Lawrence Chew (Sabah/Sarawak Rep.)

3.

• •

MEMBERSHIP

265 members as at 31 st Some updating needed July 2008 Peninsular Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Selangor Outside Klang Valley East Malaysia Sabah Sarawak Total 76 107 38 33 11 ---- 265 ===

4.

MEMBERSHIP TREND FOR 2003-2007 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 150 (-) 186 (+26) 207 (+19) 238 (+21) 245 (+7) 260 (+15)

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 150 186 207 238 245 265 2003 2004 2005 2006

YEAR

2007 2008

5.

SOME BRANCH ACTIVITIES IN 2007/2008 a) 2007

(i) 16 th IHTMB AGM (19 th May 2007) A new committee was elected to serve for 2007 till 2009

16 th IHTMB AGM

(ii) 6 Committee meetings held for the year with 1 meeting held in Miri Sarawak

(iii) Charity Golf 19 th May 2007 120 participated and RM30,000.00 was raised from the event and this was donated to 5 charitable organisations

Some recipients of the fund

(iv) Visit of President and CEO 13 th 16 th June 2007 –

(v) 1 st Brunel Lecture – By Alistair Haydock on ‘Deliverying Road Safety Best Practice’ About 150 attended this lecture (14/6/2007).

(vi) 7 th MRC 17 th – 19 th July 2007 IHTMB played an active role in organising this Biannual Road Conference. Our Chairman was also the organising Chairman of the Conference.

Attended by more than 800 delegates.

(vii) Technical visit to Penang Bridge Widening Project 13 th November 2007 45 participants joined this technical visit. The works involved in the widening of the bridge and the replacement of the cables.

Visit to Penang Bridge

(viii) Technical Talk on reinforced soil technique in highway transportation Held at JKR Miri on 7 th December 2008. 25 participants attended.

(ix) Technical visit to JKR Brunei (8 th December 2007) A delegation of 26 led by the Branch Chairman visited JKR Brunei. The delegates were briefed on the Area Traffic Control and PMS used to manage their road network.

Visit to JKR Brunei 8 th December 2007

(x) Visit to Niah Cave 9 th December 2007

b) 2008

(i) 17 th IHTMB AGM (24 th May 2008) Attended by about 40 members including the President Mike Slinn and CEO Mary Lewis. He also presented the Certificate of Merit to Hon. Secretary of the Branch.

The President later join the group for a round of golf.

(ii) 2 nd Brunel Lecture President Mike Slinn delivered the above lecture on “Climate change and Transport” about 40 participants.

(iii) President and CEO visit Mike Slinn and Mary Lewis visited the Branch from 22 nd – 25 th May 2008

(iv) Technical Talk on “How to deal with soft ground problem in highways” – 3 rd April 2008 2 papers presented a) An innovative method and remedy to “mushroom” problem of piled embankment with individual pile caps on soft ground.

b) HIEDYC applications in highway engineering.

(v) Technical visit to DOH Thailand (28 th – 31 st August 2008) A group of 26 delegates led by the Branch Chairman visited Thailand. The delegates were briefed on the activities of design, construction and maintenance of the road network in Thailand. The group also visited some places of interest in Thailand.

6.

HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME ISSUES a) Competing Institutions in Malaysia

(i) Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) > 15,000 members (ii) Road Engineering Association of Malaysia (REAM) - Local chapter of REAAA - 600 members in Malaysia

(iii) IEM – Highway and Transport Division (iv) ITS Malaysia (just formed 2008) (v) ICE – 200 members (Estimate) (vi) IHT – 250 members REAM is the big brother in Malaysia.

b) Requirement for Practicing Engineer

(i) MIEM or Equivalent (ii) Registered with BEM (Board of Engineers Malaysia) C.Eng alone – cannot practise!

(iii) Membership with ICE, IHT etc.

(Optional) Malaysian not keen on these institutions! Great effort to recruit members.

c) Annual Membership Fees

The current rates are: IEM BEM REAM RM150.00

RM100.00

ICE IHT ITS Malaysia RM 50.00

£150.00 (RM900.00) £ 38.00 (RM228.00) RM50.00

Members - very sensitive to high fees, especially if it is only optional membership.

d)

-

High Lapse Rate

High membership fees – main cause. Not a real necessity unlike Hong Kong.

Very few ventured overseas where C.Eng required.

Most are members of REAM.

REAM already cater to needs.

Minimum perceived benefits.

e)

-

Leadership Role

Public sector driven.

The Branch is normally headed by a senior government official.

Either Director of Roads or D.G. of MHA.

Ensure that IHTMB remains relevant and sustainable.

Private sector – supporting role.

f)

-

Relationship with IHTUK

Annual visit by President and CEO – important event.

Gives us a sense of belonging.

Brunel Lecture/Presidential Talk.

Attendance at Branch Officers Conference – once every 2 years.

Linkage between IHTUK website.

7.

BRANCH PROPOSALS TO ENHANCE GROWTH a) Annual subscription fees

Preferential rates to be continued with minimum increase in 2009.

Proposed that IHTUK consider the following rates for IHTMB in 2009 a) Fellow b) Member £62 (62) £40 (38) c) Associate d) Retired £30 (29) £20 (?) ( ) rates in 2008

b) Measure to reinstate lapsed member

To encourage lapsed members to reinstate, it is proposed that these members be allowed to be reinstated with the payment of the current year subscription plus the previous year arrears only.

With this offer, these lapsed members can be encouraged to reinstate their membership.

c) Brunel Lecture

IHTUK to support this as a biannual event.

Branch considers this important contribution from IHTUK.