Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Professional Engineers who register benefits from the achievement and self esteem
of meeting Malaysia and international standards for knowledge and experience.
Whether specified in job advertisements or not, registration as a professional gives
an edge to candidates who have it. Registration links the engineer into a professional
Institution, assessed by the Board of Engineers Malaysia as capable of providing
comprehensive professional development guidance and opportunities, with a regular
magazine to assist in this, and many opportunities to network with colleagues with
similar professional interests. It also keeps them abreast of job opportunities, and is
a regular reminder of their professional standing and the obligations they owe to
society.
Competency
Commitment
There are five generic areas of competence and commitment for all
registrants, broadly covering:
The purpose of the interview is to confirm that you have attained the necessary
competences. To this end, the interviewers make a holistic assessment of your
professional competence and give you an opportunity to expand on the information
in your application. They will also clarify any outstanding issues and give you the
opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to the profession.
Question 1
1. A member shall inform his employer in writing of any conflict between his
personal interest and faithful service to his employer.
2. A member shall at all times take care to ensure that his work and the products of
his work constitute no avoidable danger of death or injury or ill health to any person.
Question 2.
You are assigned by your employer to prospect an area for an extractable mineral(s).
However, in the course of your work, you discover no such object mineral(s) but
some other valuable mineral(s) which is your employer is (are) not interested.
On the other hand, the information which you have is of great importance to the
adjoining interest. As an engineer are you allowed to release the particular
information which you have to the other party so that the other valuable mineral(s)
may be explored. Please discuss taking into consideration provisions of the IEM
Regulations on Professional Conduct .
1. A member shall not improperly disclose any information concerning the business
of his employer or of any past employer.
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Question 3-1
Question 3-2
“It is the responsibility of every engineer to give the highest regard to his profession
and conduct himself with integrity when executing his task”. Discuss this statement
in detail within the context of the Malaysian environment.
Suggested Answer:
The roles of engineers are respectively wide. Amongst the major responsibilities for
engineers are design, construction supervision, consultation, project procurement,
commissioning and management etc. Engineers are responsible to give the highest
regard to his profession and conduct himself with integrity when executing his task.
For example a good design solution would have to include two important aspects
namely design adequacy and cost effectiveness. In addition, engineers have
obligation to generate design solutions that are environmental friendly at the same
time meeting the demanding requirements of client. Engineers have a duty of care to
the environment, society and to their valuable customers or clients. They would have
to generate design that fulfills the design clauses in the engineering codes of design,
meeting the requirements by the various Governmental Departments and
incorporate design solutions that are environmental friendly which induce minimum
negative impacts to the surrounding environment and society. Besides, engineers
would have to take into consideration the cost implication of their design solution to
their clients. This has caused great dilemma in engineers, as they have to balance
cost implication of the design solution with other factors such as quality, efficiency
and various socio-economy factors.
However, in some cases especially in developing country like Malaysia, clients have
a different mindset from that of the engineers. Clients are more concern about the
cost implication of the generated design solution; they are more interested in design
solution that is cost effective and yet fulfil the minimum design requirements by the
Government. In this respect, clients would normally opt for design solutions that are
cost effective, and stays within their budget.
Some clients would incorporate project budget that is far inadequate which requires
the engineers to sacrifice the quality and long-term efficiencies aspects in their
design solution. This has obviously contradicted with the engineers’ interests of
incorporating optimum design that would guarantee long-term efficiencies and easy
maintenance. In addition, a not-up-to the standards design solution with an
associated lower construction cost would obviously mean that the engineer would
be getting a much lesser consultation fees in view that the engineering fees are
normally proportional to the cost expenditure of the project. However these two
factors, namely the cost factors and quality are normally indirectly proportional to
one another. This has made the engineers’ life extremely tough and difficult.
Engineers are constantly wondering if they should go for expensive design solution
that would definitely give both long-term efficient operations and maintenance and
most importantly getting a higher professional fees, or go for an ‘ok’ design solution
that might not be able to guarantee the quality aspects of the project and yet getting
a lower professional fees.
Question 4
Suggested Answer:
Yes, I do. Let’s begin by the definition of “Professional”. Professional person is one
who engages in an activity that requires a specialised & comprehensive education,
and is motivated by a strong desire to serve humanity. Professional thinks & acts in
a manner that brings favour upon the individual & the entire profession. Professional,
besides technically competent, shall have a positive attitude toward life that is
continually reinforced by educational accomplishments & professional service.
Ethics means something more than “law” and “morals”; it carries an additional
connotation of “rightness”. The Code, therefore, is not a list of rules to govern every
problem of conduct, nor is it a broad statement of ideals. It is a statement of the
principles of “rightness”, of broad scope, and with enough detail to enable an
intelligent man to deduce for himself the course of his own professional conduct.
The essence of all professional codes is that the professional man must be worthy,
through his conduct, of the trust placed in him by the community and by colleagues.
This gives rise to a universal rule of life for every engineer who spires to true
professional status: to act in every situation in a manner that will add to the
confidence and esteem in which his profession is held by the community.
Question 5
The IEM Regulations on Professional Conduct speaks against active self promotion
and advertisement. In what ways would such restraint enhance the stature of
engineers as professionals? More importantly, given the advent of the information
technology age where virtual reality is becoming the norm, how would any violation
of the IEM Regulations on Professional Conduct be detected and dealt with?
Suggested Answer:
Engineering has been regarded as one of the greatest professions on earth that has
contributed in various positive impacts to the society and country. However, misuse
of professional knowledge or adoption of bad would incur various negative social
illnesses to society and country. One of the most profound social illnesses that has
been closely linked to the engineering profession is the wide spread of corruption or
unwise practices amongst certain group of engineers such as self promotion and
advertisement. IEM Regulations on Professional Conduct speaks against active self
promotion and advertisement. Self-promoting is unethical as typically large amount
of money will be used for promotion of in worse case the lobbying process. Those
costs could be effectively used to improve the existing system and could be spent
for multi- researches.
The Internet has emerged as a powerful tool for practitioners, professionals,
teachers and clients alike. In IEM context, not only does it allow engineers to gather
a wide range of information quickly, it’s also become a springboard for providing
engineering services, particularly to geographically isolated clients who would
otherwise go without. It is inexpensive, saves time, allows a lot of people to be well-
informed of the services provided. At this moment of time, the detection is only
when someone come across the advertisement of the services provided by the
engineers in the Internet. Those who discover this could either report it to IEM or
remain silent. If the person proceeds with the writing statement to IEM, IEM
disciplinary board will either suspend the membership or the person will be given a
warning. This process is a waste of energy and time. If all the engineers in Malaysia
could be embedded with the Code of Ethics, especially at the university level, I
believe the community will be served more equally in a professional way. The clients
should look for those self-promoting engineers in the Internet as non-compliance
person. Therefore public also need to be knowledgeable of the basic Professional
Conducts of engineers.
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Question 6
You are an engineer and it is known that your project activities/ plant
production had caused an adverse health, safety and/or environmental (HSE)
impact. To improve the HSE quality, you have to cease your project
activities/plant production for a period, resulting in the inability to meet the schedule
and targets.
How would you handle in a situation where there is a conflict between the IEM’s
Regulations on Professional Conduct and commercial consideration?
A member shall at all times take care to ensure that his work and the products of his
work constitute no avoidable danger of death or injury or ill health to any person.
Therefore, engineers should hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public. Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code shall report
thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when relevant, also to public
authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in furnishing such information
or assistance as may be required.
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Question 7
Suggested Answer:
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Question 8.
Suggested Answer:
1. Introduction
2.3 Checker
Apart from engaging a third party as ‘checker’ for the project, another effective
measure that has not been widely practised in Malaysia is to impose stiffer
penalties for those who committed wrongdoings such as unethical practices and
corruptions. The laws in Malaysia have been too lenient to the developers,
contractors and engineers. Stiffer penalties should be imposed to those who has
been found guilty of adopting unethical practices. Penalties such as heavy financial
penalties combined with imprisonment, revoke licence of developers, contractors or
engineers etc. could be enforced in order to prevent the widespread unethical
practices in the engineering industry.
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Question 9.
Suggested Answer:
As for contractors, they are also cost-conscious but their main interest is to
complete the project fast within the allocated time frame in order for them to claim
construction fees in soonest possible time. Consultant engineers however are more
concern about the quality of works of the construction activities. They are there to
ensure that the construction works are carried out in accordance to relevant
engineering codes and complying with international best practices. The different
interests in these parties have resulted in conflicts occurring between these parties
in a frequent basis.
Developers, contractors and consultant engineers would have to meet each other in
a more frequent basis to discuss as well as resolve construction issues in a speedy
manner. Very common, construction industry is flooded with various construction
issues and problems. However conflicts would occur if these issues were not being
resolved in a speedy manner. As a result, all parties must meet in a more frequent
basis in order to resolve necessary site problems without delay. This is important to
avoid any unnecessary conflicts from developing. In addition, all parties must ensure
that effective communication is taken place in order to minimize unnecessary
conflicts as a result of miscommunication.
Perhaps the most important measure to minimize conflict is to put yourself into
other people shoes. One would have to possess high self-awareness and be able to
understand the other’s parties concerns in order to gain respect in the society.
Developers, contractors and consultant engineers must try to understand the
responsibilities and obligations of one another respectively in order to minimize
unnecessary conflicts from occurring.
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Question 10.
Most projects are awarded on a competitive bidding basis. Supposing you had been
the designated engineer of one of the bidders which was not awarded the letter of
intent by the Client. You are then approached by the ‘winner’ to join the Consultant
Team. Should you accept the second appointment? If yes, describe the situations,
which might be seen as conflict of interests. If no, describe the reasons and/or
clear-cut situations why you should decline the second appointment.
Suggested Answer:
Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one
party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project,
unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties
Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
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Question 11.
Suggested Answer:
Science Courses- Science courses are another big component in our engineering
curriculum, particularly if student’s concentration is in an area like biological or
chemical engineering. Physics, chemistry and computer science are all important
aspects of an engineering program. Even if the student’s concentration is in civil
engineering, they will be expected to cover at least the introductory areas of
chemistry and physics. The computer sciences are often tailored to the specific
needs of the engineering curriculum, and they will probably find that proficiency in
this area will be very helpful to the rest of their studies.
General Studies Courses – Most four-year universities in the United States and
Japan want to ensure that their graduates are well-rounded and conversant in areas
apart from their specialization. As a result, their engineering curriculum will include
diverse classes like English composition, Japanese literature, economics,
anthropology, music appreciation and political science. I will revise these subjects
and compile them into General Subject in the first year and Engineering
Management in the final year.
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Question 12.
He shall not under any circumstances solicit advisory or consultative work, either
directly or by an agent, nor shall he pay, by commission or otherwise, any person
who may introduce clients to him.
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Question 13.
Assuming that you are the principal partner of a reputable engineering-based firm in
a small state in the country. Your family is very well reputed, respected and
influential, having lived and worked in the state for decades.
Other Question:
To discuss the roles and key challenges in the academic profession to ensure that
local university produces competent and responsible engineers. To identify
differences, if any between the local and oversea experiences.
Suggestion Answers:
Therefore in this era, the author integrate “a competent” and “a responsible” engineer
to a new nomenclature, i.e. Citizen Engineer. The book also explains a critical
transition of the engineering profession from technical focus to include social
responsibilities and business context. This shift has changed the very nature of
engineering as it is practiced today and as it must be taught in engineering degree
programs.
The traditional university restricted itself mainly to a close circle of professors and
students from the upper strata of society and lived in relative isolation. It produced
the elite of the nation, and society — so to speak — had to adopt to the elite.
Research was the privilege of the professors, determined to a large extent by
personal interests and their contacts among each other. Consequently, this
university lost contact with society until it was completely isolated and did not
understand the issues of its surroundings.
The key challenge that universities are facing is how to promote a culture of
continuous improvement and accountability. Students are not really motivated into
inventions any more these days. Most of them seem satisfied with what others have
invented. Students are more into computers communication rather than physically
see the lecturers. This therefore will deteriorate their basic important skill which is
oral communication. Universities need to minimize this trend by introducing more
society related projects such mentoring secondary school students to develop
micro-controllers etc.
When I was in Japan, I saw many collaboration works being carried out with the
industry. Laboratories received a lot of funds to do research. Nippon Telegraph and
Telephone (NTT) developed numbers of commercialized projects with University of
Tokyo. This trends need to be further discuss in the university for a better future.