SYNOPSIS
The Malaysian engineering field is currently filled with very challenging mega projects like state-of-the-art power plants, tallest tower, high-speed railway with the associated advanced and complex automation and control system. However, the Malaysian consultants are struggling at both their and the Client’s expense to meet the project requirements ‘whichever way they can’.
The concerned Malaysian engineering fraternity has asked with great foresight and empathy of why we Malaysians, have gotten ourselves into such a situation. In addition, the Client expectations of implicit “white haired” old foreign consultants coupled with young and eager Malaysian consultants that cannot deliver projects on time, within budget and with quality, has given rise to a multitude of issues that threaten the future of the Malaysian consultancy and the engineering professionalism collectively.
The notion that the foreign consultants are ‘too expensive’ is becoming false over time with developing countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Myanmar engineers stepping into the world’s mega project arena. Hence, the only way is for the Malaysian consultants to raise their game to an international level and better, to survive for the future. The old cheap parlour tricks of getting vendors to do design for free and combining bits and pieces from multiple sources, are becoming not only ineffective but also nationalistically damaging. Furthermore, international competition does not facilitate nor provide the luxury for the local Malaysian engineer to holistically learn from their foreign counterparts in fast track mega projects.
Therefore, one of the possible approaches is for the Malaysian consultancy stakeholders to collectively address the adverse issues and resolve them in a holistic, long-term and fast track basis. It is with this in mind that the above talk hopes to spur discussions among the consultancy practitioners, ACEM, IEM, BEM, and Government, among others. This talk is a preamble to the Malaysian Consultancy forum under CESIG that is to be held at a later date under IEM. It is hoped that this talk initiated by the speaker becomes the nucleus for the consultancy solutions that plagues the Malaysian scene.
BIODATA OF SPEAKER
Ir. S. Vignaeswaran is currently a Registered Practising Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) in Australia and a certified professional in Malaysia with the Certificate of Practising Engineer (CPE). He has worked in both the public and private sectors of the engineering consultancy industry, both in Malaysia and internationally. His exposure to international engineering and consultancy practices in Australia, Saudi Arabia, India, China, among others, allows him to share his experiences with his peers. He has been a consultant to projects ranging up to RM 8 billion in value. This, in addition to his diverse experiences in the utilities, oil & gas, waterworks, automation sector, allows him to form, synergize and put forward a unique perspective and approach to the consultancy issues. Furthermore, Ir. S. Vignaeswaran has had the privilege and opportunity to be mentored, educated and trained by some of the best engineering professionals globally.
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