Balai Ikhtisas Malaysia

After having been involved in the BIM Executive Committee (EXCO) and the Board of Management since 1998, and held all the principal posts, I thought the next step to the Presidency would be plain sailing. Alas, it was not to be. There was a very tough competition. I remember this was the second time the post of BIM President was contested. The first was two years ago. The atmosphere was rather tense at the 35 th Annual General Meeting on 26 July 2008 as a contest was in the air. I was very grateful when the voting was over and thank all members present for having the confidence in me. I also wish to congratulate all the other office bearers for having been elected to the EXCO. Let us join hands to serve BIM the best we can.

A programme for the 2008/09 session was laid out last August. Projects will mostly surface in 2009. Looking back I had high hopes that 2008 would have seen considerable progress in our pursuit for a Professional Enclave, mooted three years ago and had the green light from our patron, the Prime Minister in 2006. The Standing Committee on this project will have to double-up their efforts this year.

We will take off this year with the BIM-Rotary International Integrity Night on 27 February. Our patron has been invited to grace the occasion and awards will be given to personalities of proven integrity. BIM is also involved as co-leader with PSDC for the Professional Services cluster in the Malaysian Services Exhibition (MSE 09) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 17-19 March 2009. This will be followed by our very first Professional Day on 25 April. With the support and participation from all member organisations and invited agencies, we are gathering speed and momentum in the preparation towards D-Day. A national conference is also being planned for June and/or November. And as usual our annual dinner will be in July. In between I am also planning to organize short one-day or half-day seminars or forum on current issues that can create the feeling of oneness and togetherness among member organisations befitting one of the main objectives of BIM when it was established in 1973.

While we welcome professional organizations to join us and make our voice heard and relevant, we were pleasantly surprised last August by the Ministry of International Trade and Industries (MITI) proposal that BIM should open up to the logistics and other service sector. In the wake of impelling globalisation and liberalisation , this call is timely, and the Board of Management has endorsed the proposal. The EXCO is now working towards realising this challenge.

I am also saddened by the tragedy befalling many people in Bukit Antarabangsa, Ampang on 6 December 2008. When a disaster such as this happens professionals involved in approving the building site and the construction of the houses will usually be among the first to get the blame. Queries like, why build here?; why no proper drainage?; why slope not re-enforced?; don’t you know that this area is meant only for water catchment (watershed)?; and many others have been asked. The latest ….. why is that there is no system here in Malaysia to monitor soil movement like in Hong Kong? The latter is supposed to be something like the tsunami monitoring system. Well, member professionals, all this culminates to the fact that all of us have to observe and be wary of resolutions such as that made at the Earth Summits, the Kyoto Protocol, and in particular regarding Agenda 21. We must learn to be more environmental friendly, and nurture harmony with Mother Nature. The public are still looking up at the professionals for the correct answers but, of course, political will in the decision-making will play the all important role.

May the New Year bring peace, happiness and prosperity to one and all.

Haron Abu Hassan
President
Balai Ikhtisas Malaysia (BIM)
Malaysian Professional Centre