THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA

Bangunan Ingenieur, Lots 60 & 62, Jalan 52/4, P.O. Box 223, Jalan Sultan, 46720 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-79684001/4002 Fax: 03-79577678 E-mail: sec@iem.org.my
Web Portal: http://www.myiem.org.my

14th April, 2012

LETTER TO THE EDITOR (THE SUN)

The part of the letter by Patrick C Augustin in the Sun (12 April, 2012) regarding the role of the
Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) in dealing with errant professional engineers is misleading
and serves to highlight the lack of clarity regarding the different roles of the various organisations and
regulatory bodies involved in the construction and housing industries as was pointed out in our earlier
letter to the Sun dated 10 April, 2012. We fail to understand the over reaction by Patrick C Augustin
to our clarification.

IEM had felt it necessary to put in proper perspective the role of the Institution as a result of the
reprimand made by the Ketua Setiausaha Negara over the problems of abandoned housing projects
which he has attributed in part, to IEM. (the Sun, 3 April, 2012). In our earlier letter, we had
highlighted clearly the roles of the different bodies involved in the construction and housing industries
which we had hoped would have clarified the situation.

Patrick C Augustin, however, chooses not to accept the clarification and has selectively given his
misguided comments on the matter. He insists that IEM can discipline engineers. Yes, indeed we
can; but only if they are members of the Institution and only with respect to their membership
with the Institution. However, an expelled member of IEM will still remain a Professional Engineer in
the eyes of the Law until and unless the Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM) takes action against him
or her. Hence, any transgression by our members with respect to the Registration of Engineers Act
will, after preliminary investigation by the Institution, have to be referred to the BEM for further
investigation and subsequent action on the errant professional engineer.

The IEM was established in 1959 as a voluntary body to serve and to advance the profession of
engineering. IEM was the only body then to serve the needs of the profession but with the rapid
development of the profession, the Institution itself decided that it was also necessary to have a
statutory authority to regulate the profession and its engineers. Hence, it was upon the initiative of
IEM that BEM was established via the Registration of Engineers Act (1967) which came into force in
1972.

The roles of IEM and BEM are meant to be complementary and were engineered to avoid duplication.
BEM is a regulatory body; IEM is a professional institution. In its role as a professional institution, IEM
conducted over 300 technical talks, courses, seminars, forums and conferences in the last year, all for
the benefit and continuous development of engineers. We sit into well over 200 committees, including
workshops or forums of the various government agencies and authorities where our members play an
advisory role that contributes to policy making, standards development and other matters essential to
the practice of engineering. Our members are located throughout the country and we have 12
Branches, almost one in every state, where the Institution caters to the needs of engineers there as
well as provide our voluntary professional input to the various authorities in the States.

IEM’s role is to facilitate the professional development of engineers and to provide our expert opinion
to the government and authorities on matters related to engineering as well as to represent engineers
on issues related to their profession.

Ir. Prof. Dr. Lee Teang Shui

Honorary Secretary
THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA
For further information on this Press Release or
The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, kindly call the IEM Secretariat Office
at 03-7968 4001/ fax to 03-7957 7678 or email to sec@iem.org.my.

About the IEM

The Institution of Engineers of Malaysia (IEM) is a professional and learned society established to promote
the science and profession of engineering in any of its disciplines and to facilitate the exchange of
information and ideas related to engineering. Founded in 1959 and with a membership today of over
32,000, inclusive of about 12,000 students, IEM constitutes one of the largest professional organisations in
the country. Amongst its many roles, the Institution plays an active part in supporting various sustainable
socio-economic development of the country and in nation building. It represents the aspirations of its
members, acts in the best interests of the public of whom its members serve whilst upholding the standing
and image of the profession.