Bulletin Bulanan IJM JJUURRUUTTEERRAA THE MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, KDN PP 1050/02/2005 ISSN 0126-9909 BIL.2005 N0.01 JANUARY 2005

Oil and Gas Industry in Malaysia – An Overview

Malaysian Oil and Gas Engineering Consultants – Moving Forward

CONTENTS

DIMENSION PUBLISHING SDN. BHD. (449732-T) Unit No. 3A-10, Block F PRESIDENT’S CORNER Phileo Damansara 1, 9 Jalan 16/11 University-Industry Interaction : A Forgone Conclusion? ...... 4 Off Jalan Damansara, 46350 Darul Ehsan COVER STORY Tel : (603) 7955 5335 The Malaysian Oil and Gas Industry : An Overview ...... 8 Fax : (603) 7955 5773 Email : [email protected] FEATURES Malaysia as a Regional Hub for Oil and Gas Chairman Engineering Services ...... 14 ROBERT MEBRUER From Sailing The Sea to Surfing The Net ...... 18 Publisher Mining and Quarrying in Malaysia : The Industry PATRICK LEUNG and Education ...... 24 [email protected] The Blasting Dilemma...... 28 Editor RIDWIN G. CANDIAH COMMENT [email protected] IWRM : Empowering the Public ...... 34 Shaiky’s View ...... 44 General Sales Manager JESSIE LEE REPORT [email protected] Doing the Ditty Down Under : Institute of Engineers Senior Advertising Executive Singapore 38th Annual Dinner & Dance ...... 38 HASNIZAM BIN MOHAMAD Report on Two Day Conference on Geotechnical Engineering [email protected] Themed “Design & Construction of Pile Foundation : Senior Advertising Executive The Malaysian Experience” ...... 39 CHRISTHY WONG A Visit to KL Monorail System ...... 39 [email protected] Visit to Stepping Stones Homes ...... 41 IEM Branch : Blood Donation ...... 42 Graphic Designer Report on the GSM-IEM Forum : “The Role of Engineering EVELYN LIM Geology and Geotechnical Engineering in Construction Works” ...... 44 [email protected] Accounts Executive BLUE PAGES SHIRLEY THAM Membership ...... 1 [email protected] ANNOUNCEMENT For advertisement placements and subscriptions, IEM Training Centre Sdn Bhd ...... 2 please contact: IEM Diary ...... 3 IEM Branch Executive Committee 2004/2005 ...... 3 DIMENSION PUBLISHING SDN. BHD. Voting Papers for Council Election Session 2005/2006 ...... 3 Jurutera Wargamas Criteria ...... 4 BULETIN IEM Guidelines for an Engineer Taking Over the The Institution and Dimension are not responsible for any Work of Another ...... 4 statements made or opinions expressed by the writers or reporters in its publication. Route to be an Accredited Checkers ...... 6 The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit all articles APCChE Presidency now held by Malaysia, contributed for publication. 2006 Congress to be hosted by KL ...... 7 Jurutera Monthly Circulation: 15,000 copies REPORT READER’S CONTRIBUTION INVITED Factory visit to Terasaki (M) Sdn Bhd ...... 8 We invite members and others to submit comments Visit to CSF Computer Exchange, Cyberjaya ...... 8 and articles for publication in the Bulletin.

Please send your contribution to the Chief Editor, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia Bangunan Ingenieur, Lots 60 & 62, Jalan 52/4, Peti Surat 223 (Jalan Sultan), 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7968 4001/2 E-mail: [email protected] IEM Home Page: http://www.iem.org.my © 2005 The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia & Dimension Publishing Sdn. Bhd.

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3 JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 PRESIDENT’S CORNER

UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY INTERACTION : A Forgone Conclusion?

By : Ir. Prof. Abang Abdullah bin Abang Ali, IEM President

s a young Dean of Engineering away. There is also an annual It is as if we are unable to A in the early 80s, university- national level dialogue between excel in both. And yet in more industry interaction was my university leaders and captains of established universities abroad, favourite topic because I strongly industry chaired by the Minister of lecturers are successful researchers believe the university and the Education (now, Higher Learning) and are also able to stand tall industry were inseparable twins in on this issue. Unfortunately much amongst professional engineering the business of education and as we would like to see this close practitioners. They publish in order training of the country’s technical cooperation between universities not to perish in the university but at human resource. Prior to this and and the industry to develop and the same time are respected leaders almost immediately after my after some three decades of in their professional institutions. appointment as a lecturer, I was talking about it, it did not seem to They have journal papers as well myself spending 4 to 5 days a week work fully in Malaysia. Universities as major design achievements in industry as a design engineer in often say that the industry is hardly in practice. my effort to gain the necessary interested and the industry on the Striking a balance between practical or professional experience other hand appear to consider which is a necessary prerequisite to academic and professional excell- university lecturers and students building that important bridge to ence would not be too difficult if too academic to be of any good to the private sector. This was made there is close cooperation between their business. possible after proposing a With the recent renewed universities and the industry. professional training scheme for emphasis on research and Universities must through their engineering lecturers to the active involvement in R&D be able university council. As a dean I was development (R&D) in Malaysian to offer new knowledge and encouraging and indeed prodding universities, given the larger lecturers to work hard towards amount of R&D funds made technology to the industry and the building a good rapport with the available through the Intensification industry must be willing to come industry in order to expose them as of Research in Priority Areas forward to support teaching and well as their students to the realities (IRPA) programme, involvement R&D activities in the universities in the industry has gone further of the workplace. through endowments, chairs and to the back burners. The latest Paper after paper have been grants. Cooperation in innovation presented and deliberated on in craze in the universities is for and commercialisation activities is a major national and international journal papers, R&D achievement conferences and seminars on this medals and patents at the expense sure way forward. But then there issue over the years implying that of the highly elusive university- must be political will to make all this is one issue which will not fade industry interaction. these happen. I

We wish all IEM Members and Readers a HAPPY & PROSPEROUS CHINESE NEW YEAR

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 4 EDITORIAL JURUTERA Number 1 January 2005 IEM Registered on 1st May 1959

MAJLIS BAGI SESI 2004/2005 (IEM COUNCIL SESSION) YANG DIPERTUA / PRESIDENT: MALAYSIAN Ir. Prof. Abang Abdullah bin Abang Ali ENGINEERS AND THE TIMBALAN YANG DIPERTUA / DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Ir. Prof. Dr Ow Chee Sheng OIL & GAS INDUSTRY NAIB YANG DIPERTUA / VICE PRESIDENTS: Ir. P.E. Chong, Ir. Vincent Chen Kim Kieong, Ir. Chee Meng Sang, Ir. Mohd Aman bin Hj By : Ir. Dr Samad bin Solbai, Idris, Ir. Choo Kok Beng, Ir. Neoh Cheng Aik, Ir. Prof. Ishak bin Abdul Rahman Chairman, Oil, Gas & Mining Technical Division SETIAUSAHA KEHORMAT / HON. SECRETARY: Ir. Oon Chee Kheng hirty years ago the Malaysian Parliament passed the BENDAHARI KEHORMAT / HON. TREASURER: TPetroleum Development Act (1974) and laid down Ir. M.C. Hee the groundwork for the development of the oil & gas WAKIL STRUKTUR / STRUCTURAL REPRESENTATIVE: industry in the country. Since then the industry has Ir. David Ng Shiu Yuen developed to become one of our most important WAKIL AWAM / CIVIL REPRESENTATIVE: Ir. Gunasagaran a/l Krishnan economic sectors. It is also a sector which has taken WAKIL ELEKTRIK / ELECTRICAL REPRESENTATIVE: advantage of the most demanding, challenging and Ir. Dr Muhammad Fuad bin Abdullah exciting engineering and technological advances and WAKIL MEKANIK / MECHANICAL REPRESENTATIVE: therefore should be of great interest to engineers. Ir. Loh Lim Huat The country’s oil & gas industry has developed from WAKIL KIMIA & DISIPLIN LAIN / CHEMICAL & OTHERS REPRESENTATIVE: Ir. Ahmad Nordeen bin Mohd. Salleh mere production of crude for export to value-added COUNCIL MEMBERS: downstream production of commodity and engineering Ir. Dr Ahmad Suhaimi bin Abd Rahim, Ir. Prof. Madya Dr Ibrahim bin Kamaruddin, plastics, petrochemicals and fertilizers. Local engineers Ir. Assoc. Prof. Megat Johari bin Megat Mohd. Noor, Ir. Hj. Mohamad Ali bin Yusoff, Ir. Bahardin bin Baharom, Ir. Prof. Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Ir. Dr Wong Chin Chaw, have numerous opportunities to contribute to the Ir. Lee Weng Onn, Ir. Prof. Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir, Ir. Chin Mee Poon, various facets of the industry, from front-end engineering Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj Abdul Rashid bin Maidin, Ir. Tan Yean Chin, Ir. Peter Tan Hoh You, Ir. Kukanesan a/l Sakthiveil, Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Zamin bin Jumaat, design of oil production facilities to the design and Ir. Prof. Dr Amir Hashim bin Mohd Kassim, Ir. Dr Mohd Yusof bin Abdul Rahman, Ir. Adnan bin Zulkiple, Ir. David Lai Kong Phooi, Ir. Manogaran a/l K. Raman, construction of chemical plants. Ir. Hj Mohd Hassin @ Mohd Hashim bin Daud, Ir. Mohd Nizar bin Hassan, Despite these opportunities many of the local Ir. Assoc. Prof. Lt. Kol. Mohd Hazani bin Hj Shafie, Ir Mohd Rasid bin Osman, Ir. Prof. Dr Ruslan bin Hassan, Ir. Woo Ah Keong, Ir. Yeo Boon Kah, Ir. Yusouf bin engineering positions are still occupied by expatriates. Ahmad,Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Ir. Mohd Radzi bin Mansor, Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Datuk There are still relatively few truly-local companies (and Dr Ahmad Tajuddin bin Ali, Y. Bhg. Datuk Abdul Hadi bin Mohd Deros individual engineering specialists) which are directly BEKAS YANG DIPERTUA TERAKHIR / IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Ir. Dr Gue See Sew involved in areas like front-end conceptual and process BEKAS YANG DIPERTUA / PAST PRESIDENT: engineering design. Fortunately, the number is steadily Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Ir. (Dr) J. G. Daniel, Ir. Chiam Teong Tee, Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Pang Leong Hoon, increasing especially in detail design and management of Y. Bhg. Academician Dato’ Ir. Lee Yee Cheong, Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid bin Ahmad, Ir. Dr Ting Wen Hui, Ir. Hj Mohd Mazlan, Y. Bhg. Datuk Ir. (Dr) Hj. Ahmad Zaidee Laidin the construction of offshore oil & gas platforms and WAKIL CAWANGAN / BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES: petrochemical plants. In some of these areas Malaysian Pulau Pinang - Ir. Vincent Tan Huei Meng engineers have also successfully lend their expertise (as Selatan - Ir. Steve Chong Yoon On - Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj. Abdul Rahman bin Dahan expatriates) in other countries. Timur - Ir. Hj. Annies bin Md Ariff Perhaps the time has now arrived for IEM to address - Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj. Mohamad bin Husin - Ir. Hj. Jamil bin Ibrahim this issue directly and get into dialogues with oil Melaka - Ir. Hj. Abd Rahim bin Shamsudin companies like Petronas, Exxon-Mobil, Shell and - Y. Bhg. Datu Ir. Hubert Thian Chong Hui Sabah - Ir. Lee Tet Fon Murphy Oil in order to increase the awareness of oil & Miri - Ir. Dr Edwin Jong Nyon Tchan gas opportunities amongst local engineers. The main - - Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj. Abdullah bin Hj. Abbas objectives of such dialogues would be to promote the LEMBAGA PENGARANG / EDITORIAL BOARD: Ketua Pengarang / Chief Editor – Ir. Assoc. Prof. Megat Johari bin Megat Mohd. Noor services of Malaysian engineers and identify areas where Pengarang (Bulletin) / Bulletin Editor – Sdr. K.H. Man the Institution can play a role in enhancing and Pengarang (Jurnal) / Journal Editor – Ir. Mohd. Rasid bin Osman Setiausaha / Secretary – Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad complementing the local oil & gas industry. Ahli-Ahli / Committee Member – Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin, The oil & gas industry is multidisciplinary in nature. Prof. Dr Asbi bin Ali, Dr Chuah Teong Guan, Assoc. Prof. Dr Deepak Kumar Ghodgaonkar The input and contribution of every discipline of AHLI JAWATANKUASA PENERBITAN / STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS: engineering have significant roles to play in the industry. Pengerusi / Chairman: Ir. Chee Meng Sang Due to its unique requirements, the industry has Naib Pengerusi / Vice Chairman: Ir. Prof. Dr Ruslan bin Hassan Setiausaha / Secretary: Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad developed standards and practices almost at par with the Pengerusi (Perpustakaan) / Library Chairman: Dr Chuah Teong Guan high standards of requirements in aeronautics. Many of Ahli-Ahli / Committee Member: Ir. Chin Mee Poon, Ir. Mohd. Nizar bin Hassan, Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd. Zamin bin Jumaat, Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin, these standards and practices such as the selection of Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Amir Hashim bin Mohd. Kassim, Ir. Lim Eng Hwa, Ir. Low Ah Peng, Ir. Loh Lim Huat, Ir. Mah Soo, Ir. Look Keman bin Hj. Sahari, Ir. Assoc. Prof. Megat Johari materials and safety management will probably find bin Megat Mohd. Noor, Ir. Mohd. Rasid bin Osman, Sdr. K.H. Man, Prof. Dr Asbi bin Ali, their way into the general construction industry as the Sdr. Karthigesu Muniyandi. latter tries to meet the ever demanding public expectations. The same applies to quality assurance and THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA control in construction, non-destructive testing, Bangunan Ingenieur, Lots 60 & 62, Jalan 52/4, P.O. Box 223, (Jalan Sultan) 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. corrosion and welding practices – to name just a few. I Tel: 03-7968 4001/4002 Fax: 03-7957 7678 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: http://www.iem.org.my

5 JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005

COVER STORY

THE MALAYSIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY : An Overview

By : Ir. Razmahwata bin Mohamad Razalli

Introduction retains ownership and management sources all funds for all petroleum The Oil & Gas (O&G) industry has control in exploration, development operations. The Contractor receives seen no small amount of attention and production of oil resources. an entitlement through production. during recent months. One item Expenditure and profits are Each PSC may have different attracting attention is crude prices managed under instruments called terms and conditions. For example, rising above USD50 per barrel Production Sharing Contracts different time periods are allowed (0.159m3) and the simultaneous rise (PSCs). The Production Sharing for exploration of acreage, deve- of petrol prices due to reduction in Contractor assumes all risks and loping and installing infrastructure government subsidies. News of discoveries of new potentially producing fields has increased interest in O&G related stocks, whether in suppliers to the industry or oil refineries. To encourage and maintain this level of interest, IEM held a symposium in July 2004, attempting to put forward a forum where people outside the O&G industry could be exposed to issues within the industry. As a follow-up, this article attempts to present a basic picture of the oil and gas industry in Malaysia.

History of Production Sharing Contracts Figure 1 : Production Sharing Contractor Entitlement Petroleum exploration in Malaysia started at the beginning of the 20th century in Sarawak, where oil was first discovered in 1909 and first produced in 1910. Prior to 1975, petroleum concessions were granted by state governments, where oil companies have exclusive rights to explore and produce resources. The companies then paid royalties and taxes to the government. This state of affairs ceased on April 1, 1975 as a result of the Petroleum Development Act, whereby PETRONAS became the custodian of petroleum resources with rights to explore and produce Figure 2 : Historical Crude Oil Production (bbls : barrels per day. SB : Sabah contribution. resources. The national oil company SK : Sarawak Contribution, PM : Peninsular contribution.)

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COVER STORY

The O&G industry is involved in downstream activities as well. Here, ‘downstream’ means processes taking place after oil has been transported from the reservoir, and into crude oil terminals. Investment opportunities include processing and refining of the crude, petrochemical plants, logistics and retail transactions. Downstream has different players, and a more diverse range of interests. In oil refining, there are Petronas Penapisan (with plants in Terengganu and Melaka), Shell, ExxonMobil and Conoco. Petronas Figure 3: Historical Natural Gas Production Gas and MLNG are involved in gas to produce any hydrocarbons all O&G activities taking place processing and transmission. Gas discovered, and the actual prior to processing and refining distribution is handled by Gas production period. of hydrocarbons. Among the Malaysia. The retail arm has Malaysia has the 25th largest oil activities would be: many interests, including Petronas reserves and the 14th largest gas • Exploration: analysing and Dagangan, Shell, ExxonMobil reserves in the world. The total interpreting seismic data to and ConocoPhillips (under the reserves is of the order of 18.82 determine the potential of Projet brand). Petrochemicals billion barrels oil equivalent (boe), hydrocarbon reserves; drilling of have the most diverse range with a crude production rate of 600 test wells. of companies, including Optimal, thousand barrels per day. The • Conceptual development: per- BASF, BP, Amoco and Idemitsu. average natural gas production forming screening studies to stands at approximately 5.7 billion determine the most efficient and Challenges in the standard cubic feet per day. cost effective method to produce Upstream 2 Malaysia has 494,183km of potential hydrocarbon sources. The Malay Basin is a relatively acreage available for oil and This would include selection mature location, with well-known gas exploration, with 337,167km2 in of facilities (floating or hydrocarbon reserves. Therefore, a the offshore continental shelf area, lot of work is in progress to moored structures), transport and 63,968km2 in deepwater. The increase current production of hydrocarbon from field acreage is split into 54 blocks, out of by improving the amount of to customer (pipeline, floating which 28 (a total of 205,500km2) are hydrocarbon recovered from storage and offloading (FSO) currently operated by Petronas existing sources and by finding new vessels), corrosion mitigation Carigali Sdn. Bhd. plus seven other reservoirs in areas that have strategies, and safety aspects of multinational oil companies. been previously overlooked. New the operations. exploration and interpretation of Industry Players • Development: project mana- data in currently producing regions Among the PSC Contractors gement of construction, detailed have resulted in new finds. One find operating in Malaysia are Petronas engineering, optimum well is the Sumandak Complex, where Carigali (PETRONAS’s operations location, transport of facilities oil is being found in regions company), ExxonMobil Exploration to location and commissioning previously thought to be devoid and Production (Malaysia) Inc of facilities. of hydrocarbons. (EMEPMI), Nippon Oil, Sarawak • Production: maintenance stra- In addition to exploring old Shell, Murphey Oil and Amarada tegies, planning budgets, analysis areas, new fields are being sought. Hess. These companies are involved of supply and demand, and One upcoming production area is in in upstream operations, which is retrofit work to maintain or meet what is known as deep waters generally understood to mean new production targets. (water depth more than 1000ft or

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COVER STORY

300m.) To produce the hydrocarbon more than 50% of Malaysian assets companies present in Malaysia resources found in these areas, have been producing for longer are JP Kenny, ERM, Trident, DNV technology new to Malaysia are than 15 years. There are definite and IGL. required. This technology would opportunities to debottleneck Engineers play an important cover aspects such as the ability to facilities, looking at design and role in the construction of O&G drill wells in deep waters, and the current operating conditions, and facilities. OSFAM (Offshore ability to analyse and install sea maximising the use of existing Structure Fabricators Association bottom facilities to deliver the equipment. New technologies may of Malaysia) is an organisation hydrocarbon to the topside facilities be retrofitted into existing dedicated to the advancement of at sea level. On the operational side, equipment, increasing capacity at an Malaysian fabrication facilities. Malaysia would need to develop a acceptable cost. Its members, compromising of support base that can handle the Brooke Dockyard and Engineering challenges of maintaining deep Engineering Contributions Works Corporation, water facilities at a competitive In all of the above, engineers play an Shipbuilding and Construction Sdn. cost within reasonable turnaround important role in the development Bhd., H. L. Engineering, Ramunia times. An example of a recent of O&G resources. They are Fabricators, Malaysia Shipyard and development is Kikeh, which has a involved in a whole slew of areas, Engineering, and Sime Sembcorp water depth of 1,300m (4,000 ft), from conceptual or front end Engineering Sdn. Bhd., aspire whereas reservoirs developed to engineering design (FEED), to to make OSFAM a fabrication date have been in waters typically detailed engineering, procurement hub, and establish themselves as 60m (200 ft) deep. services, construction management One example of change in the services, and special studies. The Engineering, Procurement and Malaysian production strategy is main bodies of engineers involved Construction (EPC) contractors. looking towards producing gas in O&G upstream work reside OSFAM members plan a step fields that have contaminant gases in five engineering companies change in their fabrication yard that would affect the metallurgy of licensed by Petronas as Umbrella capacity, but this is dependent on a the production facilities. Among Design Contractors (UDCs): number of factors. More jobs are

these gases are carbon dioxide (CO2) Technip, Ranhill Worley, MMC, required to support and justify

and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). As Kvaener Petrominco and Sime the investment and the need to these gases are unsaleable, and may Engineering. When required, increase the members’ ability and cause corrosion in piping, specialist companies are enlisted expertise to undertake Engineering, fields with a high percentage of to participate in special studies, Procurement, Construction and these gases were originally not for example subsea facilities, Commission (EPCC) and technically deemed commercially attractive, as blast analysis, dynamic simulation advanced projects. To achieve and infrastructure has to be put in place and flow assurance. Among such maintain these aims, there is a need to remove the gases from the hydrocarbons before being sent to onshore terminals. Currently, with a larger demand for gas and new technologies, these fields have become financially attractive.

Examples of fields with high CO2 content are Bunga Raya (), and Chakerawala (Joint Development Area between Thailand and Malaysia.) There is also an opportunity to increase production by rejuvenation (see Figure 4) of existing production facilities. This concept can be applied both to topside and Figure 4: Increased production through rejuvenation subsurface facilities. As an example,

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 10

COVER STORY

for more skilled resources in the have been combined. To maintain O&G construction industry. For continuity and leverage on example, the industry is always on lessons learnt, a single project the lookout for project management management team is established for and planning engineers up to the multiple developments. challenge of working within the O&G business environment. Local Companies This can be seen as being different The growth of the Malaysian Oil & from the construction sector, Gas industry has spawned a whole as project timing and budgets are support industry, providing services more critical when dealing with and products to operators. Local hydrocarbon facilities. contractors and suppliers who wish To further the interests of to do business with PETRONAS Malaysian engineering, Mogec are first required to register with (Malaysian Oil and Gas Engineering its Licensing and Registration Contractors) was formed in 2001. It Department. This has encouraged comprises of the UDC companies the growth of Malaysian-owned plus other consultant firms. Among businesses, and opened up its objectives are to provide a forum opportunities to expand outside for discussion on issues of common fields. Historically, offshore national borders. interest, to promote cooperation developments have been structured One company is Trenergy between members and to promote around large gas and oil fields, FPSO Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned the use and development of local which were produced through subsidiary of Trenergy (Malaysia) resources in the Oil, Gas and manned facilities. Locations which Bhd. It was established to spearhead Petrochemical industry. were further away were produced Trenergy’s foray into the upstream An example of how engineers via unmanned facilities (satellite oil and gas sector. A 9-year leasing play important roles at all levels platforms) that were large and contract with Petronas Carigali saw of modernising and improving had numerous utilities on-board, the emergence of FPSO Perintis, engineering processes can be seen of which examples are air which started production in May in one multinational’s innovative compressors and air dryers, active 1999 in the MASA oilfield situated approaches in developing marginal fire suppression systems, and about 155 kilometers offshore from generators that run on liquid fuel. Terengganu, Malaysia. These projects usually had long The O&G industry has also project cycles from conception to spawned industrial sites that commissioning, typically along the came about due to their strategic lines of 36 months. In addition, the positions with respect to raw costs then associated with the products. The sleepy town of capital and operational expenditure Kertih, Terengganu, has been did not make good economics when modernised due to the presence of developing small fields. the Kerteh Petrochemical Complex. A number of innovations to Offshore Peninsular oil and gas are increase the economic viability of the program have been done. Among them is a step change in deciding the minimal acceptable facilities installed on-board a platform. To maximise economies of scale, similar components are simultaneously fabricated, and drilling and installation programs

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COVER STORY

collected at the Terengganu Zahari Ab. Wahab, Deputy Crude Oil Terminal (TCOT) Chief Executive, “As a and Onshore Gas Terminal caring corporate citizen, (OGT), respectively. The Ranhill will continuously hydrocarbons are pro- lend its support to our cessed by the local Petronas Malaysian athletes in the refinery, and Petronas Gas global arena. This is one plants, which in turn way to show our athletes supply the raw material to that they have our support plants such as Optimal and encouragement to and Polyethylene Malaysia, strive for the best at the which are also located Olympics.” In addition, on-site. This congregation Ranhill has adopted a of high-tech and non-local blood donation campaign workforce help in deve- as an annual company loping local commerce and event, and holds an annual social activities. “Majlis Berbuka Puasa” for Orphaned Children in Community conjunction with the holy Relations month of Ramadan. One must not forget that the O&G companies Closing operating in Malaysia It is hoped that this article would also like to be seen has renewed interest in the as responsible corporate oil and gas industry. There citizens. To this end, are sound reasons for various companies have Malaysia to be optimistic spent time and effort about O&G opportunities in giving something in the foreseeable future. back to the community. There are organisations in PETRONAS offers scholar- place to promote and ships to deserving students encourage the growth to further their education, of Malaysian talent and both locally or abroad, expertise to involve them- via its own Educational selves in this field. Sponsorship Programme. However, the basics of At Zoo Negara, PETRO- the industry must be NAS sponsors a section correctly understood and called “Children's World”, appreciated to extract offering families visiting the national zoo a whole the maximum amount new experience of inter- of benefit. acting with animals and The writer gratefully understanding some of acknowledges the various their peculiar behaviours. companies who have Ranhill Berhad had made available information pledged its support of in the public domain, RM50,000 to Malaysia’s via press releases, public 2004 Olympic Team. presentations and web According to the late Datuk site publications. I

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 12 FEATURE

MALAYSIA AS A REGIONAL HUB FOR OIL AND GAS ENGINEERING SERVICES

By : R.G. Candiah

he Association of Malaysian “When we win a job, say in TOil and Gas Engineering Indonesia, we will try as Consultants (MOGEC) may not be much as possible to do the known to the lay person in Malaysia engineering services here in but in the Oil and Gas industry, it is Malaysia. Once we design starting to create waves in that particular plant in developing Malaysia to be a Malaysia, we use the design regional hub for engineering and commence construction in services for the oil and gas industry. the client’s country,” he said This involves providing engineering adding that in some cases this services from front end engineering was not so straightforward as design (FEED) right up to de- the government in a given commissioning and covering both upstream and downstream sectors. country would want their According to Ir. Mohd Suhaimi local engineers involved in the Baharuddin, MOGEC’s president, engineering. In such a case Malaysia has the potential of where possible, the work is providing engineering services split; some work is done in for the Oil and Gas industry to Malaysia whilst the remainder the Asean region. The services is done in the respective include engineering design services, country of the client. project management, construction “If we develop the supervision, quality assurance and control, contracting and engineering expertise here, Although there are few lower procurement. then we can also create a hub here cost centres in this region, “If there is a project in the region to support the region. For instance, the international clients still or even worldwide, Malaysian Oil we can have offices offering and Gas engineers can do the prefer Malaysia due to its high quality engineering produced and engineering services in Jakarta but it engineering design in Malaysia as will not be an expert in all fields. our Oil and Gas engineering availability of up to date technology We can have experts here services are competitively priced knowledge. (See Figure 1) and our standards are up to par with foreign Oil and Gas engineers,” he said. Baharuddin, who is also the Director and Senior Vice President of Technip Consultant (M) Sdn. Bhd., a founding member of MOGEC, said that in terms of cost, engineering services for the oil and gas industry in Malaysia are relatively cheap in comparison to our European and American counterparts. “We are somewhere in the middle in terms of cost,” he said adding that currently India benefits from a large in-flow of revenue and technology as it provides competitively priced oil and gas engineering services to the region. Figure 1

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FEATURE

technology transfer. The Oil and Gas industry is a high tech industry and many engineering services companies here have overseas links as there are many specialised areas in the oil and gas industry. Baharuddin said his company, Technip, is a regional headquarters for the Asia Pacific region. “We give engineering support to the whole area. If a given office in the region gets a project in the respective country, if the expertise is not available in the given country, Malaysia will be able to give them support by doing the project here in Malaysia and transferring the technology back to the respective country,’’ he said. in Malaysia to support and give works have to be performed locally “We do the job here using expertise to that country,” he added. if there was local technical Malaysian engineers who in turn capability. Some specialised areas will benefit from on-the-job Development of the Oil and Gas are done overseas. training. They go through a Engineering Services Industry The Umbrella Contract (Frame learning curve, learning from The Oil and Gas industry can be Agreement) system was introduced various problems and all these split into upstream and downstream in the mid 80s and it became experiences are kept in the country. sectors. The upstream sector mandatory for all design work If foreign engineers are used, the includes the exploration and the (where possible) to be performed experience they gain will be kept in extraction of crude oil. locally by Petronas licensed the foreign country. In addition, In the Malaysian Oil and Gas contractors. foreign exchange flows out of sector, it has been the upstream “This forced the local Malaysia as foreign currency is used sector that has traditionally engineering services industry for in the Oil and Gas sector,” he added. been developed. The Petroleum Oil and Gas to develop,” he said. “If we keep our experiences from Development Act 1974 governs the The main clients of MOGEC projects done here, then we have a upstream and the downstream members include Petronas Carigali, strong expertise base and this will sectors of the petroleum industry the operating arm of Petronas, enable us to export our services and under which Petronas is party of. ExxonMobil, Shell, Talisman, expertise further,” he added. Petronas has a licensing system. All Murphy Oil, etc. Baharuddin added that work which is contracted out in the According to Baharuddin, Malaysian Oil and Gas engineering upstream sector is through licensed the government regulation and companies are big enough to do contractors. One of the objectives of Petroleum Development Act turnkey projects, i.e. from scratch to the Act was to make sure local 1974 involving local engineering the handing over of the plant to the players were involved. One of the companies was very beneficial requirements to obtain a licence is to the Malaysian Oil and Gas being a local company. engineers. “If there was no such It is because of this that the oil regulation, a lot of work would have and gas engineering industry was been done overseas,” he said fully developed by the mid 80s. “This is understandable as the From the mid 80s to late 80s, all petroleum companies are mainly engineering design work had to be foreign,” he said. “For upstream done locally. activities, we are able to perform as According to Ir. Dr Torkil our local engineers have gone Ganendra, Secretary of MOGEC and through the learning curve,” he said Director of Aker Kvaerner Asia adding that local engineering Pacific, the Oil and Gas industry in companies also do have ties with Malaysia is a regulated industry, overseas engineering companies to thus all upstream engineering obtain knowledge and benefit from

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FEATURE

work on a given project must have a certain number of years of experience. “We are currently working and discussing with the clients on this matter. We are looking into making a requirement that for all projects carried out, a certain number of graduates get training. This is the main reason why there is a shortage of engineers in oil and gas,” he said. Ganendra said Malaysia had a big market to tap into as Malaysian Oil and Gas engineers were highly regarded by local and foreign oil companies. He added that although Malaysia was not as cheap as India, Figure 2 it had several advantages: – Oil and Gas resources local and owner (client). “There are a lot of “When local oil companies get regional jobs around the world especially the engineering services firms to do – Established engineering industry Asia Pacific region, especially jobs, they are very specific on who is – Petronas is a global player China,” he said adding that there working on their job and they – Good infrastructure, low was a lot of room to export our actually approve each and every operating cost base, politically engineering services. individual engineer position. They stable – attractive for foreign Besides Technip and Aker would not approve a graduate companies to set up base Kvaerner Asia Pacific, the other engineer with no experience to – Quality and technology founding members of MOGEC work on a project. Thus the entry knowledge include MMC Oil & Gas Sdn. Bhd., level for graduates into the industry Sime Engineering Sdn. Bhd. and is difficult because the clients have “We are centrally located to Perunding Ranhill Worley Sdn. Bhd. specific requirements. They don’t springboard to Asean countries. allow the flexibility of having a With the advancement of Infor- Constraints certain number of graduates on the mation Technology (IT), location job,” he added. Ganendra highlighted several becomes less critical. Work can be constraints in making Malaysia an He said when companies give done here for the Middle East for engineering hub for oil and gas. the project, the tender specifies that Many engineering consultant firms the categories of engineers that can instance,” he added. I are small and this would pose as a hindrance in obtaining contracts. “The owners/clients need a certain level of comfort and want to see the engineering company being financially stable,” he said assuring that many MOGEC members were however big players and this should not pose a problem. Ganendra added that the main constraint was the fact that there was a lack of local engineers who have 3 to 10 years well rounded experiences in the oil and gas industry and in particular 4 to 5 years experience. Figure 3

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 16

FEATURE

FROM SAILING THE SEA TO SURFING THE NET By : Ir. Chin Mee Poon, Standing Committee on Publications

was on the way back to Kajang represented the country in Ifrom Melaka by the coastal road many international sailing one day and I decided to pull to the competitions too. beach for a rest. With me were my I did not know about wife and a friend from China. this until I bumped into Without realising it we got into the KK in Port Dickson that garden of the Royal Port Dickson day. It is a pity that even Yacht Club and, you know what, I though we have known bumped into my old friend Ir. Aw each other for more than Kong Koy, better known as KK Aw 30 years, I only got to to his IEM friends. know about his interesting KK was my classmate in the hobby by accident. Engineering Faculty of the For almost 30 years KK University of Malaya. He gra- has pursued his hobby duated with a first class honours with zest and dedication. degree in mechanical engineering in When he left Lumut to 1973. He soon became deeply work in the Klang Valley in interested in the new field of 1981, he became a member information technology and in 1988 of the Royal Port Dickson he set up his own practice to Yacht Club. He has been concentrate on the development of one of the Club’s most computer software. He is of course active sailing members no stranger to IEM, having served since. In fact he has been a as a council member as well as a member of the Club’s member of several standing sailing sub-committee for committees. He was the founding more than 20 years, almost chairman of the IT Special Interest continuously. Group and is still actively involved Founded in 1927, the Sailing in the high sea in it. Royal Port Dickson Yacht Club was and it takes only slightly more than Having hailed from Sitiawan, a originally known as the Port an hour to get there. KK drives to coastal town in Perak, KK Dickson Club. In 1958, it became the the Royal Port Dickson Yacht Club developed an early interest in the Port Dickson Club & Yacht Club. In 1988 it was known as the Port every Sunday morning (well, sea and he wanted to have his own Dickson Yacht Club. It adopted its almost) to enjoy his hobby, even boat. He wanted to build one present name in 1991. It has more though his wife and 2 children himself. He managed to obtain the than a thousand members and its somehow do not share his interest. plan of a dinghy from the British facilities include a bar, billiards, His present fibreglass Laser-class Council library in darts, tennis, squash, gymnasium, dinghy is his third boat, and he and spent 9 months building swimming pool, restaurants and an has been keeping it for more than himself a wooden dinghy. He soon accommodation of 7 rooms. The 15 years. learned to sail and became Club is a member of the Malaysian Once a keen Hash House Harrier very good at it. In fact he was Yachting Association based in Port who had participated in many runs so good that he became the Klang, and KK was once a council in different parts of the country, KK President of the Perak Yacht Club member of M.Y.A. has stopped running since he in Lumut in 1979, just 4-5 years With the completion of the injured his knee. He now after he became a member of the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway concentrates on only one sport. As Club. KK won many prizes in several years ago, driving from he also has stopped participating in local sailing competitions and Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Jaya to competitive sailing, he contributes was once the national champion. He Port Dickson has become a breeze his knowledge and experience in the

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FEATURE

New Zealand, sailing fans could Laser-class (one of the Olympic follow the races real time using the classes) dinghy costs about “Virtual Spectator” software. They RM15,000. With proper care, the could view the relative positions of dinghy will last for years and years. the yachts on the course, the wind His own dinghy has been giving strength, their sailing angles and him faithful service for more than 15 velocity, and much more. The years. About the only recurring cost instruments on the yachts could also is the cost of replacing the sail once be viewed and compared. every two to three years at about Technological advancements like RM2,000. The other costs are this will certainly spur further incidental: getting to the yacht club, developments in the sport. food, etc. “Have sail will travel,” said KK. The youngest boy or girl allowed He reminisced that in his younger to take up the sport is 8 years old. days he used to represent the This minimum age is imposed country in regional competitions. because the boy or girl will be alone Nowadays the youngsters out in the sea when sailing and it is representing the country have much imperative that he or she is able to broader scope for travel. They have communicate with the instructor or the opportunity to travel to some friends. There is, however, no upper far-flung corner of the world for age limit. Among the active sailing competition. For example, 6 boys members of the Royal Port Dickson and girls represented Malaysia in Yacht Club is a gentleman 78 years the regatta in Myanmar on 12–18 old, and the oldest Olympic gold December 2004. medallist was 59 years old when he Is sailing an expensive sport? KK Ir. KK Aw and his passion won his medal at the Los Angeles gave a definitive No in his answer. A Olympics. sport by acting as officials in After just 6 lessons, which means regattas and coaching new sailors. 6 Sundays on the beach and in the Even though sailing was sea, one should be able to sail, and introduced to our country back in the damage done is only about the colonial days, its development RM350. Lessons will cover topics has lagged far behind many other such as the theory of sailing (how to sports. KK, however, sees the sport sail the boat and sail it into the gaining popularity among young wind), basics on tide and current, people, and he is certainly prepared wind prediction, effects of to contribute his time and energy to surrounding topography on air help in its development. movements, and racing rules The “Optimist” regatta of Sukma (International Sailing Federation ’04 was held in Port Dickson. The (ISAF) Rules). Theoretically one Port Dickson Open Regatta, which does not even need any swimming attracted more than a hundred boats skill to learn sailing, as one will from Singapore, Indonesia and always put on a buoyancy aid when Australia in addition to local sailing, but an ability to swim participants, was concluded certainly helps. recently on 28.11.2004. On whether the sport is The America’s Cup International dangerous, KK believes sailing is Sailing Competition attracts just about as dangerous as any other worldwide attention, but it is a sport. Just always bear in mind the development kind of competition potential risks of carrying out any where the competitors can design activity in the sea and be prepared their own yachts as long as they are for them, the sport should be safe within the rules. Nevertheless the enough for many years of interest generated will definitely enjoyment. To-date there has been help in the development of the Ir. KK Aw with his dinghy at the Royal no major mishap in the record of the sport. At the last competition in Port Dickson Yacht Club Royal Port Dickson Yacht Club. I

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 20

FEATURE

sss MINING AND QUARRYING IN MALAYSIA : The Industry and Education

By : Ir. Dr Mior Termizi bin Mohd. Yusof, School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia

o most Malaysians, mining is attacked by communist terrorists. is that the grade is not good enough Tsynonymous with tin – a long This was one of the advantages or not economical enough to be gone industry after the tin industry of the dredge, as a dredge acted exploited. It is much cheaper to collapsed in 1985. To them, the like a tank in the middle of the import. The irony of it all it that mining industry will never be mining pool. there are foreign investors (mining revived, hence the term “sunset In comparison to previous companies) who have shown industry”. However, those who colonists, the British exploited the interest in mining and quarrying in knew the geology and the mineral natural resources in more Malaysia. According to them, resources of Malaysia thought systematic ways. Malaysia has the potential mineral otherwise. The country has the The British introduced mining resources and the political stability. mineral resources to meet some, if laws to control local miners and at Prior to 1999, the blame for the not all, of the requirement of the the same time to maintain their slow development in mining was manufacturing industry and of rock interest. Large areas of virgin put on the antique mining laws that materials for construction. ground rich in tin deposits were had few provisions for large scale The country has to take leased to European or British mining. Not long ago however, advantage of its own mineral mining companies. Local miners Sabah adopted its new State Mineral resources. In order to do that, were only given the dredged out Enactment in 1999, followed by knowledge in mineral resources areas to be mined using the in 2001. The effects of the and mineral extraction has to pumping method. new policies has yet to be seen. continue to be developed and British or European mining High grade mineral deposits expanded. The only way to do companies had ventured deep for are long gone, while low grade this is through education and primary mineral deposits, resulting mineral deposits can only be research at local universities and in a gold mine in Raub and an mined economically on a large scale. research institutions. underground tin mine in Sungei The same applies to quarrying, Its importance is clear as at Lembing, , that claimed to be present we import most of the and this has resulted in the taking the world’s deepest underground over of some small by a few raw materials needed for the tin mine in the world. It ended its manufacturing industries. This big companies. operation in 1987 due to the low The government has taken includes tin of which at one time price of tin. Malaysia is the world’s number one steps to encourage mining such There were signs that several producer of tin. as introducing new mining and exploration activities were carried quarrying laws (the Mineral out deep in the jungle of Kelantan Development Act 1994, the State A bit about the History of but their activities was somewhat Mining in Malaysia constrained by the First World War Mineral Enactments and the Quarrying Rules under the National Malaysia was colonised from 1511 (1914–1919), the Second World War Land Code.) until 1957 by the Portuguese, Dutch, (1939–1945) and the communist Japanese and British. The colonial insurgency that began in 1948 and powers tried to maintain their lasted until 1960. Mineral Resources in control of the region because of the Mining, including quarrying, is Malaysia strategic location, spices and tin. the mainstay for the continuing The consumption of minerals by When the British was in control of prosperity of any nation besides any society is related to the size and the Malay Peninsula, they built manufacturing, as mining provides prosperity of the population and good roads and railway systems to the basic raw materials for industrial activity. According to transport tin and rubber to the manufacturing. This will in a way Chen (2000), reserves of tin ore are United Kingdom for export. save or even earn some foreign still available in the and Alluvial tin reserves were mined exchange. Many argued that we do Klang Valley. Other minerals are by several European companies not have enough appropriate raw shown in Table 1 as extracted from using dredges, which were during materials (or minerals) for some Chen (2000). Chen concluded that that time the most efficient method. particular manufacturing processes. there are a substantial amount of Mining could still be carried out Even when we do, the general mineral resources available in even when dredges were at times comment from most manufacturers Malaysia. Strengthening of existing

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 24 FEATURE

non-metallic minerals industries variety – extensively Most mining companies will and the establishment of new used in the ceramic look for staff that have some basic ones to come up with new industry and the knowledge in geology and mining products, through collaborative brownish red-firing or mineral processing engineering. type, used for structural R&D, would be an important factor clay products. When mining engineers are hard to for consideration. come by, the company has to Limestone Kedah (790 Mt), Perak “retrain” civil or mechanical (780 Mt), (40 Mt), Tertiary Education for the Kelantan (1,150 Mt), engineers or chemical engineers or Terengganu (86 Mt), non-engineers to do mining and Mining and Quarrying Pahang (1,293 Mt), mineral engineers’ work. However Industry and Prospects of Perlis (437 Mt), Selangor the fact is that, there is no such and Negeri Sembilan. Graduates retraining, as the engineers Granite Abundant resources. employed are left on their own to To meet the demand of human Largely exploited as learn by themselves on-the-job, so resources, mining or quarrying construction aggregate. most of them are still stuck in their companies are seeking appropriate SABAH civil or mechanical ways or staff to run their mines or quarries whatever ways they used to with efficiently. This is true especially in Metallic Mineral resources little or no regard to the effect of quarrying where it seems that the Precious Gold, Silver and geology or mineralogy of the rock in country does not have enough Metal Platinum group their operation. engineering graduates to fill up the minerals As a result they end up with posts of quarrying engineers or Base Metals Copper quarries producing aggregate from managers. Iron-Nickel Tavai Plateau good marble or they are puzzled Table 1: Mineral resources of Industrial Minerals why the granite hill they are Malaysia (after Chen, 2000) Silica Pulau Balambangan (30 working on is not producing the Mt), Paitan (20 Mt), quality of aggregate as expected. PENINSULAR MALAYSIA Sipitang (5 Mt) and Klias Most of the Malaysian mining Peninsula (2 Mt) Metallic Mineral Resources engineers and mineral processing Gold Significant occurrences Limestone Reserves of 300 Mt. engineers were graduates from or prospects for alluvial Energy Mineral Resource overseas until Universiti Sains and primary gold in Coal Maliau (215 Mt), Malaysia (USM) began offering a Kelantan, Pahang and Malibau (44 Mt), four-year B. Eng. Mineral Resources Negeri Sembilan Silimponpon (14 Mt), Engineering Programme in 1986. Base Metals Ulu Sokor Pb-Zn (9 Mt) USM is the only university in the deposit in Kelantan, Mengapur and nearby SARAWAK country that is offering such an Chini. Cu-Mo-Zn Metallic Mineral Resources engineering programme. Many deposits in Pahang. would question, why did our local Gold Bau district, Lundu- university offered the programme Tin Reserves of cassiterite Sematan, Gunung ore are still available, Moi-Santubong, Subang, after the tin market collapsed in especially in the Kinta Bukit Deman, Bukit 1985 and after hundreds of our tin and Klang Valley Selanjan-Murup, Bukit mines closed down? Subong and Bukit Batu Despite that, the government has Industrial Mineral Resources Tiban. continued to offer the Mineral Silica Sand Natural deposits are Industrial Mineral Resources Resources Engineering Programme found as beach ridges mainly in Johor and Limestone Occurring in Bau- at USM since the importance of Terengganu. Smaller Penrissen- Serian area mining and quarrying to the nation 2 deposits exists in Perak covering about 285 km . cannot be denied. In the early Also occurs at Subis, and Kelantan. stages of the programme, there Mulu, Long Lama, Arip, A second source of silica Kukus, Tatan, Beluru were hiccups since it was difficult sand is the tailings sand and Selindong. to attract experienced mining deposits, a resource Granite For dimension stone engineers to teach at the university made available as a full time since the salary scale result of tin mining and aggregate. activities. Silica Sand Combined reserves of for a lecturer is not that attractive. 57 Mt With that constraint, the emphasis Kaolin Mainly found in Johor at USM was more on mineral and Perak and smaller Energy Mineral Resources deposits in Pahang. processing and the earlier graduates Coal Five coal deposits with are registered with the Board of Ball Clay Occurs in abundance in combined reserves of Engineers under the discipline of all the states. Both 725 Mt varieties, that is, the Mineral Processing Engineering. white-firing plastic *Mt – million tonnes Most of the graduates employed by

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FEATURE

Realising the situation, the engineers in the government curriculum was modified to include service, despite having to work more mining subjects in the core under the hot sun and handling courses, thus after 2004, graduates explosives as well. So those of the programme can be registered graduates with good grades at under the discipline of mineral the university will not stay long resources engineering. in the quarry and it won’t be long Since 2004, the curriculum in the until they get an offer to work in Mineral Resources Engineering an air-conditioned factory with a Penjom Gold Mine, Pahang Programme at USM is on par with better pay. I any mining engineering degree in a gold mine in Pahang are assigned other universities. However there is as metallurgists or mineral still room for improvement. Thus processing engineers. the USM graduates when they Reference: So in effect, the then USM have attained their professional Chen Shick Pei (2000). Malaysia’s graduates can attain their status in mineral resources professional status in the discipline Mineral Resources: Opportunities engineering, can practice in the of mineral processing engineering. For Development. In Proceedings same way as the “old” mining The prospect of jobs as a engineering graduates. of National Seminar on the professional mineral processing Malaysian Minerals Industry held engineer in the industry is not that Graduates working with mining wide as compared to a professional or petroleum companies are well off at Kota Kinabalu in June 22–24, mining engineer. That is one of and employee turnover is low. 2000. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian the reasons, until now, none of However for those working with Chamber of Mines. them has attained professional the quarries, the salary offered is engineer status. usually lower than the salaries of

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FEATURE

THE BLASTING DILEMMA By : Ir. Hj. Look Keman bin Sahari, B.Sc (Mining Eng), M.Sc (Explosives Ordnance Eng), DIS FIEM, P.Eng(M), FIQ, MiSEE Mining, Quarrying and Explosives Consultant

SYNOPSIS When hard rock is encountered in civil engineering work, it must be removed mechanically through the use of machines or it must be blasted using explosives. However, fear of damage claims, accidents and limited knowledge of blasting work and also difficulty in getting a license to blast has caused more and more contractors to opt for mechanical rock excavation methods. In most cases mechanical excavation is much slower and more costly than using controlled Blasting of outcrops and boulders blasting methods. This article discusses the project owners and their design breakers to break the granite concerns and issues that affect this consultants. The general public’s outcrop and boulders, and also method of excavation and offers a perception on blasting is negative, chemicals to fragment these practical approach for developing having been forced by events in rocks. The residents will then be controlled blasting programs. Iraq, Palestine and also by subjected to months of continuous Current public perceptions about bombings in Kenya, Oklahoma and hammering of rocks by breakers blasting and risk analysis issues are the recent suicide bombing in Egypt instead of weeks if blasting weeks also explored. where more than 30 Israelis were carried out properly. The cost holidaying in Sinai were killed. This of breaking rock will therefore INTRODUCTION creates great fear among the public increase enormously and the nearby To blast or not to blast. This is a about using explosives near their residents will have to suffer noise, common question that engineers homes and has great impact on the dust and other disturbances for and contractors ask themselves choice of excavation method. months. At the end of the day the when faced with a hard rock A recent newspaper report house buyers have to pay a excavation in urban areas. indicated that a municipal council in premium price for the houses they Increasingly, they opt for the Selangor has rejected an application buy there. mechanical excavation method or to do blasting work at a construction While litigation for alleged sometimes chemical means that blasting damage is common in the are more costly than drilling site because of fear by the United States, it is not yet a culture and blasting in nearly every case. neighbours that the blasting work in Malaysia. While contractors have Why is this? may endanger them. The public is been threatened with lawsuits in fearful that the blasting work may Often there is pressure from Malaysia by many quarters, many damage their homes and result in government agencies to avoid have not materialised because of the blasting, wherever possible, in flyrocks, ground vibration and also lack of knowledge on the effect of urban construction work. Blasting noise. This may force the contractor blasting on various structures and creates public relation problems for to use mechanical means such as the failure of the litigant to prove

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 28

FEATURE

that he is in fact the victim, blasters. Currently there is no However, there is definitely a especially if the blasting contractor institution in Malaysia that offers need for proper training for blasters is backed by competent consultants. training for blasting in urban and and engineers in blasting work in Many house owners are sincere other sensitive areas and there is no urban areas as such requirements in their belief that blasting causes requirement that a blaster who want will improve technical expertise new damage to their properties, to do blasting work must attend and this will lead to fewer despite blasting having vibration such a course. The Institute of accidents. This will also increase magnitudes well below the limit Quarrying, Malaysia and the Police the confidence of the public in imposed by the authorities, conduct a Shotfiring Course that is professional engineers and result in normally below 10 mm/s. This limit more tailored for quarrying work. less anxiety. is actually well below the threshold However, due to security reasons limit of possible cosmetic damage as only those on a need to know basis Blasting Approach recommended by USBM at 50 are allowed to attend such a course. Before a project owner considers a mm/sec. Regardless of the validity Blasters are only required to proposal for blasting, he must of the claims, these claims can be possess a Shotfirer’s Certificate consider several factors. Blasting costly to the contractor who needs issued by the Police or the work in urban or sensitive areas is to hire consultants to investigate Department of Mineral and definitely much more costly than such claims and lawyers to defend Geoscience. However the certificate blasting work at quarries and mines. them, and who also need to address is more suited to those who want to He has to consider that the risk of the threat of a stop work order – the work in quarries where the blasting accident is higher and he has to take "stop first and investigate later techniques are different and the better precautionary control to mentality" from the authorities risks involved are of a different ensure that the neighbours next when there are complaints. Since the magnitude. The blasters and the door are safe. The volume per blast cost can be high, the blasting engineers can only learn through is very low, measured in hundreds contractors must plan their work trial and error, and through reading of cubic metres compared to several carefully. The blasting work must be of journals if they are members of a ten thousands of cubic metres per carefully chosen and monitored and society such as the International blast at a quarry. controlled to prevent damage Society of Explosive Engineers. It is Quite often civil consultants complaints and possible litigations. very difficult for blasting engineers simply copies specifications for to gain proper experience in blasting at quarries or other blasting Blasting Perception Versus blasting at close quarters since there sites that are inappropriate for the Reality is no requirement for a blasting location. Many simply choose People are primarily concerned contractor to hire them. initiation methods that are not about blasting in urban areas Generally, the blasting contractor correct, for example, safety fuse and because they believe that it is do not want to hire professional detonating cord for blasting near a dangerous or it may cause property engineers to oversee blasting work residential area or an electrical damage. When a blasting accident on the pretext that the blasters do system near areas where there are occurs, it is well publicised in not need their services, because in underground power lines for the newspapers and as such local many instances the engineers rely sake of reducing cost. people have a negative attitude on the blaster to make decisions. In Some choose explosives that are towards rock blasting. Many of fact, many blasting contractors non-existent in the country showing these accidents have been caused by argue that the hiring of such clearly that the specifications are human error or by lack of expert engineers only increase their cost. simply copied from foreign books knowledge from the contractor such There is therefore a clear need for that are outdated. as poor decision making, incorrect training for blasting engineers to At present there are no blasting blast design, unsuitable loading and improve their competence and standards for vibration and airblast improperly controlled measures. It prove their worth. The other is control in our country. Different can also be due to lack of consistent the lack of interest in engineers to consultants tend to copy standards regulations from the authorities. learn and do blasting work because from different countries such as Human error can be reduced the work is hard and also most Australia, United Kingdom and the dramatically by improved training of the time it involves working in USA. Some consultants tend to and experience requirements for all the hot sun. choose the lowest possible limit to

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FEATURE

ensure that they are a necessity to protect the approved by the authorities owner from possible only to find out later they complaints from the are unsuitable for the public and as supporting location and are very documents in discussion expensive to comply. While with the authorities during the Australian Standard their routine inspection limit of 10 mm/sec for work and also in case of vibration and 120 dB(L) for litigation in court. airblast are applicable for Finally, the most most cases, in some important element in circumstances a lower or controlled blasting is public even higher limit may be relations. The blaster, the project manager, the considered appropriate. It owner and also the is therefore essential that engineer must develop the specifications proposed good relations with the for implementation must neighbours, keep them be appropriate and informed of the develop- practical for the location ment and show to them chosen to avoid problems that we care about their of cost overrun and the safety and well-being. need to appeal to the Make them feel safe. authorities to modify the They will also make specification later. you feel safe. It is quite common in Malaysia where consul- CONCLUSION tants are hired only to write Blasting work is actually the blast specification when very safe if performed by the authorities request a competent and qualified method of statement to people. It is also much be written, but after that cheaper and faster he is not required by compared to rock breaking the project owner or by mechanical and blasting contractor to chemical means. However, oversee and supervise the the blasters and the job to save cost. engineers must be willing One very important to improve their requirement in blast knowledge of blasting specification is the need to work and prove that they record the blasting work can do so profitably and correctly. The blast design safely and minimise must be clearly recorded. disturbance to the public. Burden, spacing, depth, They must also be blasting location, explosive knowledgeable in the effect used and the protection of blasting work to nearby methods to control flyrock structures and understand must be recorded and the psychological effect of shown on the plan. Videos blasting on the public. or photographs of blasting Many blasting works have work must be taken. been completed safely and Vibration and airblast successfully in the past and monitoring programs must will continue to be so in be implemented and the future. Blasting can be recorded correctly to check very satisfying when it is compliance. This is actually well done. I

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 32 COMMENT

IWRM: EMPOWERING THE PUBLIC By: Ir. Abas bin Mohamad Noordin, B. Sc. Hons. (Leeds), MIEM

s of now, perhaps, there is only smart, and worst still, the less newly-discovered fruit of political Aa little more than 1 person in resourceful too – most probably democracy? The answer perhaps every 10,000 in the country that has would need at least a decade of lies in the so-called ‘Empowering any satisfactory idea of what IWRM public education before they can be the Public’. Now, is this beast is all about. Check: it stands for expected to know (sufficiently) another incomprehensible kind? “Integrated Water Resources what this (and IWRM) is all about. ‘Public Empowerment’, like its Management”. And any proponent Whoever did tell you that the cousin ‘Public Participation’, is “an of IWRM will tell you that it is the playing field has to be level; life isn’t essential part of the process (of only (?) smart way (currently meant to be so. Right? Wrong. IWRM);” but it is the part (of the known to man) to go about They (the proponents of IWRM) process) that “seeks to mobilise, managing the water resources in the will probably elaborate further: that facilitate, legitimise and authorise country – notwithstanding the fact IWRM calls for participatory the participation of the public – that it often rains cats and dogs in management which endeavours to politically, administratively and this part of the world. That is if: (a) involve all the stakeholders in order otherwise.” But it does not mean Malaysia does not want to be facing to be successful. They will go on that the duly elected ‘represen- a very acute shortage of water well to tell you that the public is a tatives of the people’ or the public before its anticipated graduation to very critical group among the administrators will now find the developed nation status come stakeholders; and needless to say, its undesirable competition on their the magical year 2020; and (b) it participation (or engagement) is hands. Quite the contrary, they does not also want to spend the the keystone that holds the arch should instead find partners – as lion’s share of whatever little in its place. opposed to political nemesis – who money that it has on securing its What beast is ‘public will complement and support them vibrant water resources, and participation’ anyway? ‘Public in ways that they could not have guaranteeing clean, refreshing and Participation’ (in IWRM) may be imagined before. Their newfound wholesome drinking water for its understood as “an essential part of partners may now complement citizens. Excuse me for the the process (of IWRM) where them – if they were to play their longish expression. effective representation from the own roles correctly – as their Be that as it may, the pundits are public is intentionally sought, its extended eyes, ears, and even already singing to the tune of requirements appreciated, its mouths, not to mention their RM200 billion plus in capital outlay expertise and resources tapped, its intellects as well. to be required for the purpose of unwavering support garnered, and But don’t get to be so naïve as to staving off the projected water- its valued role recognised (as believe that you and I – if and when related crisis. That is, if you could in full-fledged co-partnership) in we get to be ‘so empowered’ by the take, at its face value, whatever the the operational conduct of process of IWRM – would (like a ‘specialists’ are saying. Just ignore IWRM – from inception through saint we are not) abstain from whatever is spewed out from the implementation and to successful tasting the sweetness of ‘power’. mouths of self-proclaimed insiders, conclusion.” Quite a mouthful; but This experience (and the if you want to continue to enjoy it does mean that the ‘resources’ that opportunities that it entails) could eventually make the complacent your good night’s sleep and not you and I have – expert or otherwise politicians run helter-skelter for worry about having to pay higher – are now being positively sought their money. Boy, do I love this kind and higher taxes. after by the powers-that-be. So as of competition already – and The opportunists among us, not to insult your intellect, you democracy, especially if and when it could actually find yourself a fair especially the smartest and the most assumes this expanded new number of equally appropriate (in ‘well-connected’ must have, by now, meaning. But you and I had better gained years of lead time in fact, better) definitions of ‘Public beware though, “Power corrupts, devising their clever ways and Participation’ in the public domain; and absolute power corrupts means, and putting their stakes all just visit appropriate IWRM absolutely.” Doesn’t it ring a over the place on the big money. But websites the world over. bell? We don’t want to end up at as usual, the most upright among us The question is: is the nation the bottomless pit when we are – usually and unfortunately the less (read: you and I) ready to enjoy this dead, do we?

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 34 COMMENT

So, you could soon expect to be as a matter of routine at various least until the country – well the invited (together with fellow local, regional and international taxpayers (a.k.a. you and I) – can stakeholders) to jointly man various scenes. Wow! very well afford it. In any case, IWRM committees, work groups, Closer home, you should learn should you ‘prove your real worth’ think tanks, boards, councils, and the art of working – as coveted convincingly enough – when you whatever-have-you, where you partners – with regulators and get to become the most critical part could sit pretty, walk tall, and make authorities to enforce their rules and of the whole process – you could smart contribution as you should in regulations, and in the monitoring actually ‘compensate yourselves the name of ‘Public Empowerment’. of their enforcement. The best part appropriately’ in ways that you In anticipation of that, you yet is that you get to participate in deem fair; no enlightened taxpayers should now brush up on your paper the drafting of the desired should ever complain, should they? writing and presentation skills; you regulations, not to mention in the After all, you do represent them too, could soon be recognised as governance of the entities too. Now, remember? And this empowerment important discussants of IWRM- whoever said that democracy is thing is supposed to eliminate the related topics, or as able managers only about going to the ballot communication gap between the of public discussions such as box every five years (to kick participating public – who are facilitators, moderators and out the deadwood or corrupt now the driver of actions – and organisers. Your hitherto dull representatives, and/or to elect their partnering regulators and intellectual life could soon light up; fresh new faces in their places)! authorities – whose staff are well- you could help electrify IWRM Don’t expect to be amply oiled competent executives! workshops, seminars, forums, rewarded for the participation Sounds too good to be true? Well, and conferences etc., which are held though (that’s the essential spirit); at just try it. I

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 36 REPORT Graduate & Student Section

DOING THE DITTY DOWN UNDER : INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERS SINGAPORE 38TH ANNUAL DINNER & DANCE

Reported by : Sdri. Trudy R. Ganendra

t was with great pleasure that IEM As yet, the effect of these changes I G&S Vice-Chairman Yau Chau Fong, are unknown but the IES YE Honorary Secretary and Treasurer Kee Committee hope to take advantage of Wai Fun and Committee Members these changes to increase IEM YE Karthigesu Muniyandi and I, Trudy R membership and activities while Ganendra, accepted the invitation of integrating Young Engineers into the the Institution of Engineers Singapore mainstream IES structure. It will be (IES) to attend their 28th Annual interesting to observe what effect Dinner & Dance on Friday, 5 these changes will have on the November 2004. We had high standard of engineering in Singapore expectations of a grand event and a and the culture and membership productive weekend of learning about of IES and we wish them the best in After IES dinner and dance with IES Young Engineers (YE) and their endeavours. Er. Assoc. Prof. Foo Say Wei discussing our mutual cooperation. Certainly, the culture of IES is The event was at the Ritz Carlton, different from that of IEM as was IES YE, the next IEM/IES meet and Millenia hotel and after some trouble evidenced by the grand opening other collaborations. Another notable with transport (all the taxis were full so ceremony of the Annual Dinner and point was how fresh Singaporean it was all down to our own two feet Dance which consisted of 4 skimpily- graduates tend to be older and more and our map reading skills!), we clad women dancing sexily to mature than Malaysian graduates as managed to arrive at their Grand rock music. A far cry indeed, from they have undergone at least 2 years of Ballroom where there were about 50 Malaysia's usual UKM-or-similar dikir National Service. After a late lunch and tables of IES members and guests. We barat or other traditional cultural a quick visit to our hotel, the New were seated at the IEM YE committee show! The rest of the dinner was much Seventh Storey Hotel, to see its over 40 table with their Chairperson Chew more normal though the MC did play year-old manual "cage" lift, we were Chee Yong, Co-Chairperson Chan some very cerebral games. I have never sorry to say goodbye to our kind hosts Hsien Hung, Honorary Secretary Jina been asked to think so much at a but thanked them for a lovely weekend Tan, Business Manager Andy Wee, dinner before! Our Karthigesu was and hoped that we would see them Event Director Heng Kok Leng and even asked to show his knowledge of again soon at Myanmar's YEAFEO or Committee Member Eng Ming Yao. Indian culture when he went on stage at the next IEM/IES meet! I After the typical engineers’ to compete, which he did and won a introductions of "My name is..., I am a prize! After the dinner, we were lucky enough to meet with the IES President, civil/mech/etc. engineer," we began to PS: The next IEM/IES meet is being Er. A/Prof. Foo Say Wei, who had learn more about each other. planned for a weekend in May 2005 some kind words of encouragement We discovered that IES had just on Batam Island to allow IEM G&S undergone a radical change where for us. and IES YE members to meet each now fresh graduates could be admitted On Saturday, 6 November 2004, we, other for networking and socialising. as Members of IES, instead of the four Musketeers, I mean, the four Other activities of the IEM G&S Graduate Members. This is to IEM G&S representatives met up with External Affairs portfolio include an encourage fresh graduates to join IES Chew, Chan and Heng again and were upcoming membership drive in and to give young members more say also introduced to Hon. Treasurer Chin Terengganu and a Technical in the running of IES. The separate Chee Chung. We spent the day at Delegation to Japan in April 2005 AGM of the Graduate Members East Coast Park, a lovely development which will include visits to several was abolished as a new IES YE in Singapore allowing people to innovative flood prevention, water section would take over the cycle, rollerblade, walk, run, picnic, quality and other engineering functions of the previous Graduate barbeque and swim in well- works and local authorities. These Members committee. A new grade of maintained facilities at any time of the activities will be advertised shortly membership, Senior Member was also day or night, promoting healthy by flyers in Jurutera and via the introduced for members who have lifestyles to Singaporeans. In between [email protected] emailing made substantial contributions to the cycling and blading on the smooth list; but if you would like more Institution. These changes would not tarmac runways, we discussed how information on how to join these affect the present endorsement of each committee worked and how we activities or would like to assist the drawings policies, i.e. endorsement of could cooperate for our mutual benefit. G&S External Affairs sub- drawing is still by Professional Some items of discussion were: the committee, please email me at Engineers (PE) who are governed by IEM G&S procedures for organising [email protected]. Thank you! the PE Board. activities which may also be useful to

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 38

REPORT

REPORT ON TWO DAY CONFERENCE ON GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING THEMED “Design & Construction of Pile Foundation: The Malaysian Experience”

Reported by: Ir. Tan Yean Chin, Geotechnical Engineering Technical Division

two-day conference on geo- Ir. Liew Shaw Shong Generally, the panelists strongly Atechnical engineering themed • Design and Construction of recommended that S.I. should “Design & Construction of Pile Micropiles (co-authored with Mr. be properly planned and supervised Fong Chew Chung) Foundation: The Malaysian by the consultant. The Uniform Experience” was held at Casuarina Ir. Tan Yean Chin Building By-Laws 1984 (Act 133) Hotel, Ipoh, Perak, on 29-30 • Design and Construction of Bored September, 2003. The event was stipulates that the consultant Pile Foundation (co-authored with jointly organised by Jabatan Kerja who is responsible for the design Mr. Chow Chee Meng) Raya of Perak, Perak Branch and construction of the foundation A copy of the proceedings for the and the Geotechnical Engineering above conference is available in the or structure should also supervise Technical Division of The Institution the field works, which includes of Engineers, Malaysia. Over IEM library for reference. S.I. This requirement has been 300 participants from both the Participants were given the public and private sectors attended opportunity to seek the opinion of the reiterated by the Board of the conference. speakers on various topics of interest Engineers Malaysia (BEM) in a recent The conference focused on the in the last session of the conference. circular to all Professional Engineers. design and construction of pile Many aspects of pile design and It was recognised that many foundations in Malaysia. The special construction were raised, ranging specifications state that a test pile is from foundation design to evaluation lecturers invited to speak in the considered to have failed and the conference and the topics of their of performance. Of these, two design becomes unacceptable if the presentation are as follows: topics which attracted considerable pile settles more than 40mm at twice Ir. Neoh Cheng Aik interest were: • Pile Foundation Design & 1) How do engineers plan, supervise the design working load. However, Construction – An Overview and ensure that proper subsurface from a geotechnical engineering • Site Investigation for Civil investigation (S.I.) is carried out? point of view, a pile should only Engineering Projects 2) What criteria should be used be considered to have failed if • Case Histories of Pile Foundation to define pile failure when it exceeds the serviceability limit Design (co-authored with Ir. Sobri carrying out maintained load test? for the particular structure for Aziz) For example, should a pile be which the pile was designed to Ir. Yee Yew Weng considered to have failed and the support. The serviceability limit • Case Histories of Pile Foundation design deemed to be unacceptable Failure when it experiences settlement of will vary depending on the structure and should be defined clearly by Ir. Mun Kwai Peng more than 40mm at twice the • Testing of Piles design working load? the designer. I

A VISIT TO KL MONORAIL SYSTEM Reported by: Ir. Nah Teik Ong, Highway & Transportation Engineering Technical Division

group from IEM consisting of 32 Sdn. Bhd. The briefing touch on in the city of Kuala Lumpur. It is an Amembers visited the KL various aspects of the project intra-city public transport system that Monorail System (KLMS) on 8 May including the planning, design, serve the central business, hotel and 2004 at KLMS headquarters in construction, operation, safety shopping districts of Kuala Lumpur. . and manufacturing of the trains. The KL Monorail System has started The program for the visit started operation on 31 August 2003. KL Monorail Project by a briefing on the Kuala Lumpur The alignment of the 8.6km long Monorail System given by Tuan Haji The project costing about RM1.18 dual guideway elevated monorail billion is a privatized project imple- system begins from the Jalan Tun Ahmad Zainuddin Jamaluddin, Razak Bus Terminal in the north and mented to ease the traffic congestion Director of KL Monorail System passes through Kuala Lumpur’s

39 JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005

REPORT

“Golden Triangle”, ending next to KL on a peak hour frequency Sentral in Brickfields. of 3 to 5 minutes. The system has 11 stations and operates with 12 units of 2-car trains. Train Control Center The system is operated manually by a After the briefing, the driver with full Automatic Train group proceed to visit Protection System. the Train Control Center located in Monorail Trains Wisma Monorail, where The KL Monorail System uses the first all the monorail trains in made-in-Malaysia monorail trains operation are being which are manufactured at the monitored at this center. manufacturing facility in Rawang. The plant is equipped with advanced Apart from monitoring and high precision machinery the operation of trains, including laser cutting machines, the control center can also vacuum forming machines, robotic monitor any incident IEM participants led by Ir. Nah Teik Ong visiting KL Monorail System welding systems, etc. Within the happening at all the manufacturing facility, there is a one- stations. kilometre test track built to simulate Monorail Ride gradients and curves for operational Monorail Depot Finally, the visit ended with a ride on testing of the trains. The group also made a brief tour to the monorail train. The ride took us The monorail train is air- the monorail depot located in through a number of stations where conditioned and consists of a 2-car Brickfields. The depot is equipped we were briefed on some of the unit, measuring 20m in length and 3m with facilities that provides for important facilities provided for the wide. Each train is capable of carrying general inspection, maintenance and safety and convenience of the users. 214 passengers (22% seated and 78% cleaning of the trains. It is also used to The group also managed to observe standing). The train has a maximum store the trains when they are not how the track switch works to enable speed of 80km per hour and operates in operation. the trains to switch tracks. I

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 40

REPORT

VISIT TO STEPPING STONES HOMES

Reported By: Ir. Hjh. Juliah binti Tan Sri Mohd. Hassan, Sub-Committee on Ladies Engineers

Seated on the floor doing their homework.

Meeting the children of Stepping Stones Homes.

ne fine sunny Saturday boys and girls with their age O morning on 7 August 2004, a ranging from two years to twenty- visit to Stepping Stones Homes was one years old. The younger children made by the subcommittee on and elder girls are housed here Ladies Engineers as one of the whilst the older boys are placed in activities for the 2004/05 session. another house across the road. The Stepping Stones Homes, located children goes to school until they in Jalan Sungai Dua, Taman Seputih are Form 3 and after that are trained is a home for children who are in other skills so as to prepare them Eager minds yearning for knowledge and a brighter future. from broken families or from to be able to work to earn a living. single parents. When we arrived Volunteers provide tuition classes at the home, we were greeted by and in the evenings biblical classes lovely children who were delighted a cheerful Mrs. Johnson who gave are conducted. and very excited to see us. As a short brief on how the home The homes survive on kindness gesture of goodwill we brought came about. from the public and private with us bags of rice, sugar, cooking institutions. Some of the older boys The homes founded by Mrs. oil, onions, milk powder, biscuits, who are already working contribute Johnson’s husband, Mr. Pastor chocolates, sweets, some toys and towards some of the homes’s Johnson in 1998 started initially story books to give to the children. expenses. In fact, due to the with three children. The house The home is in need of any form generosity of some, the home is able which we visited was formerly a of contribution and those interested dilapidated house which was then to have its own bus to ferry the to donate in kind or otherwise, full of undergrowth, with leaking children to and from school, which please contact Mr. Pastor Johnson at roofs and without proper sanitation does help to solve transport facilities. However, after being problems. While we were there, a 016-3858161. cleaned, the roof repaired, walls group from Citibank dropped by to The team would like to take the painted and sanitation facilities find out more about the homes and opportunity to thank the staff constructed, the house is currently a to see where they can be of help. of IEM who have helped in one way modest and presentable home to We were there for one hour or so or another to make the visit ninety-one children consisting of talking and playing with the smaller a success. I

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REPORT

IEM SABAH BRANCH : BLOOD DONATION

Reported by: Sdr. Martin Ng Chee Hou, IEM Sabah Branch

n conjunction with the opportunity to join a lucky the campaign, with the added I Engineering Week, The draw contest, which offered benefit of exposing them to Institution of Engineers, Malaysia attractive prizes sponsored by becoming more civic-conscious (IEM) Sabah Branch successfully Sutera Harbour Management and towards the environment. conducted a blood donation other volunteering organisations. Refreshments were provided to campaign on Sunday, 11 April 2004, The blood donation campaign all participants during breaks, at the Palm Square Shopping was organised by the cooperative sponsored by the Wong Kwok Complex, 4th Floor, Centre Point efforts of IEM graduates, Sabah Group Holding. The Mental Sabah. IEM (S) has promoted the Branch sub-committee members Arithmetic Competition lasted until campaign to the public as a and volunteers from the Blood 3.00pm. This contest is opened to programme to help in promoting Department of Queen Elizabeth three different categories: Group A self-awareness in donating blood as Hospital. The campaign was made for 5 to 6 year old participants, more exciting with interesting part and parcel of a caring society. Group B for 7 to 9 year old The event started at 10.30am, contests such as the Mental participants, and Group C for 10 to officiated by Y.B. Ir. Edward Yong, Arithmetic Competition and the 12 year old participants. To the who is the present Assistant Children Art Competition. The organisers’ surprise, about 80 Minister of Local Government and Children Art Competition started at participants turned up and joined Housing of Sabah. As the campaign about 10.30a.m., and lasted until proceeded, Y.B. Ir. Edward Yong 12.30p.m. at the Wong Kwok Show in, encouraged by an enthusiastic himself even volunteered in Unit venue. An estimated 53 and supportive crowd. At the end of donating blood along with others. children took part in this art the blood donation campaign, The Branch Chairman was present competition with the open title of prizes were given to all deserving during the event. The response "Water" (In Engineering), which is winners. The event officially ended from the public was better than aligned with one of the campaign at 3.30p.m. The IEM would like to expected; approximately 130 people objectives in promoting love and express their heartfelt gratitude to participated in the blood donation care towards natural resources. co-sponsors Sutera Harbour, co- drive. On top of that, to encourage These competitions reaches out organisers Wong Kwok Holdings positive feedback from the public, particularly towards the younger and other volunteer associations in donors were not only given generation in order to get their making this eventful campaign a lunch vouchers, but also an involvement and participation in successful one. I

JURUTERA, JANUARY 2005 42

REPORT

REPORT ON THE GSM-IEM FORUM: “The Roles of Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering in Construction Works”

Reported by: Assoc. Prof. Tan Boon Kong, Geotechnical Engineering Technical Division

GSM-IEM Forum on “The This 12th forum was made Response to the forum was ARoles of Engineering Geology very general in nature in order overwhelming, with around 100 participants attending. Due to and Geotechnical Engineering in to encourage more paper contri- constraints of space at the Construction Works”, jointly butions. It covered practically every lecture hall, several late requests organised by the Working Group on topic, and was targeted as a had to be turned down. Fortunately, Engineering Geology & Hydro- compilation of local case histories of extra copies of the proceedings geology of the Geological Society of construction projects. A total of were prepared for the late comers. Malaysia (GSM), and the 16 papers were presented at the Ample time was allocated for questions and discussions, and forum – 3 by geologists and 13 Geotechnical Engineering Technical this were fully utilised, resulting Division of IEM was held on 21 by engineers. Topics range from in very lively and fruitful October 2004, at the Department of engineering geology, soil and discussions after every presentation. Geology, University of Malaya, rock slopes, slope failures and Limited copies of the Kuala Lumpur. This forum was the stabilisation, karst, foundations, proceedings are available for sale at RM30. Please enquire at 12th in the series of such forums ground improvement, construction GSM secretariat. (Tel.: 03-7957 7036, organised by GSM/IEM, initiated problems, etc., all illustrated by Fax: 03-79563900, E-mail: by GSM since 1992. various case studies. [email protected]) I

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