KUALA LUMPUR: The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), in collaboration with the Works Ministry, has signed the Sustainable Infrastructure in Malaysia Pledge to reduce environmental damage and the maintenance cost of buildings.

CIDB chief executive Datuk Seri Judin Abdul Karim said the pledge was conceptualised in the wake of the December floods that caused massive losses in five states, with Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang affected the most by the disaster, followed by Perak, Perlis and Sabah.

Judin said 13 organisations are involved in the collaboration. They are CIDB, Public Works Department, Malaysian Highway Authority, Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd, Arcadis Projeks Sdn Bhd, CIDB Holdings Sdn Bhd, Ekovest Bhd, IJM Construction Sdn Bhd, Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, Prof Dr S N Pollalis Inc, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Universiti Teknologi Mara.

The organisations have pledged to work towards enhancing the sustainability and resilience of the country’s built environment.

The Sustainable Infrastructure in Malaysia Pledge signing was held in conjunction with a seminar titled “Ensuring Climate Resilience of Buildings and Infrastructure towards Sustainable Infrastructure” at the Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said in his keynote address that lessons can be learnt from the floods by identifying flaws in infrastructure and how to remedy them in preparation for future calamities.

“This is vital to our rescue, relief and rebuilding efforts. It is important for countries to begin planning, designing, constructing and operating sustainable and resilient buildings and infrastructure.

“There is ample evidence to suggest that in the years to come, the world will experience higher temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and frequent extreme weather. 

The seminar discussed Hurricane Katrina case studies and how to improve building and infrastructure resilience through radar and satellite.

More than 200 people took part in the CIDB-organised seminar. They included speakers from Germany, Japan and the United States with expertise in rebuilding towns and cities devastated by disasters.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 10, 2015.