KUALA TERENGGANU: Architects in the east coast states are losing billions of ringgit in business opportunities without a united front to represent their interests.
Highlighting their plight, Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) council member Datuk Maurice Wee Beng Teck said those in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang were usually unsuccessful when it comes to securing mega contracts.
“The PAM charter requires a minimum of 30 architect firms to form a chapter. Terengganu hardly has ten firms. So do Kelantan and Pahang, respectively.
“The way forward is for these three to form a collective chapter representing the East Coast Peninsular states, especially for bumiputera architects.
“That way, they will have a bigger and stronger representation to make a stake for large contracts,” he said.
He cited how architects in Terengganu had lost out in securing deals to build the sultan’s royal palace, Istana Syarqiyyah in Bukit Chendering, reportedly to Bill Bensley’s Thailand-based company for about RM1 billion.
More recently, Bina Puri Holdings Bhd reportedly won the bid to build the estimated RM400 million five-star Movenpick Spa Resort in Chendering beach by late next year. He said a Singapore architect was involved in the hotel project.
Veteran architect Wee said this after giving a motivational presentation for representatives of architect firms, local authorities and agencies in the region, at the Tanjung Vista Hotel.
Wee said most mega projects were grabbed either by firms in the Klang Valley or from overseas owing to their better track record.
“How are the local east coast peninsular state firms going to gain exposure and secure jobs for their people if they do not win bids?
“Now with impending huge projects like the East Coast Rail Link and others coming up, they have to buck up to remain competitive and forceful,” said Wee, who also has a firm in Jalan Sultan ismail in the heart of Kuala Terengganu.
Otherwise, Wee added, architects in east coast peninsular states would continue to remain inconspicous and make do with only small and private projects.
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