Opportunities and
Challenges faced by
Professional Engineers
in Mega Infrastructure
Projects
By Ir. Dr Tan Yean Chin
COVER FEATURE
As our country progresses towards
developed nation status, there will be an
influx of mega infrastructure projects.
Most of these mega infrastructure projects will
be integrated engineering in nature and may not
fit the conventional contract process of detailed
design carried out by an Engineering Consultant
engaged by the Project Owner or Client, followed
by a tender/award and finally, the Contractor
in charge of carrying out the construction and
commissioning. Instead, most of these mega
infrastructure projects will be design and build
(D&B) or turnkey contracts, with the Contractor
awarded the project being responsible for both
the detailed design and construction. These
“integrated engineering projects” will involve
professionals from many different disciplines.
For example, finance, accounting, project
management, architectural and engineering input
from engineers of different disciplines including
contractors, tradesmen, etc.
Some of the major integrated engineering
infrastructure projects in Malaysia in which the
author was involved are as follow:
1. Electric Train Service (ETS) which was
originally called the Electrified Double Track
Railway project from Ipoh to Padang Besar.
2. Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Line 1
(KVMRT1): Sungai Buloh–Kajang (SBK Line)
which is 51km long.
3. Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Line
2 (KVMRT2): Sungai Buloh–Serdang–
Putrajaya (SSP Line) which is 52.1km long.
4. International Airports (e.g. Kota Kinabalu,
KLIA2)
The author wishes to share his experiences
regarding the opportunities and challenges faced
as a Professional Engineer with a Practising
Certificate (PEPC) who has designed, endorsed
and supervised the geotechnical and underground
works for the KVMRT2 – SSP Line project. It is by
no means that the author claims to have overall
knowledge nor can he cover all the aspects of
integrated engineering projects. The intention is
solely to share his own experiences as a PEPC
of the Engineering Consultancy Practice (ECP)
engaged for the projects.
Opportunities and Challenges in Mega
Infrastructure Projects
The experiences gained by a PEPC working on
mega infrastructure projects include:
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