In collaboration with ASEAN ENGINEER REGISTER (AER)


1) Resilient Cities’ model and collaborative efforts in Malaysia And Resilient Cities Case Study and Challenges – Melaka - By Dr. Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani and En. Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali

Synopsis

Achieving climate and disaster resilient cities have become a global agenda today that has gained much attention over recent years. The increase in the events of natural and man-induced disasters has led to higher awareness of the need to move towards disaster and climate resilient cities. Cities and its entire system are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and calamities that may occur naturally or man-made. The recent episode of disasters has highlighted that cities are not prepared to face disasters and climate-related events. However, in any condition, cities need to continuously maintain its function to protect the people and the facilities. Different cities of different location and feature respond in its own ways whenever a disaster or catastrophe strikes. Understanding and communicating risk is one of the key approaches highlighted by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) to ensure holistic decision-making and integrated policies strategies to become more resilient (UNDP, 2015). Building resilience in cities requires a collaborative effort by encouraging interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach. Previous studies highlighted that among the critical issues that hinder resilience in cities are the failure to coordinate multiple stakeholders and different disciplines, which have affected the inconsistencies in managing data and information to understand the current and future risk. Hence, this talk will explore the issues and how different professions can play a significant role including professional engineers to build resilience in cities through innovative solutions that require a strong collaborative and Trans disciplinary input.

Biodata Speakers

Dr. Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani is a Senior Lecturer at Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, University Teknologi Malaysia. She is also currently the Green Manager for the faculty.  She graduated with Bachelor Degree in Urban & Regional Planning in 2003 and Masters of Science in Built Environment from International Islamic University Malaysia in 2005. She completed her PhD in Urban Studies from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. At the national level, she is a registered graduate member of the Malaysian Institute of Planners since 2012. Internationally, she is a member of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), a global association of experienced professionals that brings networking of planners worldwide and one of the editorial board for Journal of International Society of City and Regional Planners.  Also, she has been appointed as the secretariat for Academic Research Society of Malaysia (ARMS) a network of academicians across Malaysia. She has also undergone a 1-year attachment at The University of Adelaide, Australia where she was appointed as a researcher at the Urban-Eco Lab, with main activities involved collaborative project focusing on innovative applied urban design projects with the aim to address the climate change issues. She is also actively involved in various research and consultations.

En. Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali currently the Chief Resilience Officer at Melaka Historic City Council. Prior to his appointment, Ridhwan worked at an electric utility company in Peninsular Malaysia known as Tenaga Nasional Berhad as a site engineer in project deployment team for a Smart Meter pilot project in Melaka. His tasks vary from monitoring the Smart Meter at site; manage engagement with local authorities, community's leader and company's customers. Ridhwan holds a Master's in Business Administration from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), a local university in Malaysia and a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from University of Auckland, New Zealand graduated in 2010. He is very active with youth association and currently a president of Melaka State Youth Council and exco member of Malaysia Youth Council.


2) Uphill tasks of governing common properties: From Hardin to Ostrom - By Ir. Dr Wang Hong Kok

Synopsis

The concept of a resilient city must have the wellbeing of the people in mind. In particular the interest of the less well-off in terms of housing, employment, connectivity, education and healthcare come to mind. While those who live in low-cost flats and medium-cost flats are facing challenging environment due to deteriorating common properties, solutions appear too far in the distance. This presentation “Uphill tasks in governing common properties: From Hardin to Ostrom” goes deep into the root cause facing property managers and parcel holders/tenants who live in low-cost and medium-cost flats.

Biodata Speaker

Ir. Dr Wang Hong Kok earned a B. Eng (NUS) in 1976. Thereafter he spent the next 31 years working in the property development industry initially as a design engineer, then moved on to project manager, and then general manager of many property companies. He retired at the age of 56.
Unhappy of not being productive, he pursued his unfinished childhood dream of seeking more knowledge by obtaining two masters (University of Newcastle and University Malaya) and one Ph. D in Urban Land Economics (also in University Malaya). His main strength is in turning-around ailing property companies. Since 2014, he is a Principal Lecturer in TAR University College teaching land economics, property market research and marketing, and principles of management. Ir. Dr Wang is an active member of IEM. He writes regularly in the “Jurutera” bulletin. He is a Council Member and also a member of three IEM Standing Committees. Ir. Dr. Wang held the position of Honorary Treasurer from 2016 until 2018. He is a Fellow of IEM, a registered Professional Engineer, and a member of RICS. He is a regular speaker and since 2017, he has given talks in UTAR, RICS Malaysia Chapter, REHDA, Imperia Institute of Technology, and in the UN-Habitat Forum held in 6 March 2019. He is in the panel of judges for Star Property 2019 Awards. More recently, Ir. Dr Wang has been invited to teach in the REHDA-UTAR Master Real Estate Development Program, soon to be conducted.


3) IEM Guideline to Flood Abatement - By Ir. Loo Chee Kin and Ir. Kim Kek Seong

Synopsis

Flood occurrences would seem like a common phenomenon in Malaysia. Various engineering measures had been made to mitigate flood. When a building is located in a flood prone area, additional measures has to be taken to keep the water out.  In any building, the engineered flood solutions could have limitation and other challenges. This is because a building would have openings for people, vehicles and utilities. At times, these could lead into below ground levels, such as basement, tunnels or underpasses, where the water could flow into and then pool. The water pool could get deep if the water flowing in is not stopped. The pooled water will damage the mechanical and electrical utilities, parked cars or cut-off connections within the building. This will shut down the building operations, devalue the property, cause property damage, economic loss, injury and loss of life. This Guideline was initiated by IEM as to fulfil an immediate need in the industry. It is intended to form the basis of a product conformity certification scheme, to provide assurance to potential users or specifiers of flood protection products that they have been tested and verified by a third party. A Guideline may be considered for further development as a Standard or constitute part of the input into the development of a national standard.

Biodata Speakers

Ir. Loo Chee Kin is an active member in the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM). He is one of the founding members of IEM Disaster Risk Reduction Advisory Board (DDRAB) and is currently the Chairman of DDRAB. Ir. Loo is a Senior Consultant with Global Risk Consultants (GRC) and before that he was with FM Global. He has more than 20 years engineering experience, from design to field work, as well as natural hazard assessments. He graduated from UMIST, UK with a B.Eng in Electromechanical Systems Engineering and a Diploma from Kota Bharu Polytechnic. He is a P.Eng in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, a Member of IEM, IMechE and IEE, registered C.Eng.

Ir. Kim Kek Seong is a Technical Manager of Enovate PLT dealing with various innovative engineering solutions. He has more than 18 years of hands-on experience in various mechanical and chemical process engineering improvements as well as personal safety and industrial hygiene management. He graduated from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, with a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering. He is a P.Eng. in Chemical Engineering, Fellow Member of IEM, and Honorary Member of AFEO. He currently is an active committee member in the IEM, in Membership Application Board (MAB), Disaster Risk Reduction Advisory Board (DRRAB), Member of Training Board (TB) as well as various Sub-Committees and boards.