Balai Ikhtisas Malaysia

BIM COLLABORATION WITH PSDC

It was a fruitful meeting on 16 November 2005 when PSDC's new president, Data' I. Dorairajoo and his four officers including Senior Vice President Mustazah Khalid and Vice President Nik Afifah Nik Mohd Adeeb visited BIM at Bangunan BIM in Damansara Utama.

BIM chairman, Hjh. UngkuAnna Binti Hj. Ungku Mohamed welcomed the PSDC delegation and noted that this meeting was a timely follow-up of the first one earlier in the year. She led a twelve strong BIM Exco members and a few past chairmen including Datuk Hj. Mohd Isahak Mohd Yusof, Mr T. Mahesan and Dr S. Vellayan.

The meeting attempted to resolve certain issues pertaining to miscommunication between PSDC and its 22 member institutions / organisations (of which 9 are members of BIM). Having similar objectives particularly regarding professional export services, Data' Dorairajoo called for BIM to work together with PSDC for the benefits of the professionals and the nation.

COLLABORATION

1. Communication with Professionals PSDC have communication problems with some professional institutions and requested BIM to provide assistance to resolve it as follows:
- More input required for liberalisation
- More response required in efforts to obtain information, statistics
- Efforts for capacity building are not well received
- More response required for opportunities of jobs abroad
- Inability to obtain data on capacity of professionals

2. Financing
The problem of financing was discussed where the professionals and
consultants faced difficulties in fulfilling the contract equirement. BIM proposed to establish the Professional Revolving Fund and is expecting PSDC to support the proposal. A joint committee was proposed to evaluate the mechanism of cooperation and its responsibilities.

3. Export of Professional Services
The government through PSDC has carried out the promotion of export
professional services. However, some benefits should be considered for the effort to participate especially in encouraging members of BIM to support PSDC. In reality, there are many problems encountered by the service providers when bidding for the job particularly regarding indemnity bond, etc. Who are going to underwrite those problems? Soft loans are required and what strategy to be adopted? EPU has to study on the relevance of the G to G relationship to resolve these pertinent issues.

4. Advertising of Services
The members elaborated on the limitation imposed on the advertising of services by the professional themselves in facing the challenges of globalisation and liberalisation of services. It was contented that this ruling on advertising limitation has to be changed in order to expedite export of services abroad, as it is very competitive out there and the need to perform excellently.

Among other matters discussed were Service Tax and GST, the Professional Enclave, the Professional Evening with the Prime Minister, and the offer to PSDC to rent Wisma BIM at Bandar Tun Razak. BIM member institutions that are not members of PSDC, as yet, are also advised to apply for membership so that PSDC can extend its services direct to them.

The meeting ended in high spirits and both agreed to meet regularly and to set up a task force to undertake relevant issues that need a common stand and immediately addressing, particularly regarding the
Professional Revolving Fund and the Professional Enclave.

The collaboration for a strategic alliance between BIM & PSDC will be a major agenda for the year 2006.