IEM and CHIRI at Curtin Malaysia co-hosting symposium on infrastructure development in Borneo

Miri –  7 September 2021 – The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Miri Branch and Curtin Highway Infrastructure Research and Innovation Hub (CHIRI) of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) are co-hosting a symposium on ‘Challenges and Opportunities of Infrastructure Development in Borneo’ from 10 to 11 September 2021.

The symposium, which will be conducted online on Cisco WebEx, is aimed at providing a stimulating forum for participants to meet, share knowledge and experiences, and discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by infrastructure projects in Borneo in terms of their viability, sustainability, and technical aspects.

The symposium’s keynote speakers will comprise federal and state government ministers and prominent figures from the Public Works Department, government-linked agencies, private sector and academia.

They include Federal Senior Minister of Works Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Yusof, Sarawak Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Chief Executive Officer of Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) Datu Haji Ismawi Haji Ismuni, and Director of Sarawak Sewerage Services Department Ir. Lau Hieng Ung, whilst those from industry and academia are Sarawak Energy Berhad Vice-President of Strategy and Corporate Development Ting Ching Zung, Senior Professional Services Manager of PCSS Consultancy Ts. Andy Tiong Meng Jun, Director of PY Konsep Perunding Sdn. Bhd., Sabah Ir. Tan Kok Jyh, and Ir. Dr. Achmad Wicaksono, Associate Professor of Transportation Engineering at Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia.

According to CHIRI Coordinator and symposium co-organising chairperson, Ir. Dr. Vera Loo, participants of the symposium will gain knowledge and a better understanding of ongoing and future major infrastructure projects in Sarawak and Sabah, as well as infrastructure development in Kalimantan.

“They will have opportunities to understand the impacts of the global pandemic, the digital economy, carbon reduction and renewable energy on infrastructure development in Malaysia. They will also learn about the application of Building Information Modelling or BIM in infrastructure development,” said Ir. Dr. Loo.

“COVID-19 has accelerated the development of the digital economy and changed the ways we do business. We are looking at a whole new dimension, one filled with new challenges, and at the same time, new opportunities,” she said.

“Challenges are the seeds of opportunities, and the topics we will cover will show just how advanced technology, the digital economy and renewable energy can be catalysts for renewed growth in the infrastructure development sector.”

The symposium will feature a full day of sessions from 8.45 am to 5 pm on 10 September, and a half-day from 8.45 am to 12.30 pm on 11 September.

Registration for the symposium is still open until 5pm on 9 September. Those interested to join can register at https://forms.gle/9hHUMC7ioNDr2g959. The registration fees are RM150 for those who are members of IEM, RM200 for non-members, and RM50 for students. Participants are entitled to claim CPD hours.

For enquiries, contact symposium secretary Shirley Liew by email at iem.miri@gmail.com or call 012-809 3718.