Proper training of foreign workers essential
Posted on | July 23, 2007
By THE STAR
SUPERIOR standards in project workmanship, concepts and designs will determine the level of success in Malaysia’s drive to become an international real estate hub.
While developers are working closely with their consultants to ensure their product designs and workmanship are world-class, the onus is on the relevant authorities, such as the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), to ensure the quality of foreign construction workers.
With the country working out plans to showcase some of its best properties to the international community, it is timely to put in place a training institute for foreign workers.
Industry players said all efforts to eliminate shoddy and defective work, poor finishes, or late completion should be initiated soon as any complaint of poor quality buildings by foreign purchasers would completely negate the promotional activities of the property industry.
Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) president Ng Seing Liong said developers and building contractors should be ready to embrace internationally accepted building standards like those practiced in Singapore and Australia.
Master Builders Association of Malaysia (MBAM) president Patrick Wong concurred that the initiatives to improve quality should be industry-driven and MBAM, together with other trade organisations and building industry institutions, was promoting such a practice.
“We are of the opinion that quality-driven training programmes should be made readily available by the CIDB in association with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
“MBAM has been promoting training as a means to produce better supervisors, managers and skilled workers, and is now seriously looking at on-the-job training to improve work qualities, productivity and delivery systems,” Wong said.
He said quality standards could be achieved by allocating higher budgets, having better designs and choosing quality builders, adding that most Class A or G7 builders were going for ISO 9000 certification.
According to Sunway City Bhd senior managing director Datuk C.K. Wong, to compete in the globalised environment, there is a need for measurable performance standards for the local construction industry.
“To enable developers to achieve performance standards that are on par with other countries, the contractors should be looking at rigorous training for their staff.
“Only then can we attract the well-heeled and discerning foreign property purchasers and investors to our shores,” he said.
SP Setia Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said developers who did well were those who were committed to quality workmanship and designs.
“All the big developers want to give top-notch quality and would welcome an industry-wide initiative to lift the standard and quality of foreign construction workers in the country.
“At our company level, we have initiated the Setia 18 + 18 Home Warranty Programme for all our properties that provides an additional 18-month warranty on top of the standard 18-month defect liability period stated in the statutory sale and purchase agreement,” Liew said.
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