Building & Investment (Nov - Dec 2015) (Nov - Dec 2015) | Page 35

Special Feature Q & A with CIDB Fielding a number of queries from the media, Megat Kamil Azmi responded as follows: s /UROBJECTIVEISTOENSUREONLYBUILDING materials which meets the specified standards are used in construction PROJECTS TO PREVENT ANY SAFETY RISKS to construction personnel and to the public from the use of low-quality materials. Enforcement of this Act is also to prevent dumping.’ s @JUST LIKE 3)2)- IT !CT  ENABLES the identification of certified building materials through standardised marking’ s @THERE WILL BE PERIODIC REVIEW OF 3CHEDULE  !CT  n IF NECESSARY the list will be revised because of new technology’ s @IMPORTS WILL REQUIRE VERIFICATION AT Malaysian port of entry for issuance of Certificate of Approval (CoA) by CIDB in line with Customs (Prohibitions on Import) Order 1998 (Amendment 2012), preceded by sampling, laboratory testing and inspection of overseas factory for the purpose of Product s s s s s Certification (PC)’ @NON COMPLIANCE OR ANYBODY WHO IS found guilty of dealing with building materials which have not received the standards certification, can be fined not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM500,000 (amended from previous maximum of RM 100,000) under Section 33D(2) and Section 35C(2)’ @MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF building materials have until 1st January 2016 to register with CIDB at no charge….thereafter a fee of RM 1,500 will be levied’ @SUPERVISORS AND SKILLED WORKERS (building personnel) are to be accredited by CIDB with green cards to ensure only legal workers are employed and given  HOURINSURANCECOVERAGE @WORKERSAREGIVENAPERIODOFSIXMONTHS , up to 1st June 2016, for registration and accreditation of certification of their SKILLS AND COMPETENCY n FAILURE TO DO so carries a penalty of not more than RM 5,000 imposed on both worker and employer’ )NSOFARASENFORCEMENT @ADDITIONALSTAFF [Footnote: Act 520 provides under Section 33C(1), that “the Lembaga (CIDB) shall, in the manner determined…certify the construction materials used in the construction industry and specified in the Fourth Schedule” and that “a person shall not deal or undertake to deal, whether directly or indirectly, with the construction materials specified in the Fourth Schedule unless the construction materials have been certified by CIDB” (Section 33D(1)]. s s s WILL BE EMPLOYED BY #)$" n WE WILL also work with the relevant agencies like Customs, DOSH, and so on.’ @  CONTRACTORS HAVE REGISTERED AND 700,000 workers are involved’ @CONTRACTORS SHALL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING SAFETY EVEN AFTER A PROJECT was completed and handed over to its OWNER n THIS AMENDMENT IS TO PROTECT the public interest’ %NFORCEMENT WILL TAKE THE FORM OF @SEARCH AND SEIZURE OF ANY CONSTRUCTION materials, equipment, instrument, book, record, document, computerized document, article or other thing that is reasonably believed to furnish evidence of the commission of such offence.’ In the final analysis, remarked Megat +AMIL !ZMI @WE ARE NOT OUT TO PUNISH THE industry but to make sure that only registered contractors who meet the legal requirements be allowed to do business.’ Benefits that accrue to workers at construction sites include their well-being insofar as their SAFETY EMPLOYABILITY AND SECURITY JOBS NOT taken over by illegals and the unqualified). Further, as far as acquiring certified skills, opportunities are to be had in training at six Akademi Binaan Malaysia (Malaysian Building Academy) nationwide. Q More information at www.cidb.gov.my Building & Investment | www.b-i.biz 31