Work smart to avoid bulk wastage, local construction players told
MIRI: Local construction companies are advised to ‘work smart’, as far as managing building materials and cutting down wastage are concerned.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said a recent research conducted by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia ( IEM) Miri Branch showed that about 15 per cent of construction materials would become waste due to improper management.
This, in turn, would create problems to human population and also to the environment.
“The waste materials, including cement and metal rods, are often found after a project has reached completion. This is a major concern because they can become hazardous to one’s health and the environment.
“Perhaps, a smart pre-planning before the commencement of each project could help in cutting down wastage and at the same time, this could save a lot of money. By cutting down (wastage) by 10 to 15 per cent, it means that the expenses could be reduced as well. It should be a winwin situation – for the company and Mother Nature,” he spoke at the 43rd anniversary of Miri Division Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Association in a restaurant here on Saturday.
Lee also encouraged local contractors to adopt modern methods of building and construction to boost efficiency and attain higher quality in their works.
“While the fundamentals of buildingremainthesame,exploring new technologies could change the way you construct a building.” He also said off-site construction, which had been practised by China and the US, could save time, make transportation volume more efficient and reduce waste.
“It also presents an opportunity for contractors to explore new materials and working methods,” he said.
The anniversary dinner, which also hosted Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, Miri Mayor Adam Yii and the association’s chairman Lai Tze Voon, also had Lee giving away education incentives to members’ children.