TOKOH KEJURUTERAAN NEGARA 2023
Tan Sri Dato ’ Ir . Syed Muhammad Shahabuddin : ‘ Water ’ Engineering Champion
Tan Sri Dato ’ Ir . Syed Muhammad Shahabuddin ( Tan Sri ), 87 , is a well-respected ‘ Water ’ engineer due to his vast contributions to the development of water-related projects in the country . He has garnered admiration for his vast experience in the planning of water resources and water supply projects , drainage and irrigation projects and sewerage projects .
The Board of Engineers Malaysia ( BEM ) honours Tan Sri as a prominent leader in the engineering field , awarding him the Tokoh Kejuruteraan Negara 2023 . This is in recognition of his significant involvement in the engineering fraternity and his contribution in the water-related industry through the application of engineering solutions and policy making . BEM acknowledges Tan Sri ’ s leadership in initiating several reforms that enhanced the country ’ s water and sewerage services in the 1990s and 2000s . As President of the Malaysia Water Association ( MWA ) between 1994 and 2006 , Tan Sri is credited for his role on :
● Initiating the formation of Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara ( SPAN )
● Initiating several capacity development initiatives with Indah Water Consortium ( IWK ) and federal sewerage regulatory ( Sewarage Services Department / Jabatan Perkhidmatan Pembentungan ).
● Contributing to the Workshop discussion on the formation of Lembaga Urus Air Selangor in 1998 .
In the late 1980s , water supply in Malaysia had started to be a growing problem because water and wastewater infrastructure could not keep pace with the country ’ s economic development . A number of States were struggling with mounting debts due largely to low water tariffs .
Tan
Sri Dato ’ Ir . Syed Muhammad Shahabuddin is the recipient of the Tokoh Kejuruteraan Negara 2023 ( National Engineering Icon 2023 ).
MWA appealed to the Government for reform for water and sewerage services in 2002 , proposing that all State water authorities in Peninsular Malaysia to come under one body . It was not until April 2004 that the Minister of the newly formed Tenaga , Air dan Komunikasi ( KTAK ) agreed and pledged to transform the Water Services ‘ Industry ’ in Peninsular Malaysia in 3 years . The Suruhanraya Perkhidmatan Air Negara ( SPAN ) or National Water Services Commission was formed in 2007 . Tan Sri was appointed as a Board Member of SPAN and was involved in the formulation of policies governing water and wastewater services that relate to economic and technical regulations . SPAN is now the regulatory body for water supply and sewerage services in Peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Labuan .
In the wastewater sector , changes were needed as the sewerage systems in the country
TOKOH KEJURUTERAAN NEGARA 2023
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