The Project Management Dilemma Between Progress, Preservation & National Identity

SYNOPSIS   

As Malaysia accelerates its transformation through iconic mega projects, modern infrastructure and ambitious urban developments, a critical question emerges: Are we building a better future at the expense of our historical and cultural heritage?

This thought-provoking Industry Leadership Talk explores the challenging intersection of mega project delivery, heritage preservation and responsible project management. Can project leaders balance economic growth, commercial pressures and modernisation with the responsibility to safeguard Malaysia's architectural heritage and national identity?

Drawing on real-world mega project leadership and governance experience, the discussion will challenge conventional definitions of project success and examine how digital innovation, green development, resilience, stakeholder engagement and sustainable project management can create lasting value without compromising our past.

The ultimate question: Should project success be measured only by what we build — or also by what we choose to preserve


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Ts. Alex Zulkarnain bin Zulkarim

Ts. Alex Zulkarnain is a distinguished project management leader with over 31 years of experience, predominantly in the Oil & Gas industry. A Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Bradford, UK, he has held senior leadership positions at PETRONAS, with cumulative direct project delivery leadership experience exceeding RM27 billion.

His mega project portfolio includes serving as PETRONAS Project Director and Joint Venture Deputy Project Director for the RM4 billion Pengerang Deepwater Terminal 2 (PDT2) development, part of the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex. He was also involved throughout the project lifecycle of the RM7 billion MLNG Tiga project in Bintulu, Sarawak, following earlier involvement in the RM5 billion MLNG Dua development.

He has supported major PETRONAS capital developments through leadership roles as Head of Project Control and Head of Engineering Design Office. Subsequently, as Head of Project Governance, Risk & Performance and Project Delivery Excellence, he led enterprise-wide project governance, risk management, assurance, performance and benchmarking initiatives, with exposure to capital project portfolios representing cumulative annual values exceeding RM500 billion.

His expertise spans the complete project lifecycle, including front-end development, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, engineering, construction, commissioning and close-out, providing extensive insight into the technical, commercial, environmental and stakeholder complexities of mega projects.

A registered Professional Technologist with MBOT and certified Project Management Professional (PMP), he also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS and an ELITE@UM Fellow at Universiti Malaya.

Through PXP and IPMA Malaysia, he continues to champion project management excellence, responsible leadership and effective project governance.