LETTERS: The construction sector in the country is witnessing rapid growth, characterised by a surge in infrastructure projects, residential developments and commercial ventures.
The sheer scale of property stock is staggering. According to the Valuation and Property Services Department, it exceeded 7.5 million units last year.
It encompasses various categories, such as 6.2 million units of residential properties, 564,800 units of shops, 370,010 units of serviced apartments and numerous premises, including shopping centres, arcades, hypermarkets, office buildings, industrial properties
and hotels.
With such a vast array of properties, the demand for building maintenance and management is on the rise.
Despite this demand, issues concerning maintenance and management still persist.
Malaysia has long struggled with poor maintenance culture, and one of the contributing factors is the absence of a proper inventory system to catalog assets requiring maintenance.
Even when such systems are in place, owners often lack insight into the conditions and maintenance needs of their assets. Regular updates on the condition status of assets are imperative, achievable through building inspections or condition assessments.
These inspections play an important role in identifying necessary repairs and establishing budgets for asset maintenance, ultimately enabling effective maintenance planning.
The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) affirms that a building surveyor is authorised to inspect and assess building conditions, conduct risk assessments, diagnose defects and propose appropriate remedial actions.
Building surveyors are also tasked with preparing maintenance management programmes and overseeing assets, facilities and refurbishment works when necessary.
Consequently, their roles are indispensable to the ongoing development of the construction industry in Malaysia.
Unlike other construction-related professions, such as architects, quantity surveyors and town planners, the building surveyor profession in the country has yet to establish an act or professional board.
Consequently, public awareness and recognition of the importance of the building surveyor profession remains relatively low. Presently, there are only 1,404 members registered under the Building Surveying Division of RISM.
Therefore, it is imperative to establish the Building Surveyor Act and a Board of Building Surveyors in Malaysia.
Through regulatory measures, the government can mandate regular building inspections or condition assessments, paving the way for a new era of growth in the construction sector.
DR AU YONG CHEONG PENG
Head of Department of Building Surveying,
Faculty of Built Environment,
Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times