KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 13): The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) welcomed the tabbing of Budget 2027 while stressing that the success of the allocated investments must be evaluated by the quality, safety, reliability and sustainability of delivered infrastructure rather than mere expenditure.
In a press statement issued on Oct 10, the institution expressed support for the national budget focusing on national infrastructure, energy security, industrial development, digital transformation and human capital development.
Budget 2027 sets aside RM83 billion for federal development expenditure, which includes major investments in the national electricity grid, transportation, digital connectivity, flood mitigation, water supply and high-technology industries.
While welcoming initiatives such as the proposed RM2,500 monthly wage floor for graduates and semi-skilled workers and government-linked companies' RM3,400 living-wage benchmark, IEM stressed that greater emphasis is needed to attract, develop and retain engineering talent to support critical sectors like semiconductors, data centres and advanced manufacturing.
To ensure long-term competitiveness and public benefit, IEM put forward five key recommendations:
1. Strengthen engineering talent development and retention through competitive remuneration and specialised technical training programmes.
2. Prioritise quality, safety and life-cycle value in infrastructure development by enhancing project governance, technical supervision and quality assurance.
3. Enhance Malaysian engineering participation in strategic national projects, extending involvement to engineering design, technology development and project management.
4. Accelerate energy transition, digitalisation and engineering innovation, including the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Building Information Modelling (BIM).
5. Promote fair and competency-based engineering procurement that recognises professional competency and appropriate contractual risk allocation.
Aligning its commitment with IEM IMPACT 2030, the institution affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the government, industry and academia to advance engineering excellence.
"Malaysia’s future will be shaped not only by the investments we attract, but by the engineering capabilities we develop and the quality of infrastructure we deliver," IEM said.