SYPNOSIS

Amendments to the Engineers’ Act Malaysia will be briefly discussed in relation to incidences of earthworks and building failures. The impact of the GATS and Global Liberalization on Engineers’ Act Malaysia will be explained. Flooding, Landslides, Debris Flow and Tsunami are some of the disasters experienced in Malaysia. The flooding of Kuala Lumpur in the 1970s caused serious damages to lives and properties and called for the flood mitigation scheme in Kuala Lumpur. Over the years despite the repeated dredging and canalization of floodwater in Kuala Lumpur, there were repeated incidences of severe flooding of the city centre. As part of the overall solution to the frequent flooding problem, the diversion tunnel project known as SMART was constructed and completed in June 2007. The tunnel is dual-purpose designed to cater to flow of water and ease traffic congestion in the Kuala Lumpur city. In recent times, there was severe flooding in many parts of Malaysia with increased frequencies. The Landslide that caused the collapse of Block 1 of the Highland Towers condominium in December 1993 claimed 48 lives. The landslide occurred during 10 days of incessant rainfall.  In November 2002, another landslide occurred and buried the bungalow at the foothill within the vicinity of the Highland Towers site. The incidence also occurred during the period of incessant rainfall and 8 people were killed. Drainage of the Highland Towers area has been unsatisfactory as there were numerous complaints from the residents to the local authorities prior to the disastrous landslides. Debris flow occurred at the Genting Highlands area emerging from the mountainside flanking the access road and causing debris to flow onto the highway on 30th June 1995 and caused temporary closure of Kuala Lumpur- Karak highway. In the incidence 20 people were killed and 23 people were injured. Debris flow also occurred in the Gunung Tempurung area along the North-South highway, causing debris-comprising boulders, timber logs and mud to impact on the beams of a bridge, necessitating closure of a stretch of the highway. This lecture reports 3 cases of un-compacted tip-fill landslide including the rehabilitation of a massive landslide of a tip-fill slope that was unstable since construction.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

IR. DR. OOI TEIK AUN graduated in Civil Engineering in 1966 from Auckland University, New Zealand and obtained his Master degree from the same University in 1968. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy from Sheffield University in 1980.  He is a Hon. Fellow of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Hon. FIEM), Fellow of The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (FMIArb) and Member of The Institution of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom (MICE). He is an ASEAN Engineer, APEC Engineer, International Professional Engineer, ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer, Professional Engineer (Malaysia), Accredited Checker (Geotechnical) and Chartered Engineer (C.Eng.), United Kingdom.  He is a Practicing Specialist Engineering Consultant, an Arbitrator, an Accredited Checker and Expert Witness. Dr. Ooi joined Public Works Department, Malaysia (PWD) in 1968 and held the post of Engineer, Senior Executive Engineer and Assistant Director respectively, in charge of the PWD Headquarters Soils and Materials Laboratories in the Design and Research Branch. He was involved in the design and construction of airports, buildings, highways, ports and causeway. He was also involved in slope investigations, design and rectifications, soils and materials investigations, building foundation designs as well as remedial works. In 1982, he left PWD to join Promet Construction Sdn Bhd, and was Project Manager for Wisma Saberkas in Kuching, Sarawak.  He joined Pilecon Engineering Berhad in 1984 as an Operations Director in charge of Design and Construction of Geotechnical and Civil Engineering Projects. In 1989 he joined the Transfield Construction Group as a Director and General Manager for operations. In 2000, he established his consultancy services. Dr. Ooi is an active and a long serving member of IEM since 1970s. He was IEM Council Member in 1981 -1984, Vice President in 1988 - 1990 and is a Director of IEM Training Centre Sdn Bhd since 1991. He has been ICE Country Representative for Malaysia since 2000. He was President of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS) in 1993 - 1996, President of MIArb in 2008, Chairman of IEM Geotechnical Engineering Technical Division in 1991 - 1992. Chairman of IEM Tunnelling and Underground Space Technical Division in 2002 - 2003 and 2006 – 2009. He was the Organizing Chairman for the Annual Professor Chin Memorial Lecture 1995 – 2008, Organizing Chairman for the 12SEAGC in 1996, MGC2004 in 2004, 16SEAGC in 2007, Organizing Chairman for the International Tunnelling Conferences in 2006 and 2011 and ICE International Conference in 2011. He was Chairman of Pro-Tem Committee to set up the Association of Geotechnical Societies in Southeast Asia (AGSSEA) and was Chairman of AGSSEA from 2007 – 2010. He was also Chairman of Pro-Tem Committee to set up the IEM Engineering Consultancy Practice Special Interest Group (CESIG) and became its founding Chairman in 2009. He was a member of the Technical Committee set up by the Government to investigate the collapse of the Highland Towers in 1993. Dr. Ooi lectured at UPM, UNITEN and UNMC and conducted touring lectures in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. He is a principal interviewer for the IEM Professional Interview and conducts Chartered Professional Reviews for ICE in Hong Kong and India. He has formed ICE Student Chapters at the Universiti Tenaga Nasional and University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. Dr. Ooi is currently President of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society. He is Chairman of CESIG and Dispute Resolution Practice Subcommittee and Organizing Chairman for the 2nd International Green Workshop on Sustainable Infrastructures and Buildings in October 2012.