Keep abreast of new technology to stay competitive

KUCHING: Engineering consultants must enhance their standards and capabilities to remain competitive on the international stage.
 
In stating this, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this requires engineering consultants to keep abreast of the latest technology.
 
“We (Malaysia) are subject to the international protocol, which is the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as the country is a signatory to this agreement.
 
“As a result, projects that are worth billions of ringgit must be open to international consultants. Similarly, Malaysian consultants have the opportunity to participate in projects in other CPTPP member countries.
 
“So, whether you like it or not, you must upgrade your standards so that you can beat and compete with the international consultant,” he said.
 
He said this during the Sarawak Bumiputera Consulting Engineers Association’s anniversary dinner and engineer award ceremony held at the Kuching Waterfront Hotel here last night (June 16).
 
On a related note, he said Sarawak had laid out its development plans up to 2030, and there are opportunities available for engineers, consultants, and contractors to participate in project development within the state.
 
“But there is also a problem with these: now we are facing a lot of ‘sick projects’. From what we analysed, the causes of this sick project are due to frequent changes of hands and contractors passing on awarded projects to others for implementation.
 
“Just to give you an example, in Kuching itself, the road project in Matang cannot be implemented because it changed hands. This same thing happened in Limbang with the road project up to Gunung Buda. Thirdly, the bridge in Marudi also faced a problem.
 
“This is because we do not have this pre-qualification method. We had an open tender, but when we saw the weakness, we improved the tender procedure, and at the same time, we want to award the project to Bumiputera contractors who can manage it without delay,” he said.
 
The premier further pointed out that when there is a delay in projects, certain quarters will take advantage of spinning the issue and blaming the government.
 
“But I know not all Bumiputera contractors are like that. When there is an opportunity, when there is a project awarded to you, focus on implementing it because there will be a second and third round (of development projects) since we have plans outlined until 2030,” he said.