"Engineers architects will not sell out"
THE SUN 29/06/2004

PETALING JAYA: Architects and engineers have given an assurance that they will not "sell out" to building developers, but fulfill their obligations to the public.

Although they are on the payroll of developers, engineers and architects have their own professional responsibility; the president of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia, Prof Abang Abdullah Abang Ali, said yesterday.

"We abide by professional ethics and are bound by our registration with the Board of Engineers. We are independent in our judgment when assessing premises or buildings," he told the Sun.

"Even now, the practice is, if there are any problems, we will contact the engineers and enquire directly: House buyers should not worry because although we are paid by the developers we are governed by ethics."

Abang Abdullah was commenting on a proposal by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last week to do away with certificates of fitness (CF), and have engineers and architects certify building safety:

Malaysian Institute of Architects president Paul Lai Chu said that under the current practice, architects and engineers are already certifying the safety of new buildings and have been fully independent.

"The government has already assured that the task given to the professionals will be duly addressed and the relevant authorities will act against black sheep in the profession," he said, adding that offenders will be de-registered and cannot remain in practice.

Lai said that with the proposed policy; the public can expect CFs to be issued in a shorter period.