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PAM names Dr M “Architect of the Nation”
PAM President’s Award 2015 for contribution to development of
Architecture and Nation Building.

THE PAM PRESIDENT’S AWARD is conferred to a non-architect
for his or her contribution to the development of architecture in the
country - past recipients have included YBhg Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok
(2010) and Sr Low Tian Seng (2009). At the PAM Council meeting
of 26th June, the decision was unanimous that the 2015 Award be
bestowed on no less a champion for architecture in Malaysia than
YAB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. For the record, this is the second
award from PAM to Malaysia’s fourth and longest-serving Prime
Minister, the first being an Honorary Membership back in 1985, for
his vision and support for local professionals to play an important
role in national development.
In a citation by Ar Haji Hajeeda Haji Abdul Majid, PAM Past
President 1985-1987, at an auspicious black-tie evening to celebrate
the event, he remarked that the vote for Tun Dr Mahathir is for
“exceptional services to the nation and for the physical and the
socio-environmental development of the country during his 22-year
tenure as Prime Minister of Malaysia, from 1981 to 2003.” Under his
stewardship as Chief Executive of the Government, he had “visualised
and structured” the 4th to 8th Malaysian Plans - “Vision 2020” was his
brainchild, Malaysia’s target to achieve fully-developed status.
Also, during his term of office, Tun Dr Mahathir has been
instrumental, through effective public-private collaboration, in
transforming “rural and urban built-up areas in the country that
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“Under the leadership of Tun Dr Mahathir, (we) saw the
transformation of our country from a mainly agricultural-based to
an industrial based economy…he not only shared his visions with
the whole country but he also showed the discipline and the hard
work needed to achieve the objectives…his first-hand and handson approach, from conceiving the idea and to actively monitoring
progress until the completion of the projects”
Ar Mohd Zulhemlee An, PAM President 2015-2016
“Tun Dr Mahathir’s brave decision and direction to brand the
country through epic developments and projects was not only
financially very profitable but also announced Malaysia to the world
with outstanding bravado and panache…his premiership has paved
the way well for us to export our architectural services abroad.”
Ar Sarly Adre Sarkum, PAM Council Member

surpassed achievements of other nations in the region” and inspired
local professionals to be “independent and actively participate” in
nation building. Some of the infrastructural and architectural works
that have fuelled development, and put Malaysia on the world map,
include the Petronas Twin Towers, the Administrative Capital of
Putrajaya, KLIA and other mega projects. Q