Malaysia 2016
During the winter break of the 2015 - 2016 academic year, the GLCM team embarked for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The purpose of this trip was to gain hands on experience and learn about the unique challenges and opportunities that were present in the local construction market.
Over the course of the week, the group met with international companies such as AECOM, Fluor, Turner & Townsend, and Turner International as well as local stakeholders including Gamuda, IJM, and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). They also visited the construction sites of some notable infrastructure projects in Kuala Lumpur like Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations, The Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur, and the River of Life.
Site visit in Kuala Lumpur
Flour: Meeting with regional manager
The team commenced their week with a visit to AECOM’s regional office in Kuala Lumpur where they discussed the ongoing construction of the Mass Rapid Transit system, consisting of three lines within the greater Kuala Lumpur conurbation. This was followed by a site visit to one of the MRT stations, where they witnessed construction activities and interacted with onsite workers.
MRT Station field Visit with Gamuda
Gamuda: Office visit
Next, the team visited the construction site of the River of Life, a restoration project of the Klang River running through the capital city. This site visit was also facilitated by AECOM as they were a delivery partner in this project.
After these two site visits, the GLCM team visited the regional offices of Turner & Townsend, Atkins, and Fluor where they discussed various topics with a focus on the primary factors impacting the industry including skilled labor shortages, poor health & safety policies, and impediments to technological adoption. One of the main highlights of the trip was the site visit to the under-construction Ritz Carlton hotel with Turner International. The sheer grandeur and level of detail that went into this luxury project were certainly world class.
CIDB: Meeting with government executives
Atkins: Meeting with regional manager
Following a site visit to another MRT station with Gamuda, a local company, the team met with government officials from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). The discussion was focused around the government’s role in the ongoing infrastructure projects, policy changes, strong public investment, and the country’s advantageous location within the Southeast Asia region.
