Kota Kinabalu: The Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) Sabah Branch hosted a high-level technical sharing session, which serves as a vital bridge between engineering practitioners and the authorities who shape industry standards, here, on Friday.
The engagement featured key guest speakers, including DBKK Engineering Department Director Saiman Angak, DBKK Traffic and Transport Department Director Hana’aifah Suhaili and Department of Occupational safety and Health (DOSH) Sabah Director Zulkifly Sulaiman.
The event saw overwhelming participation from both ACEM members and non-member practitioners.
This two-way interaction resulted in a highly productive outcome, with an open dialogue centred on sharing practical challenges to improve the efficiency of the approval process and reduce project turnaround times without compromising safety or quality.
A primary focus of the session was achieving clarity on essential engineering submissions to DBKK, specifically regarding Earthwork, Drainage, Traffic Site Plans (TSP), Mechanical & Electrical plans as well as Structural plans.
By aligning with the latest requirements and protocols, ACEM Sabah aims to ensure that all practitioners are fully equipped to meet current submission requirements efficiently.
The discussion also highlighted the critical importance of the Construction Design Management (CDM) Regulations 2024, which came into operation on 1 June 2024, as emphasised by DOSH Sabah.
ACEM Sabah highlighted that for modern engineers, the priority is integrating safety directly into the design phase to protect lives and streamline project execution.
Furthermore, the session also addressed the 2022 revision of the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) Sabah, with Ir. Lee Tet Fon leading the discussion on the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) to ensure all building safety standards are strictly met within the latest legal frameworks.
“All members should use this rare forum to seek specific clarifications for their active projects, as direct interaction with department directors is essential for navigating the increasingly complex regulatory landscape in Kota Kinabalu,” its Chairman Ir Benny Song urged.
Looking ahead, ACEM Sabah remains deeply committed to this collaborative approach. The association intends to continue this momentum by planning similar interactions with other key agencies, such as SESB, Jabatan Air Sabah, JPP Sabah, and DID Sabah, to further enhance the engineering ecosystem throughout the state.
