KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Nominated Assemblyman Datuk Chin Shu Ying has proposed a RM2 million state grant to support Building Information Modelling (BIM) training, aimed at strengthening human capital and keeping Sabah’s construction industry competitive.
Debating the 2026 State Budget at the State Legislative Assembly on Monday, Chin said five professional bodies — ACEM Sabah Branch, IEM Sabah Branch, Sabah Engineers Association, PAM Sabah Chapter and the Association of Sabah Architects — had jointly applied for the grant to accelerate BIM adoption in the state.
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He said BIM is no longer optional, describing it as a critical digital tool that improves efficiency, reduces errors, saves time and cost, and enhances project quality and safety through integrated 3D collaboration.
Chin noted that while larger firms are adopting BIM, many small and medium-sized consultancies face barriers such as high software costs, lack of skilled personnel and limited access to training. Without support, local consultants risk being sidelined from major government and international projects.
The proposed grant, he said, aims to produce at least 300 trained BIM professionals within two years, while aligning Sabah with the Federal Government’s phased BIM implementation under the Public Works Department (JKR) roadmap.
In the same debate, Chin welcomed the increase in allocations for religious development, non-Muslim religious institutions, missionary and private schools from RM70 million to RM90 million, and supported the creation of two new oversight bodies to strengthen transparency and accountability in state agencies and government-linked companies.
