KUCHING: Players in Sarawak’s building industry are urged to create networking among themselves, and with agencies and institutions involved in research and development (RD) to gain new ideas and technologies for the benefit of the industry.

SOUVENIR FOR YOU: Johari receives a memento from Wong (left) as (from right) Lee, Ng and others look on. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who made this call, said the players should work together with agencies like Energy Centre, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), SIRIM, and also universities to keep up with the everyday technological advancement.

“One of our universities, for example, has come up with a new technology that can build low-cost houses from metal and plastics at an estimated cost of RM30,000 per unit.

“This is an example of technology that we can explore to benefit the industry as a whole,” he said at the opening of Building Trade Show (BTS) 2009 at Permata Carpark here yesterday. Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg read Taib’s text of speech.

Apart from that, Taib said there were other technologies available like solar system for lighting, thermal roofing and cooling system that could be adopted to enhance the quality of the end products.

He meanwhile said the building industry was undergoing a transition from labour-intensive to industrialised building system (IBS), which the federal government hoped to fully adopt by 2010.

He said the federal government had proven its success in implementing IBS in 320 of its projects throughout the country and that the quality was as good as the traditional method, with shorter completion period and cost effective for large projects.

With this development, he said the industry needed to change their mindset and consider adopting IBS since CIDB was ready to support them through training, skilled workers and the ‘know how’.

On this, Johari explained that the state government was giving emphasis on IBS and it wanted developers, especially professionals in the industry, to work together with CIDB on new technologies and architects to come up with designs that were compatible with the buyers’ needs.

“We want to encourage developers to produce quality product and design work and they can work together with people doing research like CIDB, SIRIM and local universities to keep up with the standard of current needs. We want them to be interactive with researchers,” he said.

He also said that he would be leading a delegation to Singapore soon to showcase the real estate in Sarawak under the ‘Malaysia - My Second Home’ programme.

Meanwhile, Taib said that the building industry was one of the most active sectors with significant multiplying effects to the population, and realising this, the government had taken appropriate measures to ensure the current economic setback would not dampen the industry.

He assured that all government-committed projects would continue as planned, including the implementation of projects under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

He pointed out that these projects required the participation of the building industry in all the 10 priority industries, involving the building of industrial plants, infrastructures, commercial and residential buildings.

“We hope that with continuous development projects in the pipeline and additional projects under the Stimulus Package, the economy and the industry will be resilient,” he said.

He said these projects were meant to ease the burden of the people and also assist the private sector in weathering the economic turbulence.

To this, he commended the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia Sarawak Chapter (PAMSC) for organising this tradeshow.

He said in future, the chapter should consider holding larger trade shows collaborating with other associations such as Institution of Engineers Malaysia, Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) and Manufacturers’ Association.

He hoped that with the high standard of organising, extensive publicity and the right strategy, BTS would earn international recognition, attract buyers and builders from every part of the world.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Sarawak on the map as a popular venue for international building trade shows so that our contractors, manufacturers and suppliers will benefit by expanding their market reach,” he added.

The four-day show has 110 booths and serves as a distinctive platform for industrial professional, potential clients as well as the general public to learn, be informed and up-dated on what are available in the market and network, exchange views and explore mutually beneficial business opportunities.

The range of products and services covers building products and interiors, properties and investment, tools, appliances and systems, and landscaping.

Also on display are floor finishes, wall coverings, ceiling and roofing products, plumbing, sanitary-wares, paints, ironmongeries, glazing, louvres, waterproofing systems, pest control and water treatment system, cabinets and electrical appliances, furniture from Bali, and many more.

BTS 2009 is open to visitors from 10am to 9pm from now till March 28, and 10am to 6pm on March 29. Entry is free.

Also present were Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia president Lee Chor Wah, PAMSC chairman Ng Chee Wee and organising chairman Peter Wong.

Source: http://www.mysarawak.org/2009/03/27/keep-up-with-technological-advances-taib.html

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