KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Engineering industry players have been reminded not to compromise on safety merely to pursue profits or control project costs.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that while cost control and profits are important elements in business, human lives and safety cannot be compromised.
“Cost control and profits are indeed important to the industry, but never compromise on safety. Costs can be calculated, but human lives and safety are priceless,” he said.
He said this when officiating the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) 2026 Awards and Appreciation Ceremony here tonight.
The event, held in conjunction with the 54th anniversary of BEM’s establishment, featured five main award categories covering youth innovation, project excellence, international achievements, as well as leadership and legacy in the field.
At the ceremony, Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) adviser Datuk Seri Ir Dr Judin Abdul Karim was named the recipient of the 2026 National Engineering Figure Award.
The 2026 Young National Engineering Figure Award went to Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) Chemical Engineering Department Associate Professor, Ir Dr Serene Lock Sow Mun.
As a token of appreciation for supporting information dissemination and raising public awareness, BEM also presented Special Recognition Awards to eight local media organisations, including the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
The Special Recognition Award was received by Bernama Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.
At the same time, Nanta urged the engineering community to be more proactive in sharing their success stories and innovations with the public so that the true value of the profession could be better understood.
He called on local engineering experts to be bolder in exploring opportunities and taking Malaysian professional services to the international stage.
“We already have the expertise and experience. Now, we need to be bolder in bringing Malaysian engineering professional services to international markets. ASEAN, Asia, the Middle East and global markets should be viewed as growth opportunities for the country’s engineering expertise,” he said.
-- BERNAMA