Introduction to Board of

Engineers, Malaysia (BEM)

& Professional Bodies
Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 1

THE STRUCTURE OF ENGINEERING
ORGANIZATIONS IN MALAYSIA
• BEM
The Board of Engineers Malaysia
Lembaga Jurutera Malaysia (LJM)
http://www.bem.org.my/
• IEM
The Institution of Engineers Malaysia
Institusi Jurutera Malaysia (IJM)
http://www.iem.org.my/

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 2

 BEM and IEM
BEM IEM
-to facilitate the registration of engineers -IEM is a society established to promote
and regulate the professional conduct and and advance the Science and Profession
practice of registered engineers in order of Engineering in any or all its disciplines
to safeguard the safety and interest of the and to facilitate the exchange of
public. information and ideas related to
-BEM through the Engineering Engineering
Accreditation Council (EAC)* conducts
accreditation of engineering degree
programs offered by institutions of higher
learning within Malaysia.
-Provide workshop, course, seminar,
technical visit to increase competency
level for engineers
-Interviews and examinations to become
PE are being handled by IEM and
supervised by BEM

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 3

BOARD OF ENGINEERS (BEM)

[Act A1158] ‘Establishment of Board of Engineers’

Section 3
1. For the purposes of this Act there is hereby
established a board to be called “Board of
Engineers” which shall be a body corporate with
perpetual succession and a common seal and
which may sue and be sued.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 4

(2) The Board shall consist of the following members who
shall be Malaysian citizens and who are appointed by the
Minister:

a. a President who shall be a Professional Engineer;

b. not more than fourteen members who shall be

Professional Engineers, five of whom shall be from a
nomination list submitted by the Council of the Institution
of Engineers (Malaysia).

c. one member on the nomination of the Board of

Architects from among members of that Board established
under the Architects Act 1967; and

d. one member on the nomination of the Board of Quantity

Surveyors from among members of that Board established
under the Quantity Surveyors Act 1967.
Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 5
(3) The members of the Board referred to in paragraph 2(b) shall consist
of the following:

a. not more than five Professional Engineers who are in the

public service of the Federation;

b. not more than two Professional Engineers who are in the

service of any local authority or statutory authority;

c. not more than five Professional Engineers who are

employees, sole proprietors, partners or directors of an
engineering consultancy practice; and

d. not more than two Professional Engineers who are

employees of any person or body of persons, not being in
the public service of the Federation or in the service of
any local authority or statutory authority.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 6

Section 4 (1) The functions of the Board
shall be-

a. To keep and maintain the Register;

b. To approve or reject applications for registration under this Act

or to approve any such application subject to such conditions
or restrictions as it may deem fit to impose;

c. To order the issuance of a written warning or reprimand, the

imposition of a fine, suspension, cancellation, removal or
reinstatement in accordance with Parts III and IV;

d. To fix from time to time with the approval of the Minister the
scale of fees to be charged by registered Engineers and
Engineering consultancy practices for professional engineering
services rendered;
Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 7
e. To hear and determine disputes relating to professional conduct or
ethics of registered Engineers or to appoint a committee or arbitrator or
arbitrators to hear and determine such disputes;

i. to act as a stakeholder in a contract for professional

engineering services, when requested;
ii. to employ any person, as it deems necessary, to assist the
Board in carrying out its functions, powers and duties subject
to such terms and conditions as it may determine;
iii. to provide facilities for the promotion of learning and
education and to hold or cause to be held professional
development programs, including continuing professional
development programs, for registered engineers to further
enhance their knowledge in the latest developments relating
to that profession;
iv. to appoint a committee consisting of persons to be
determined by the Board, to conduct examinations or to
cause examinations to be conducted by an institution
recognized by the Board for the purpose of admission to the
profession;

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 8

v. to appoint any person to represent the Board in any committee, panel
or institution, where that person would subsequently make
recommendations to the Board on all matters regarding the qualifying
for admission to the profession;

vi. to appoint a body consisting of members from the Board, Professional

Engineers, and other persons as may be determined by the Board to
advise the Government and the public on matters relating to
engineering education, including the certification of such programs;

vii. To determine and regulate the conduct and ethics of the engineering
profession; and

viii. Generally, to do all such acts, matters and things as are necessary to
carry out the provisions of this Act.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 9

 BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Under the Section 15 of the Engineers’ Act 1967, the
Board may order the cancellation of the registration
of any engineer, if:
1. He is guilty of fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude;
2. The accepts of illicit commission;
3. Failed to disclose to his/her client any vested financial
interest in dealings with the client.
There are other grounds for de-registration but these
are not related to ethics

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 10

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 11
HISTORY OF IEM
• The story of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) begins with the
nation's independence. The Institution, born exactly 20 months after
Merdeka - on May 1, 1959 - has had a marked influence on the engineering
profession in the country.

• Back in 1951, the Building By-laws stated that only those who were
registered under the Architect’s Ordinance 1951, could submit plans to the
Local Authorities, but engineers are not allowed to submit building plan.
They are only allowed if they registered under Part II of the Architect’s
Ordinance, but this created unsatisfactory feeling. There was a strong need
for an Institution to cater the interest of engineers.

• From 1951-59, the activities of engineers were organized under the joint
group of ICE\IMechE\IEE. The Institution of Engineers was formed in 1959
with the objective of advancing the engineering profession. In order to
unite all engineers in the country, the Institution has been working towards
the registration of engineers since its establishment. In 1967, the
Engineer’s Act was passed with the provision that to register as a
Professional Engineer, one must first be a Corporate Member of the
Institution.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 12

HISTORY OF IEM
History of the Institution
• At first, to be granted admission to Corporate Membership, one needs
only to have five years working experience as an Engineer regardless of
what capacity. Later, the Constitution was amended and Professional
Interview was introduced. This was to ensure that only engineers having
the relevant experience would be admitted to Corporate Membership
and could register as a Professional Engineer.

• It has grown and matured with the nation and its people. It started out
with only 60 members. Over the past two and a half decades, its
membership has increased more than a hundred-fold to almost 15,000
today, making it one of the largest professional bodies in Malaysia.

• The close rapport between the IEM and the government has been
strengthened over the years. The tangible result of the Government's
recognition of IEM was when it accepted qualification for certain posts
in the civil service. Besides gaining Government backing, IEM also
received its first international recognition when it was admitted into the
Commonwealth Engineering Council in 1962.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 13

Function of IEM

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 14

 Objectives
The objectives and purposes of which the Institution is constituted are to
promote and advance the theory and practice of engineering in all its
disciplines and to:

• raise the character and status and advance the interests of the profession;
• increase the confidence of the community in the employment of
recognized engineers by admitting to the Institution only such persons who
have adequate knowledge of both the theory and practice of engineering.
• promote honest practice, prevent malpractice and settle disputed points of
practice and ethics;
• collect and disseminate engineering information;
• arrange lectures, exhibitions and conferences, seminars, courses;
• encourage the study of engineering and improve the general and technical
knowledge of persons engaged in the profession;
• originate and promote improvements in legislation and its administration
by deputation, submissions and representations.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 15

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 16
Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 17
 ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS,
MALAYSIA (ACEM)

Introduction

• The ACEM is a non-profit limited company, incorporated under the

Companies’ Act in 1963. The affairs of the ACEM are governed by their
memorandum and articles of association.
• The main objective of ACEM is to promote the interests of all
Consulting Engineers and Consulting Engineering as a profession.
• The philosophy of ACEM is that the members should uphold high
principles and established themselves as an elite group of unbiased
professional engineers who can be trusted to give independent and
unbiased professional advice which is completely unfettered by the
possibility of conflicts of interest arising due to a Consulting Engineer’s
excessive involvement in business or other commercial ventures,
especially with his/her nature of work.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 18

 COMPLEMENTARY FUNCTIONS OF IEM,
BEM & ACEM CODE OF ETHICS

The three major Professional Engineering bodies to which engineers

may be affiliated are:
1. The Board of Engineers (BEM), which is a statutory body governed by
the Engineer’s Act 1967 and with which an Engineer must registered
before he/she can be employed or practice as an Engineer.
2. The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM). which is a learned
society registered under the Society’s Act. Membership is voluntary
but the professional standards set by IEM for membership are
accepted by BEM as qualifications for registration as a Professional
Engineer (PE). Most PE are IEM members.
3. The Association of Consulting Engineers, Malaysia (ACEM), is a non-
profit organization comprising of Consulting Engineers. Its objective is
to promote the interest of Consulting Engineering as a profession.
All the three bodies have their own Code of Ethics designed too suit
their specific requirement according to the objectives of each body
constituted.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 19

• BEM Code of Professional Conduct are amenable and have clear interpretation because of its
legal connotations and would be enforceable in law. Issues of morality and philosophy would
be ineffective in law since it is impossible to legislate moral or philosophical principles.
Therefore, the BEM code can distinguished between legal and illegal cases. BEM lays down
minimum baseline rules which are enforceable in law and must be observed by all engineers
registered under the Engineer’s Act.

• The IEM Regulations on Professional Conduct tend to be general because IEM members
comprise of various engineering disciplines, as well as types of professional employment and
businesses. IEM Code embraces many areas involving moral and philosophical considerations
including public safety & health, conservation of resources & environment, upgrading of
technology, engineers responsibility and the conduct of affairs between Engineer and
employees, clients and peers. There is a provision in the IEM by-laws that disciplinary cases are
referred to BEM for appropriate action.

• The ACEM Code is designed to order conduct of Consulting Engineers in areas like advertising
and promotion of works, fees and other remuneration, competition with other members,
submission of bids or proposals and related subject. ACEM members are bound to observe the
Codes of both BEM and IEM (if they are also IEM members) and details rules to govern the
conduct of Consulting Engineer’s business. The ACEM Code is designed to maintain strict
discipline amongst their members to ensure that they maintain their independent professional
status without excessive commercial involvement which may give rise to conflict of interest.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 20

 Do Engineers need Professional
Qualification?
Introduction
• In certain industry like accountancy and law, a lot of their
graduates seeks professional qualifications. They know
the importance of these qualifications for their future
career. However, in the engineering industry, this may not
be the case. The percentage of engineers with
professional qualifications remains low.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 21

 What is Professional Qualification?
• Professional qualification is a career-related qualification
which usually involve some years of practical training. If
PhD is considered as the epitome of the academic
qualification, Professional Qualification can be considered
as the epitome of the industrial qualification.

• Some examples of professional qualification in the

engineering industry are as follow:
 Professional Engineer (P.Eng), which is awarded by the
Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
 Chartered Engineer (CEng), which is awarded by the
Engineer Council UK

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 22

Why do we need professional qualification?
• In the engineering industry, the Clients usually require
senior engineers to have professional qualifications to run
their projects. This is to ensure the engineers have the right
attributes to complete their projects.

• Some of these attributes are as follow:

1. Good technical knowledge
2. Able to work independently without supervision
3. Able to manage a project and team
4. Able to communicate effectively
5. Care about HSE issues.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 23

 Why do we need professional qualification?
• With the above attributes, the Clients are confidence that the engineers
can complete their job to the right quality, on time and on budget. This
will help the engineers win more work when bidding for a new job.

• For those who just graduated, aiming for professional qualification can
help them trained for the above attributes. This will make them better
engineers for their future career. For engineers who have more than 7
years of experience, there is a high chance that they already have the
above attributes. They just need to make a small effort to convert their
experience to a professional qualification.

• In the oil and gas industry, not many Clients require their engineers to
have professional qualifications. However, during this low oil price
period, a professional qualification can be an important asset for us. It
may come to 'help' us when we least expected. It is akin like a spare tyre.
We usually do not need it most of the time while running a car. However,
when one of the tyres is punctured, the ‘spare’ tyre does make a
difference in continuing our journey.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 24

How to obtain a Professional Qualification?
• In the engineering industry, professional qualification can be
obtained by sitting for a professional engineering exam. The
exam is organized by engineering bodies like the Institution of
Civil Engineers (ICE) in the UK and the Institution of Engineers
Malaysia (IEM) in Malaysia. Their procedures are similar and
are listed below:
• First, the engineers need to gain sufficient experience in
technical design work, site work and managerial work. The
total experience should be at least 3 years.
• When the engineer is ready to sit for his exam, he/she needs
to submit experience report and technical report to the
engineering bodies
• The engineer then has to sit for an interview with their senior
peers. The interview will be based mainly on the submitted
reports.
• Following the interview, the engineer needs to sit for a written
examination. This can last about 2-3 hours, depending on the
engineering bodies that they applied to.
Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 25
 BEM and Two Tiers of Professional
Engineers
• BEM is a statutory body who are responsible in the registration of
engineers in Malaysia. They are the one who award the qualification
'Professional Engineer' to engineers who have met the
requirements.
• There are two tiers of Professional Engineers awarded by BEM – see
Table 1.

Table 1 – Two tiers of Professional Engineers in Malaysia

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 26

 BEM and Two Tiers of Professional
Engineers
• Both Tiers are considered as Qualified Professional
Engineer by BEM and will be awarded 'Ir.' and 'PEng'.
However, only Tier 2 can open their own consultancy
firm and submit drawings to local authorities. To
obtain Tier 2, applicants need to sit for additional
exam, which we will discuss further below.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 27

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 28
Step 1: Academic Requirements
• The first step on one’s journey to become professional
engineer is to obtained the necessary academic
requirements. The general rule is to obtain a 4-years
engineering degree from university in Washington Accord
countries such as Malaysia.
• For those who has degree qualification less than 4 years, or
awarded from university not in Washington Accord, they
may need to ‘top-up’ their degree qualification with a
Master degree. The best way to find this out by contacting
BEM.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 29

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 30
Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 31
Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 32
Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 33
Step 2: Graduate Registration with BEM
• After receiving your graduate degree, the next step is to
register with BEM as Graduate Engineer. This is
important as you need 3 years of experience from the
graduate registration date before you can sit for your
Professional Tier-1 Exam.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 34

Step 3: Engineering Training
• The next step is to obtain a minimum 3 years of working
experience. This include a minimum 1 year working in
Malaysia. On top of that, the graduate engineer also requires to
achieve minimum design and site experience. The minimum
duration varies depending the candidate’s engineering field (see
Table 2 ).

Table 2 – Minimum design and site experience

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 35
Step 4: Professional Exam – Tier 1
• After obtaining all the necessary experience, the graduate
is ready to sit for the Tier 1 exam. There are 3 exam routes:
• Route 1: Professional Assessment Exam (PAE) organized by
BEM
• Route 2: Professional Interview (PI) organized by Institution
of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)
• Route 3: Professional Engineering Exam by Oversea Body
like the Institution of Civil Engineers UK (ICE) or Engineering
Australia.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 36

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 37
Step 5: Professional Registration – Tier 1
• After passing the Tier-1 exam, the graduate can apply for
Professional Engineer registration with BEM. Upon successful,
the engineer will be awarded Tier-1 Professional Qualification.
He/She can use the title ‘Ir’, and ‘PEng’.
• As a Tier 1 Professional Engineer, he/she needs to record 25
hrs continuous professional development (CPD) every year.
This can include self-study, on the job training or attending
lectures / training courses.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 38

Step 6 – Professional Exam – Tier 2
• If the engineers interested to open an engineering practice, he
needs to obtain the Tier 2 qualification. To get this, he needs to sit
for the Tier 2 exam which is called for Professional Competency
Exam (PCE). The format of the exam is shown in Table 4.

Table 4 – Format of PCE Exam

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 39
Step 7 – Professional Registration – Tier 2

• After passing the Tier-2 exam, the graduate can apply for
Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate (PEPC) with
BEM. As a Tier 2 Professional Engineer, he/she needs to
record 50 hrs continuous professional development (CPD)
every year.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 40

 Conclusions
• The main Professional Engineering Bodies in Malaysia are
Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Institution of
Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Association of Consulting
Engineers Malaysia (ACEM)

• The Professional Engineering Bodies is established to

enhance professionalism and promote moral values in all
Malaysian Engineers

• There are three routes to obtain professional engineering

qualification in Malaysia. Each route has its own pros and
cons. To understand them, it is best if you discuss with
those who have been through these routes.

Prepared by: Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Tan Chou Yong 41