72 projects in S’wak worth RM10 mln and above are 70 IBS score
This policy covers the whole of Malaysia. Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Works Minister
KUCHING: As many as 72 projects in Sarawak valued RM10 million and above which have achieved at least 70 Industrial Building System ( IBS) score have been implemented since 2016.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof quoted the figures shown by the Implementation Coordination Unit ( ICU) in the Prime Minister’s Department.
The Petra Jaya MP said under the Treasury Circular Bill 7 2008, the federal government had already made it mandatory for all government projects worth RM10 million and above to achieve the minimum of 70 IBS score.
“This policy covers the whole of Malaysia,” Fadillah said yesterday.
Despite the announcement in the Treasury circular, the government has been giving a grace period for the construction industry to catch up and only imposed the mandatory requirements on government projects and not the private projects.
On the response of private sector in Sarawak towards IBS, he said the uptake of IBS in Sarawak had been relatively low and only concentrated in urban areas.
“To create more awareness and to educate the industry on IBS and its benefit, Construction Industry Development Board ( CIDB) has been actively conducting various industry programmes in Sarawak such as IBS seminars and roadshows,” said Fadillah.
As a start, Fadillah said the government would first make it compulsory for the private sector in Klang Valley to use IBS before enforcing it later in all states including Sarawak.
“The policy to make it mandatory for private sector projects valued at RM50 million and above to achieve at least 50 IBS score will begin in 2018 covering projects in Klang Valley under 10 selected local councils only.
“This policy will then be expanded to Selangor, Johor and Penang by 2020. Subsequently, it will be enforced in all states, in stages, taking into account the IBS readiness of the states,” said Fadillah.
In his reply to Parit MP Datuk Mohd Zaim Abu Hasan in Parliament recently, Fadillah said the purpose of implementing IBS was to improve construction productivity and reduce dependence on foreign labour in the construction industry.
Quoting ICU statistics, he said until May 2016, 69.5 per cent of government projects were using IBS and according to CIDB, only 14 per cent of private sector projects were found to be using IBS in 2014.
He said the main challenge the ministry faced in implementing IBS was to convince local authorities and developers.
Another challenge, he said was that IBS would increase the total project cost compared to the cost incurred in using conventional construction methods. The production of IBS component also meant high-tech equipment and skilled workers.
Setting aside the challenges, he said IBS would have to increase construction productivity and cut down reliance on foreign workers.