Hyderabad Flyover Collapse

The flyover under construction in the Indian city of Hyderabad collapse 3 days ago.

Wasn't this project built by a Malaysian contractor appointed by CIDB?

I believed this project was awarded to CIDB ventures, an "Ali-Baba type" who then award it to the "selected" Malaysian PKK Class 'A' contractor.

CIDB: Taking Responsibility Insensibly

The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) is the Institution that was enacted by the legislature to promote the standards and quality of construction management and to built the framework of the construction industry best practices. This objectives could never be realized.

Firstly, the institution is more interested in generating revenue and tapping into the system to extract surplus wealth; if there ain't surplus, the extract whatever profits it could. They organize seminars for participants from the industry players but charged them for a fee. They oganized seminars and workshops for companies interested to be ISO9000 certified and charged them for a fee. They organized fee-based project management courses and are preparing a system to accredit project managers but they themselves and whoever their accreditors are, have yet to get themselves accredited by any respectable or recognized institution such as PMI or APM.

They organized all kinds of events, workshops and seminars for the industry players and charged them with fees. Yet the construction companies had to pay a levy of 0.25% for every project the had, whether private or public sector projects. Each year, there are more than RM30 billion worth of projects; so you can calculate what their income from levy is. So apart from hundreds of millions of levy collected, there are other income such as workers registration, certification and event management. Oh, and they need not publicly publish their accounts as this is provided for under the statute.

And there are bunches of "super professionals consultants" within the penumbra of the system who help promote these wealth generating activities; they call it win-win and of course the ultimate is who is paying?

They talk about globalisation and internationalisation, but we have pragmatic problem - defects and maintenance, slope failures, abandoned projects, the lack of competencies in project management and construction process management, poor quality culture and systems, etc, etc. Take the most recent issues of defects and maintenance failures - Putrajaya Immigration Complex, New Jalan Duta Court Complex, Putrajaya slope collapse, and those much earlier project failures such as MRR2, Computer Labs, Kuching Prison projects, Wetland projects, etc etc.

The ministry said they are preparing and are now in the process of drawing up a Building Maintenance Framework. What? Does it mean that over the decades JKR and the government had never operated defects and maintenance management using with a formalised framework? But they are ISO 9000 certified companies - JKR is ISO certified and Putrajaya is also ISO certified!

I had blog on numerous occasions about the Building Maintenance Framework and if they didn't understand, why didn't they ask me?

More surprising is the fact that CIDB is only involve in collections of monies and had nothing to contribute towards the government's and the industries need of such a framework. And they are shouting so much about globalization and internationalization of the Malaysian construction industry.

CIDB CEO Datuk Hamzah is the former CEO of Ahamd Zaki Resources Bhd, a class A contractor, and Tan Sri Wan Rahman who is now the chairman of CIDB was the former Director-General of JKR. Tan Sri Omar, another former D-G of JKR is also the director of CIDB. All of them are experts in the construction industry. What are they doing there? I won't dare to say they did nothing or contribute nothing (this is contempt) but it's about the forest and the trees - which is which? With due respect to them, particularly for the fact that I had admired them over the years, I just felt ashame that the industry is rotting and CIDB is docile and in a state of inertia.

MBA from CIDB

MBA in Construction Business?
Conducted by lecturers who had not been in construction business?
Is CIDB in Construction Business or in the Business of collecting monies from Contractors?

Malaysia Boleh Lagi

Skill Certification is about Paying $360

Skilled workers who do not seek certification in their relevant fields risk losing out to their competitors.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said without proper certification, workers would find themselves handicapped and sidelined by their competitors.

“Times are changing and consumers are going for those whose skills were certified. This is a global trend," TK Ong said.

I don't know whether he knows what he is talking about; or, whether he is talking about some other thing.

In Malaysia, we have CIDB who certify and registers all workers' skills and competency. Each worker certified are given a "Greencard" that pronounce their skill competency.

So, why the need to have another certification?

However, I wonder how many of you Malaysian knows that, in actual fact, what CIDB does, is basically selling these "Greencard". I have thousands of construction workers who had work under me over the decade. I am clear and can confirm that each of them got the green card after paying the levy ($360) to agents of CIDB and none of them (workers) ever need to be present to demonstrate or being tested for their skills or competencies.

This is Malaysian authorities ... and this is how competencies are certified.

If you don't believe me, please go and interview all the sub-contractors who had to register their workers. Or, alternatively, ask New Straits Time to interview them. Datuk Hamzah, Tan Sri Omar, and Tan Sri Wan Abdul Rahman, please go interview sub-contractors and the workers.

The Malaysian Concept of Design & Build Debacle

Problematic Projects Involve "Design-and-build" Concept - Shahrir

Public Accounts Committee Chairman Datuk Shahrir states that all projects implemented under the "design-and-build" concept had been problematic.

According to Shahrir that approach was conceivably chosen to overcome perceived inefficiencies of the check-and-balance, accountability and good governance approach in project implementation. He said that the wisdom then was that private initiative was far more efficient and giving the private contractor total control without any government oversight would see the projects completed much faster.

"Unfortunately, when things go wrong, there was no recourse to accountability," he said. Shahrir said his observation showed that what beset problem-hit projects like the privatisation of the Lumut naval dockyard and the construction of offshore patrol vessels for the Malaysian Navy, the MRR2 elevated highway, Matrade building and a hospital in Pandan, Johor, which appeared before PAC, was the belief that self-supervision would see speedier completion and delivery.

Was that the real objective when the government under Mahathir and Daim adopted the Turnkey concept, or was it a surreal reason?

The observed facts remain that Turnkey Design and Built concept was adopted to simplify and speed-up project awards which are mega in size.

First is the Vision 2020. Mahathir's dream is to make Malaysia, the new Japan in South East Asia. In order to push Malaysia to achieve a develop status by 2020, we needed a consistent minimum economic growth of 8% GDP for the next 25 years till 2020. From the government's collection of revenues from taxes and excise duties, it was impossible to fund all those projects mega billion which will require the government to pump in hundreds of billions to generate domestic growth and development. To overcome that, the government had to get the private sector to raise the fundings for the projects and this way, it will reduce government borrowings.

Secondly, there was a fresh breed of corporate executives called the "New Entrepreneurs" groomed by Daim within Paremba and who had matured commercially to undertake bigger task to spearhead the UMNO-Daim-Mahathir Agenda. These new breed of professionals had enjoyed the political patronages and had the power and influence to get decisions made. They had the "godfather" on their side. In the name of NEP and Bumiputraship, it was a sure win situation and they sure had a fast-track generator of wealth and individual prosperity.

Thirdly, the worldwide entrepreneurs (particularly burgeoning in USA and Europe) are beginning to ride the trend of the new "Billionaire Fashion parade". The rise of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Michael Milken and Jack Welch, Goldman Sach, Travellers & Citycorp,and the internet boom lead the pack of individuals and organizations to a new era of economic explosion. The economy in USA beginning 1991 was riding an economic boom that lasted for more than a decade. This economic boom lead to the growth of massive billion dollar private sector borrowing and created readily availability of financial resources for private fundings, particularly from Junk Bonds. The merchant bankers had been successful in ballooning the US economy by way of mergers, acquisitions and "global acquisitions". These monies ultimately arrived at South East Asia with the rise of the Asian Tiger economies such as Korea, Taiwan, HongKong and Singapore. The second group of fast rising economies are Thailand, Malaysia, Phillipines and Indonesia. There were vast potential growth areas and with weak and kleptocratic governments who are prepared to "Kau Tim", the giant financiers with vast financial resources sees the opportunities to penetrate the system and "prostitute" them. Greed was the fundamental; craving was the decisive factors.

Mahathir was assisted by a coterie of jaggernauts who were more than persuasive. Thus gave rise to the "Billionaire Syndrome" in Malaysia and this in turn generated/created those mega billion projects. It was easy to get off-shore loans and bond fundings. Almost every public listed companies, big and small, jump into the bandwagon and ride the storm of economic activities. Mahathir was care-free as what he wanted was monies for development and to turn Malaysia into a new Japan in Asia. Mahathir had a Japanese economic advisor too.

What was envisage by Mahathir was pragmatic and possible. Malaysia, thus tango along the tide of globalization and liberalization. The problem was, during the fast growing phase, there was no monitoring and control system to tell the government the predictive negative outcome of decisions and actions. There wasn't enough "wisemen" who are honest to speak the bare truth and to highlight danger points. There were advisors who are "players within the same game", enjoying the milking and womenising.

Then, a new tidal wave came - the currency traders and hedge funds who saw another form of opportunites! The overheated economies of the Asian Tigers and Cubs are destined to be swallowed and trashed. It was known!

The end result - 1998 East Asian Economic Crisis and the collapse of the currencies against the USD. Malaysia was unprepared to face the hedge fund gamblers and risk-takers. The Pride and Ego of the system was too much for the body to digest. The governments were prepared to sign cheques that their body couldn't pay. It was like a cat that look himself in the mirror and saw himself a picture of a lion king. The cat believes he is a lion and fought the Manhattan leopards. The outcome: the cats were badly bruised, broken bones and broken teeth. Reality then prevailed and integrative and defensive actions within the economic zones save the situation from a total collapse.

It is now 8 years since the crisis. We are still licking our economic wounds and recuperating slowly. What next? Nothing, at this stage of hybernation and consolidation. It will take another 4 years of system adjustment and the rise of another maverick PM to see Malaysia driving another economic growth path. Pak Lah isn't good enough to play this game. He is a conservative and he lacks the muscles.

Who then can resuscitate the economic game-play? It's a million dollar guess. Another Mahathir and Daim will come along soon....

Plaza Damas Probe Committee

Former Public Works Department (PWD) Director-General Tan Sri Omar Ibrahim was appointed by the Works Minister Datuk Seri Samy Vellu to be the chairman of the committee that will probe into the accident that killed management consultant Dr Liew Boon Horng.

This committee was set up within the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) as the Investigations Committee and will include current PWD Deputy Director-General II Dr Judin Abdul Karim and PWD Director of Expert and Civil Engineering Branch P.N. Selvanayagam. Other members of the committee would be selected by Tan Sri Omar in consultation with the Works Minister and the CIDB.

I am sure Tan Sri Omar, a person who commands high respect, will do his job thoroughly and efficiently. Tan Sri Omar is recognised as a NO-Nonsense guy and he doesn't curry flavour or compromise his integrity.

But what suprised me is two key elements:

First, why is CIDB involved in such investigation? In the first place, CIDB had never shown to be involved actively in monitoring or controlling the construction projects in whatever role that can tangibly be said to have proactively, nor productively, being a partner of the industry other than to spent time in India trying to secure some projects and selling it to the few high profile Malaysian contractors for a percentage of commissions.

Since the setup of CIDB decades ago, what had been seen of CIDB in the eyes of contractors and property developers is that they exist to collect 0.25% of the project contract sum from the contractors for each and every construction project exceeding $500,000. Thereafter, nothing beneficial had been done to assist the contractors other than to ensure that the contractors register themselves with them, buy the green cards issued by CIDB, and apart of this, is the great Indian mission of projects.

Each year, more than RM20 billion worth of government project had been executed and awarded and out of which, 0.25% will be worth RM50 million. Should we include private projects, the collections by CIDB would be worth around RM100 million. After collecting these contributions from the contractors, what had the contractors benefitted? Absolutely nothing; asked any contractors!!!

As the industry regulators and promoters, CIDB should had never played a beneficial role to contribute positively the development of the construction industry standards, in particular, the standards of construction methodology and quality of the works. Somehow, it's role is somewhat like a tax and debt collector, licence operator, and now, the new role is investigator and policemen of the contractors.

Is it the way that Malaysian government set up regulatory institutions?

Take an anology: If parents duty to their children is to police them of their activities and punish them if they are naughty; cane them when they don't study or fail in their exam; scold them if they don't behave; and slap them if they are delinquent; would you think the children will become a better person when they grow up? Would you think the children will learn to behave better or improve themselves from such enforcement?

Governmental institutions such as CIDB, DOSH, City Hall, etc, should be playing active and proactive role in development and progression. It is not about enforcement and policing that can contribute to national development and improvement. It is being involved with the industry, understanding their weakness and needs, promoting quality, safety, and competence that we can see improvements and maturity.

The Human Resources Ministry wants answers from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on the 700 cases of negligence at project sites reported since 2003. Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said his ministry would meet with the board this week to ascertain what was wrong in the industry. “We want to know the outcome of their investigations as CIDB has the power to issue stop-work orders and take action against errant contractors. We are serious as we do not want a repeat of the tragedy which happened in Sri Hartamas (Kuala Lumpur) last week,” he said. Dr Fong statement was in response to media reports about the 700 cases, which included 150 high-profile incidents.

I am not sure if Dr Fong understands the role and responsibility of CIDB and also whether CIDB understand their purpose of existence.

Secondly, I am puzzled at the committee that is set up to investigate the incidence at Plaza Damas. It seemed to consist of structural engineering design engineers. But the key problem that is involved in the incident involves the operation management of the construction activities, the mechanical engineering operation of hoisting steel moulds, clamping and locking of the craning and hoisting system, how the workers and supervisors control and monitor the craning, hoisting, fixing, removing and stacking the steel moulds. This concerns, project management, construction site operation management, tower-cranage management, safety and risk operation management of work activities and tasks. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is involved with structural engineering design.

It puzzles me - are they going to investigate the steel mould design? Are they looking into the reinforced concrete design? Are they going to check and analyse the scaffolding design and installation? What for? What the F**k for?

Primarily as I see it, the investigation should be centered on how the steel moulding operations are carried out from hoisting, installation, removal and stacking; how the safety of the work's operation were planned, monitored and controlled; and whether there any risk management - identification, quantification, response planning, risk monitoring, risk control, and workaround management? The analysis should include the methods of operation and resource competence such as the competence and control of tower-crane operation, how contractor execute and supervise their work and task operations, how they manage safety and risk, and whether the consulting engineers and architects of the project had played their professional roles of project management.

The committee should therefore include those who understand tower-crane operation, steel formwork system operation management (not design), construction management safety and health experts, mechanical engineers to analyse the hoisting and installation process for the steel moulding formwork system, project management experts in high-rise building construction, and construction-risk system managers.

At such, if the investigation committee is crowded with structural design experts, and government servants, including CIDB staffs, the presumption is that they understand nothing of contractors' operation management and process. Even those purported associated consultants of CIDB are good talkers, and none have been experienced as contractor's operation managers or had been construction site managers who had been involved in high-rise building construction management process in the role of the contractor's operation.

Unless you are been involved with the contractors in construction process and management role, it is hard for government servants irrespective whether they are ex-JKR or ex-consulting engineers, to be able to have insights to the real emphirical problem that caused such incident.

Fantasy and fallacy always prevail... I hope Tan Sri Omar truly understand and discover the profound knowledge of the contractor's operation.

Construction Safety Net Phobias

The New Malaysian Journalist Phobia ... Safety Nets!!!!!

What are they crying about? Do they want safety net even when buildings are nearing completion?

See this picture ... what's the problem?




The building is fully claded and near completion. The brickwalls are completed; the windows and doors are installed; what's left is the finishing touches and probably internal finishes. Probably, any external open areas that are at higher levels, and where workers and materials are being transported, there will be a need of some form of rigid and upright railings or hoardings to provide some form of retention and protection. Why do you still need the safety net around the full parameters of the building exterior, Mr. Reporter, of New Straits Times???

Look at another one below ...




This project is in Jalan Putramas, off Jalan Kuching, Sarawak. Again, the building is nearing completion and exterior of the building elevation are fully claded. The works outstanding is probably internal finished ... such as, floor rendering, tiling works, and internal doors and window panes.

So, is there a need for safety net around the exterior parameters? NO!

The problem here is that the railings have yet to be installed. So what is needed is a proper metal or wooden hoardings fixed at the position of the railings until the railings are installed. The netting along the railing areas are incorrect system. It should be something more rigid and firm and which can protect the workers who will be hoisting the building materials and working close to the proposed railing areas.

Mr. Reporters, please find out more about system for safety and health in construction project. Ask the relevant experts or experienced engineers, please!!!!

What the f**k is the cry of safety net? We need construction safety processes and risk management system in such projects. Not safety net per se.

Construction Risk or Certainty

What? A two-tons steel mould fall down from the sky & killed our Top-Gun Dr Liew?

You must be mad! How can it be so chun (coincidental)?

And, Malaysia has NOISH (National Occupational Institute for Safety and Health) and DOSH (Department of Safety and Health) to monitor the safety and health of works in Construction Projects?

And, the contractor is an ISO 9000 certified quality system?

Ya, ISO is about documentation, proper signages and consistency - consistently failing; and you are qualified!

And, there is a Safety and Health Officer (SHO) in-charge of the works and he is certified by NOISH?

Ya, SHO is in-charge to make sure workers wear safety boots and safety helmet. But that one is a two ton, 3m x 3m steel mould; so nothing to do with SHO. His duty now is to make police report and file in a Non-Conformity Report. That's all his duty!

How can that piece fall down from the sky? Is it because the tower crane is hoisting it from the central lift-core?

The Star picture show it falls from the window.

How can that be? Well, you asked the Star reporter lah!

And, hell, that man killed is Khairy's partner from Ethos Consulting? You know, that's the Prime Minister's son-out-law's partner?

No more lah! Last time only!

Oh, No! It killed that china-men who is connected to:

(1) Khairy (PM son-in-law),
(2) Ahmad Zaki Zahid (Head of Policy Unit in the Prime Minister’s office), and,
(3) Omar Mustapha (special assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister).

Wow, the china-men must be a great man. How is it that he can have the PM and DPM all inside his pocket?

What, inside his pocket? You also stupid. He is only the stuntman actor; the king maker is behind the curtain.

How can it be? You talk like Hollywood?

Well, because in Malaysia, we have the New Economic Policy (NEP)!

What do you mean? I thought we have Malay Agenda?

Same, same lah!

But I thought, NEP is to ensure the 30% equity of Bumiputera participation in the economic cake distribution, and not for China-men!

Ya, but Bumis who wants to be businessmen or entreprenuer cannot get the cake. These genuine Kampung Bumi bizmen only have the guts and courage, but without the power and influence. Those who had power and influence to partake the cake are not businessmen; they are politicians and cronies. So they get someone whom they trust will make the profits for them, while they spent their time carrying balls and currying flavour of the oligarch.

So, why don't they get fella Bumis to run their business? That way, Bumi power, Bumi Bizmen, isn't it better for NEP?

No, cannot! Bumi cannot trust another Bumi. You see, Bumi only trust China-men because this chinamen partner are skillful in business management and have good business entertainment. They can go karaoke and clubs; Bumi cannot. Furthermore, they won't eat their partners. Bumis Bizmen are afraid that their partners will eat their own partners. Dog eat dog; knife and dagger partnership. More important, the chinamen always need their Bumi partner more than anything else in order to succeed, so they will behave and treat their Bumi partner like Sultan; sometimes like Agong; oh sorry, like chinese emperors - feeding them food, drinks, and massaging them. Sometime, make available something shok for their emperor - cannot tell you that!

How do they behave? Well, when the Bumi wants cash to pay for a new BMW, Bungalow and four wifes and 4 girlfriends, the chinamen partner will issue cash cheque to pay for all the expenses plus pocket money. And, the cheque is issued within seconds, worst case, is one day. If Bumi asked their Bumi partners, they asked a lot of question, why, why, why, and then issue cheque in 30 days, macam bayar creditors (like paying creditors).

Chinamen don't have 4 wifes are?

No, they have 1 wife, 3 concubine, and 7 sleeping maids. Chinamen only drink milk; they won't buy a cow in order to drink milk!

How is this Dr Liew Boon Horng? Is he smart?

Oh ya! He has double degree from Cambridge U - both also first class honour - in electrical and information science and also got Master Degree. He completed his PhD at the same university in engineering.

Wow, so smart ah? Sayang lah, die so young?

Ya lah, he is only 35, and his wife also badly damaged by the steel mould; she is in ICU.

Eh, he died, so how is his wealth? I heard he is also a proxy holder for the men-in-black?

Don't know! But in Malaysia, every successful young chinamen is some UMNO-boss proxy. So, I don't know how their bosses are going to get their money back. They cannot sue, so how?

I also don't know. I can only remember when Tan Sri Yahaya and his wife died, there are 6 mercedes benz (single digit number plate) of VIP parking outside his house to negotiate with his daughter and to get her sign some letters signed.

What letters?

Cannot tell you!

Oh, that's why we heard of the DRB-HICOM power struggle between Salleh Sulong and Yatina. Something regarding the fact that Tan Sri Yahaya suppose to own 60% of DRB and finally, there was a letter to prove that the two-third (40%) of the 60% was held on trust for two others; that means he mathematically holds 20% only but the irony is, the loans Yahaya took from Tabung Haji (RM400 million) to pay for his 60%, was his absolute debt. Finally, Yatina found out that her father is worth less than RM20 million. Before Tan Sri Yahaya died, it was believed that he is worth some RM2 billion. What a big difference. That's corporate wayang in Malaysia.

Ok lah. Talk enough. Bye

CIDB MASTERPLAN

CIDB Masterplan

CIDB NOW HAS A MASTERPLAN TO SUCK MORE FOR A FEW

After 10 years of existence, we now hear something - A Masterplan. They don't have it before (I presumed). It is encouraging news to hear that CIDB is formulating a Masterplan for the development of the construction industry and it's sustainability towards 2020.

CIDB will be inviting the Presidents & CEOs of the companies involved in the industry to help lay down the final groundwork for the Masterplan at the one day meeting on the formulation of the masterplan.

"ONE DAY IS ENOUGH SIR, TO GET THE FEEDBACK AND STRATEGIES TO DRIVE THE MASTER TO PLAN."

“WE are addressing several issues on the development of the construction sector & its sustainability towards 2020,” says Datuk Hamzah Hasan, the CEO of CIDB.

“The Vision of the Masterplan is to make Malaysia among the best construction industry nations of the world,” he said.

Among the areas covered were sustainable flow of domestic projects, foreign markets and human resources.

Based on his statement and the one-day meeting with Industry captains, what do you figure will come good for the industry?

Before I could comment, lets look at CIDB reasons for existence.

CIDB's motto:
CIDB Malaysia-
Understand The Past,
Conquer The Present,
Shape The Future.


The enactment of the ACT 520 [Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia Act 1994] has paved the way for the empowerment of CIDB Malaysia to:

1) Create a climate for a more vigorous development in the Construction Industry
2) Carry out its functions as the enabling authority to help Construction Industry Players overcome bureaucratic obstacles
3) Play the role of facilitator by addressing the current and future needs of the Construction Industry.

Roles & Responsibility of CIDB:

1)Carrying out all activities in respect of the Construction Industry
2)Awarding certificates of proficiency
3)Establishing, expanding, promoting the establishment or expansion of companies, corporations or other bodies to carry out activities deemed requisite, advantageous or convenient for or in connection with the performance of its functions
4)Providing financial assistance in the form of loans or otherwise, to persons engaged in the Construction Industry for the purpose of promoting the Industry and providing any guarantees on their behalf
5)Imposing fees or any other charges as deemed fit for giving effect to any of its functions or powers
6)Receiving commission or payments in consideration of any services that may be rendered

REASONS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CIDB:

Prior to the establishment of CIDB Malaysia, the Construction Industry was a very segmented and fragmented one where various players were implementing and carrying out their own programs and activities without proper direction and guidance.
This situation has resulted in challenging issues that involved the:

1) Significant decline in construction quality
2) Acute shortage of skilled and unskilled labour, leading to an over-dependency on foreign labor
3) Lack of pertinent statistics and information required for planning, monitoring and decision-making

It was at this juncture, that the Federal Government acknowledged the need to fill a ‘vacuum’ in the Industry, which paved the way for the establishment of CIDB Malaysia as a regulated body entrusted with the responsibility of:

1) Coordinating the needs and wants of the Industry
2) Planning the direction of the Industry
3) Addressing the pertinent issues and problems faced by the Industry
4) Making recommendations in the formulation of policies for the Industry

To fulfill our (CIDB) Vision, 3 key areas have been identified:

1) Setting the stage for Industry Players to embrace new technology
2) Undertaking development and accreditation programs designed to improve construction quality delivery as well as competitive edge
3) Functioning as a gateway for Construction Industry Players to get involved in the international construction marketplace, with the aim of enabling them to earn leadership positions in overseas ventures and maintaining an open exchange of information with construction leaders worldwide.

To achieve our (CIDB)Vision, the 3 key areas have been translated to involve 4 main initiatives:

1) The development of quality services in Construction as a basis for maintaining and improving competitive edge
2) The focus on Construction Technology Development along the lines of new opportunities for innovation and cost effectiveness
3) A “Going Global” initiative that serves to promote and encourage the export of services and products
4) Continuing efforts in terms of reviewing and revising existing rules and policies with the aim of facilitating the development of the Industry

With a far-reaching view of facilitating the Construction Industry towards enhancing Construction business growth potential, CIDB believes that, to trigger development, there is a compelling need to change the way things are being done.
To facilitate that ‘change’, it is imperative to formulate CIDB’s Mission in the light of improving the overall climate of the Construction Industry, thus leading to improvement in standards, skills, technology, manpower and the overall Construction market.

CIDB’s Mission Statement states…

”Together we develop the Malaysian Construction Industry towards Global Competitiveness.”

CIDB'S CORE VALUES:

CIDB’s Value Proposition to the Construction Industry involves a 2-prong perspective –

The first revolves around our focus on relentless efforts on “Adding Value Where It Counts” and
The 2nd perspective encompasses the need to assist the Construction Industry to “Understand its Past, Conquer the Present and Shape the Future”.

CIDB’s objective is to

1) Develop the Construction Industry to be one of the major contributing sectors to the National Economy,
2) capable of producing and delivering high quality construction works,
3) value for money and being responsive to the Nation’s needs.

CIDB’s development framework is derived from the 11 functions:

1) to promote and stimulate the development, improvement and expansion of the construction industry
2) to advise and make recommendations to the Federal Government and the State Government on matters affecting or connected with the construction industry
3) to promote, stimulate and undertake research into any matter relating to the construction industry
4) to promote, stimulate and assist in the export of service relating to the construction industry
5) to provide consultancy and advisory services with respect to the construction industry
6) to promote quality assurance in the construction industry
7) to encourage the standardisation and improvement of construction techniques and materials
8) to initiate and maintain a construction industry information system
9) to provide, promote, review and coordinate training programmes organised by public and private construction training centres for skilled construction workers and construction site supervisors
10) to accredit and register contractors and to cancel, suspend or reinstate the registration of any registered contractor, and
11) to accredit and certify skilled construction workers and construction site supervisors.

These functions have been referenced as a basis for CIDB’s formulation of her corporate initiatives that in turn were translated into:

CIDB Helps The Construction Industry To Explore And Harnesss Overseas Opportunities

NOW LETS ANALYZE:

Has CIDB effort so far (for the last 9 years) be any near their Vision, Mission, Goals & Objectives that were spelt out within their system (as published in their web). CIDB’s contribution to the Construction Industry is demonstrated via…………????? other than the India projects for a selected few crony contractors at the expense of tens of thousands of contributing members? AND CIDB IS FOCUSED INTO THIS POINT OF CONTENTION - THAT IS - GO TO INDIA, SRI LANKA, SUDAN, ETC & GET JOBS FOR CONTRACTOR & EXTRACT MORE FEES FROM THEM (PLUS THEIR OWN POCKET)


ACT 520 was established by the government to paved the way for the empowerment of CIDB Malaysia to:

1) Create a climate for a more vigorous development in the Construction Industry

What is this that CIDB can claim that they have created an environment for a vigorous development in the construction industry? What are the deliverables to-date on the subject point and what have been measured so far, i.e. the key Performance Index?

2) Carry out its functions as the enabling authority to help Construction Industry Players overcome bureaucratic obstacles

3) Play the role of facilitator by addressing the current and future needs of the Construction Industry.


Did CIDB offered any helping hands to thousands of contractors who faced problems such as labor shortages, shortage of building materials such as steel bars, and the problems of labor shortage caused by the deportation of foreign workers by the Government in year 2000? What about the abandon projects and failed projects that affects the livelihood of those purchasers? CIDB collected hundreds of millions of ringgits from contractors of these property development projects and if the purchaser suffers, what has CIDB done to help them - did they talk to the bankers to help suspend the loans for a certain period, help cushion off that period of uncertainty, or initiate actions to restore the project and get it to completion? CIDB only collects money from these projects but contribute nothing to the projects and the stakeholders!!!!!


REASONS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CIDB:

The challenging issues as stated, and as the very reason of the existence of CIDB are:

1) Significant decline in construction quality
2) Acute shortage of skilled and unskilled labour, leading to an over-dependency on foreign labor
3) Lack of pertinent statistics and information required for planning, monitoring and decision-making

Out of the 3 areas, what have we achieve thus far? Look into the construction projects and see who are the workers today - basically 99% foreigners consisting of mostly Indonesians, Bangladeshis, Thais and Myanmars. Do we hear of any strategic action by CIDB on how to overcome our dependency on foreign labors? NAYs! Have CIDB build up statistics and information required for planning, monitoring and decision-making necessary to help contractors in tendering and estimating? If it is, there must be available database in the website for contractors info, such as:

1) What is the price of plywood in Perak, Selangor, Johor, Trengganu and how many types and standards are available locally? What have CIDB done to help make plywood more competitively priced? Did they set up agencies to help reduce the price of plywood?
2) What about timber? Each state has different timber price and availability?
3) What about steel bars? Did CIDB talk to Datuk Abu Sahid of Perwaja and get him to commit to supply steel bars to contractors who faced difficulties in getting them, which delayed project completion.

In the SMART Tunnel project, Bakun, SMART School, Computer Lab projects, Did CIDB help contractors to have the opportunity to participate in those project and when the computer lab projects was in trouble, what was the contribution of CIDB?

FUNDAMENTALLY, THE PROBLEM WITH CIDB IS NOT WHAT THEY CAN DO BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO!

Confucius says, "Till you admit that you know what don't not know, you will not achieve profound knowledge."

The Eleven functions set by CIDB that give rise to the formulation of her corporate initiatives which in turn were translated into: CIDB Helps The Construction Industry To Explore And Harnesss Overseas Opportunities - THAT WAS THE SOLE REASON WHICH DEFEAT THE VERY PURPOSE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION FOR SETTING UP CIDB IN 1994.

The first question CIDB should consider before putting up the Masterplan is:

"How are the contractors which consists of Class A to Class F plus those in the private sectors (all of them contribute 0.25% of the contract value to CIDB) - How is CIDB going to serve them? What are their needs, what are their weaknesses and what are their lack of knowledge and competencies? What about their financial problems caused by late payment, particularly of Government projects; can CIDB provide them with some financial credit or guarantees to help them get construction materials and pay their labor wages?

There are many Class F, E and Class D contractors, particularly those Bumiputera companies that need assistance in terms of technical expertise and technical informations, including Engineering design knowledge - what can CIDB do for them?

The Mission Statement of CIDB - ”Together we develop the Malaysian Construction Industry towards Global Competitiveness.” is too far fetch; it's more a Vicious Statement than a Mission; The Mission will not be achieve as it is made in DREAMLAND. Does CIDB understand what is Global Competitiveness? Can we compete with Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Thais? What can CIDB do to prepare the Malaysian contractors to have the competitive advantage over the other international players? What are the statistical datas that Malaysian contractors must know of their international counterparts? What is competitiveness - in terms of cost leadership, branding, uniqueness, product quality, service quality, efficiency, networking and relationship building, strategic partnership, etc? Do we have any measurement standards and benchmarks? Do we have CIDB to do research, regular and continuous research that keeps us inform? Does CIDB having collected Billions of ringgit have a full-time research team - what's the money for, what did they spent it on, where the money?


CIDB’s Value Proposition to the Construction Industry involves a 2-prong perspective – the first revolves around our focus on relentless efforts on “Adding Value Where It Counts” and the 2nd perspective encompasses the need to assist the Construction Industry to “Understand its Past, Conquer the Present and Shape the Future”.

IS THAT WHAT WAS CIDB'S CORE VALUES? ADDING VALUE WHERE IT COUNTS - WHAT VALUES? COLLECTING MONEY FROM CONTRACTORS; ISSUING GREEN CARD TO WORKERS FOR $250? WHAT ARE THE VALUES ADDED FOR THE CONTRACTORS, THE STAFFS & THE WORKERS? CONTRACTORS WHO SENT THEIR STAFFS FOR TRAINING WITH CIDB HAD TO PAY EACH TIME THEY ATTEND THOSE TRAINING - WHY, WHY, WHY? AREN'T THE 0.25% COLLECTION TO BE USED TO PROVIDE TRAINING?

UNDERSTAND OUR PAST (yea, we were weak contractors)
CONQUER THE PRESENT (yea, WE WERE CONQUERED BY CIDB'S GREED & PROFANITY! pay CIDB 0.25% and pay for the green card and training fees)
SHAPE THE FUTURE (Oh, no; got to pay for the Directors' trip overseas and their families and their pension; OH SHIT)

CIDB - THE INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT KINGMAKER

7th. June 2004 CIDB

CIDB FAILED TO SERVE IT'S PAYING CUSTOMERS

Every contractor, big or small has to contribute o.25% of their contract value to CIDB for each and every project they undertake.

Presumably, the contribution required is to finance the DEVELOPMENT & COMPETENCY PROGRAMMES to prepare the Malaysian contractors to achieve quality and efficiency in the field of project management and construction management and to nurture the contractors and the Malaysian construction industry players in general, such that they will be on par to international standards. CIDB was set up by the Mahathir's Government to lead the CHANGE & IMPROVEMENTS. At such, they are held responsible to lead and manage the construction industry in TOTAL.

All the last few years, CIDB had spent it's time and moneys (collected from all the contractors) to set their targets for projects in India, Sri Lanka, etc. This had benefitted some large international corporations such as IJM, Binapuri, Roadbuilders, MMC, Lankhorst, etc, etc. BUT what have all the other contractors benefitted from CIDB's international projects?????? The tens of thousands of paying Class 'F' contractors, Class - E, D, C, B, BX, and many Class 'A' contractors???? Each and everyone of the contractors are contributing to CIDB's coffers, paying for all the expenses incurred and the amount collected is in excess of billions of ringgits. WHAT HAVE CIDB DONE FOR THEM??????

Does Malaysia, particularly the construction sector needs the existence of CIDB? I have asked hundreds of contractors this questions and so far, everyone is affirmative that CIDB has developed into a parasite; a Hirudinea, a "Leech" and a "Pain-in-the ASS".

What has the Government done for the contractors, as far as CIDB is concerned? Why do they collect the hundreds of millions yearly so that they can go to INDIA & SRI LANKA? What has Datuk Hamzah done for CIDB and what has Tan Sri Wan Abdul Rahman (ex-JKR Director General, and now CIDB's Chairman) done to benefit the contractors in the industry, particularly the Class 'B' down to Class 'F' contractors? Some class 'A' contractors did benefit from CIDB (Indian & Sri Lanka projects) but many Class 'A' contractors are not getting anything from CIDB.

WILL PAK-LAH DO SOMETHING ABOUT CIDB & REVAMP THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION? WITH DUE RESPECT TO ALL THOSE IN CIDB, THEY DO NOT DESERVE ANY RESPECT FOR THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR THE INDUSTRY, EXCEPT TO SPENT ALL THE MONIES COLLECTED FOR THEIR TRIPS TO INDIA, SRI LANKA, ETC, ETC.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CONTRACTORS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND I CAN TESTIFY TO WHAT I'VE SAID!!!!! CHALLENGE ME!