Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Engineers Association (SEA) said engineers from Peninsular Malaysia should pass a Professional Competency Assessment on Sabah’s local laws and engineering standards before being allowed to practise in the State.
SEA said in a statement that this is necessary for public safety and legal compliance. The proposal was made at its 48th annual meeting at the Kinabalu Club, Saturday, where incumbent office-bearers were returned unopposed.
SEA President CC Lo drew comparisons to existing restrictions on West Malaysian lawyers and land surveyors, both of whom are barred from practising in Sabah without additional state-specific qualifications.
“A lawyer qualified in Kuala Lumpur cannot appear in a Sabah court without specific admission to the Sabah Bar. Similarly, a land surveyor from Penang cannot automatically conduct cadastral surveys here due to our distinct land laws under the Sabah Land Ordinance,” Lo said.
“We are simply asking for engineering standards to catch up with the law and surveying professions. It is not about barriers, it is about public safety and legal compliance.”
The Association said existing national registration pathways through the federal Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) do not adequately account for Sabah’s distinct legal and geographical conditions.
An initial review found 38 laws and regulations governing engineering practice in the state, of which 25 or more than 66 per cent are Sabah-specific.
Under the proposal, out-of-state engineers would be required to demonstrate knowledge of local enactments, municipal by-laws, state land use codes and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The assessment would also cover Sabah-specific seismic risks, geology and tropical weather conditions that differ from those in Peninsular Malaysia.
The SEA is further proposing the creation of a state-specific endorsement register, modelled after the existing Sabah Bar and the Land Surveyors Board.
The proposal will first be submitted to the Ministry of Industry Development, Entrepreneur and Transportation to secure funding for developing a question bank and refining the assessment framework.
It will subsequently be forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, identified as the custodian for implementing the competency assessment.
The association noted that under MA63, Sabah retains constitutional autonomy over land, water, electricity supply and local government, all areas central to engineering works in the state.
Meanwhile, elected to lead the association for the coming term are CC Lo (President), Leslie Yew Min Yun (Deputy President), Datuk Willy Chin Tet Fu (Honorary Secretary), Dylan Wong Yun Tzen (Honorary Treasurer) and council members Liew Vun Shin, Tan KJ JP, Jenny Koo Pui Pui, Hiew Vun Heng and Edward Teo Se Tiong, while Yap Kok Wai continues as Immediate Past President.
