The formation of the Urban Engineering Development Special Interest Group (UEDSIG) was approved at the 532th Excomm meeting of the IEM held on 10 October 2016.


Background of formation of UEDSIG:
There were a number of social issues discussed widely in the past relating to engineers in society, yet IEM as a learned society appeared to show little interest.

The case in point was the recent extraction of bauxite in Kuantan, Pahang. When a large proportion of members of the society displayed anxieties on the correct path the nation was heading, engineers in general and IEM in particular appeared to have no role, displayed little interest, and seemed not connected to the society.

It was either that our engineers lacked the skills to appreciate the consequences of issues that might have lasting impact on the society, or IEM was not providing the needed leadership.

Many such issues were multi-dimensional that went beyond engineering discipline. There must be a platform where the issues are discussed rationally in IEM so that we can train the next generation of engineers useful to the society. IEM has a meaningful role to play.


Goals/Objectives
Therefore, the formation of UEDSIG has the following goals/objectives in mind (a more complete list will be formed later):
Issues affecting the society/engineers are studied with the view to provide feedback to parties concerned.
Regular training courses are conducted by suitably qualified persons for the benefits of our members on “urban planning, economic and housing” that affect the society.
That future engineers are seen connected to the society through their active participation in the discourse on issues relating to “urban planning, economics, and housing”.

Benefit to Members
Through the setting of this special interest group within IEM, UEDSIG hopes to train the next generation of engineers connected to the society, appreciate the multi-dimensional nature of problems, and be seen as useful citizens of Malaysia.

A gathering to set up the Pro-tem Committee will be held at the Tan Sri Prof. Chin Fung Kee, Auditorium, Wisma IEM, Petaling Jaya on Saturday, 07 January 2017 at 11.55 am.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
1) Pre-election talk by Mr. Ngian on “My journey in building and award winning development”
2) Election of pro-tem committee members.
3) Discussion and finalization of rules for UEDSIG
4) Other matters arising and any other matters

Your attendance of this meeting will be greatly appreciated. Interested members are invited to submit the reply form to the IEM Secretariat on or before 30 December 2016.


Ir. Yam Teong Sian
Hon. Secretary
The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia