By Ir. Dr Abdul Majid bin Dato’ Abu Kassim
1.0 Introduction
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REGISTRATION OF
ENGINEERS ACT 1967
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The gazetting of amendments to the Registration
of Engineers Act 1967 (REA) on February 28,
2015 signalled the opening of doors in Malaysia
to foreign engineers and foreign engineering firms.
Is this boom or bane?
The year 2015 is a milestone for the
engineering profession in Malaysia as it marks
the start of liberalisation of engineering services.
When the amendments to the Registration of
Engineers Act 1967 come into operation, the
doors to the formerly restrictive engineering
service sector will be opened to foreign engineers
practising as a sole proprietorship, partnership
or body corporate in providing professional
engineering services. This applies to all countries
but in particular to countries which Malaysia
has committed agreements with, namely ASEAN
countries, China, Australia, Republic of Korea,
Chile, Pakistan, Japan, New Zealand and India to
name a few. In reciprocity, these markets will also
be now open to Malaysian engineers and firms.
At the same time, the amendments to the Act,
provide additional leverage for Malaysian trade
officials at the negotiating table in future trade
agreements.
The Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), as
the regulatory body, has made presentations to
various parties on what liberalisation means
plus the pros and cons of liberalisation. On its
MALAYSIA
LEMBAGA JURUTERA MALAYSIA
BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA
5/22/15 11:54 AM
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Liberalisation: Is it time for
change for the Professional
Engineering Service Industry
and the Laws that governed
It? – PART 1