Building a safer Malaysia
GEOGRAPHICALLY, Malaysia is fortunate to be located outside the Ring of Fire – a cluster of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean basin where most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur – and shielded by neighbours Indonesia and the Philippines.
Therefore, many Malaysians have never experienced the full extent of natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, cyclones and tsunami.
However, because of various reasons such as corporate greed and lack of awareness about the impact of extensive development on nature, Malaysia is not new to man-made disasters that involve flash floods, crumbling buildings and landslides.
Unlike in countries such as Japan, which is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire and subject to earthquakes, people who design structures in Malaysia do not have to think about fortifying those structures against major natural disasters. The focus is usually on weatherproofing buildings from year-round humidity, monsoon showers that cause flooding in some areas and high temperatures.
Engineers should be able to build generally safe structures that can withstand external stress during a disaster, whether manmade or natural. It is hence imperative to examine the skill and experience of our local engineers, evaluate their capabilities in rectifying these problems, and determine if there is still a need to import international talents to help us, particularly in large-scale developments.
Imported engineering marvels
Looking at iconic marvels such as the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur Tower and the National Mosque of Malaysia, we are doing well for ourselves in the architectural and engineering industry.
However, these structures were headed by foreign talents. For instance, American engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti oversaw the construction of the Petronas Twin Towers.
Another example is the Langkawi Sky Bridge, which has been touted as an engineering marvel. Malaysian civil engineering consulting company Angkasa Jurutera Perunding was part of the entourage, but the project was carried out in collaboration with Swiss engineering consulting company Cepas Plan.
The bridge had to be closed for a period in 2012 due to a delay in getting funds and foreign consultants for maintenance work. Chief operating officer of Panorama Langkawi (the organisation in charge of bridge maintenance) Mohd Ali Makkit reported that the delay was partly caused by the need to employ the original project contractors, architects and design consultants from Switzerland to survey the condition of the bridge.
From instances such as this one, it is worth noting how even though Malaysia has become home to impressive feats of engineering, many of those projects are handled by foreign talent. Can local engineers be independent of foreign input in creating and managing Malaysia’s landmarks?
Current knowledge pool
In Malaysia, the job market for civil engineers is far and wide as the economy starts to pick up infrastructure- and property-wise. With the ongoing construction of new townships, train stations and highways throughout Malaysia, the need for safe and efficient structures is great. Last month, The Star reported that the Malaysian construction sector recorded RM35.6bil worth of construction work in the second quarter of this year, which represents a moderate 5.3% yearon-year growth according to the Statistics Department.
The Statistics Department cited that the sector’s performance was driven by growth in the civil engineering and special trade activities subsectors, which grew by 23.6% and 12.6% respectively.
These figures testify the opportunities that await engineers in civil, structural and other related fields. However, these engineers must be adequately trained to build structurally sound buildings while being mindful of potential disasters.
In an article titled Engineering Failures: From Highland Tower to Chernobyl in the 22nd issue of Engineering and Technology magazine published by the Malaysian Society of Engineering and Technology, the society’s president Prof Datuk Abang Abdullah Abang Ali wrote, “Engineering structures and systems have their own fair share of successes and failures. Engineering failures can occur as a result of natural as well as man-made disasters.
“Earthquakes, tsunamis, strong winds and floods can bring about building collapse and the breakdown of utilities. These are largely unavoidable unless we are prepared to pay the relatively high costs of mitigation.
“Man-made disasters, on the other hand, are largely avoidable when care is taken in the design and construction of engineering structures and systems.”
Based on Prof Abang Abdullah’s comments, it is a given that engineers involved in erecting structures will put considerable thought towards the elements of nature and how weather can affect the structural integrity of their projects.
Give yourself an edge
Just because Malaysia is located in the safe zone and shielded from more serious natural disasters, it does not mean that engineering professionals can take their work for granted. They must keep up with current issues in the construction world, equipping themselves with up-to-date knowledge such as effective mitigation techniques be it for new projects or to reinforce existing infrastructure.
One way civil engineers can upgrade themselves is by pursuing postgraduate programmes and professional certificates related to disaster management.
Subjects such as disaster data management, forecasting, control measures and mitigation planning, emergency response planning and communication, and recovery and reconstruction management can help prepare engineers in rectifying issues before, during and after a disaster.
Some postgraduate programmes offered in Malaysia allow students to fortify their training on managing local disasters through electives that focus on landslides, irrigation and floodings, and disaster forecasting.
Civil, mechanical and electrical engineers can opt to sit for the Professional Competency Examination, which is offered by the Board of Engineers Malaysia. This certification recognises that you are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to oversee construction with safety and durability in mind.
Gearing up for the future
The world of construction is constantly evolving with developments in analytical techniques, modelling and building materials.
Concurrently, due to concerns such as an increasing population and global warming (which is the cause of climate change and rising sea levels), Malaysia needs engineers who are familiar with various factors that can affect planning and implementation of future projects.
Malaysia is looking towards achieving its target of 200,000 registered engineers by 2020, but what is more important is producing knowledgeable, creative experts who can create a better, safer and more attractive environment for all.
It is high time that the country starts to move forward independently and rely less on foreign talent for guidance in pursuing its goal of achieving developed-nation status.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, strong winds and floods can bring about building collapse and the breakdown of utilities. These are largely unavoidable unless we are prepared to pay the relatively high costs of mitigation. Prof Datuk Abang Abdullah Abang Ali