What can the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Sarawak Branch contribute to do to remedy the shortage of engineers in the state will be a challenge ahead?

Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Cum Millenium Dinner of IEM, Bintulu Branch here, assistant minister forTourism,Peter Nyarok anak Entrie suggested that IEM of Sarawak should returnto the root of the problem: that is Secondary Education.

In connection to this, he also proposed that the IEM Sarawak of Bintulu suggest to the State the engineering courses that issuitable and suits the relevant needs of various industries in Bintulu, such as natural gas-based industries; urea-based industries, timber-based industries, paper and pulp-based industries and palm oil related industries.

Encik Peter Nyarok said, schools that offer Science stream would be the best grounds to cultivate, motivate and inspire students to venture into engineering.

At theschool level, he said members of IEM could helpset up various engineering clubs where students can experience first hand what engineering was about via various activities and programs.

In this manner, he said all the wonders of engineering could be made known to the students at an early stage. 

Mr. Peter Nyarok believed that the formation of engineering clubs in schools would also contribute to society. These clubs can help to project the profession in positive light and the role that the professional will play in nation-building.

In responding to the government call to eradicate poverty in rural areas, he said the institution may assist in implementing some of the Minor Rural Projects (MRP) in the state. 

For instance, he said engineers may help rural folks to build bridges: suspension bridges or wooden bridges or plank walk that can be funded by MRP.

These bridges could be build on a gotong royong basis organised by engineers. 

Moreover, he said the setting up of Malaysia Sarawak Construction Academy in Kuching at the old Institut Teknologi MARA (ITM) at Samariang, funded and managed by the Federal and State Government, would benefit the state greatly, in term of Human Resource Development in construction related industries.

The Academy, once completed would become training hubfor workers in the construction sector and would boost the number of skilled labour in the state, he added.

In line with the rapidly developing tourism industry in the country, he said the Borneo Engineer Run inApril could also become one of the annual attraction of the state.

He also suggested that the IEM for Bintulu region to propose to the State Government on how to engineer the development of Bintulu into a clean, pleasant and attractive tourist destination.

The assistant minister revealed that a Divisional Tourism Task Group as recommended by the Second Sarawak Tourism Master Plan in each division.

He said the ministry welcomed the active participation of IEM in lines with the government effort to promote the tourism.

Meanwhile, the Chairman for the IEM Bintulu Region, Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahab said, based on the Outline Prospective Plan 2 Report (OPP2), by the end of the year 2000, the Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed remarked that Malaysia in general would be facing a shortage of 17,200 engineers. The following statement  appeared in the NST dated August 8, 1994.

"We need more engineers, but is the profession attractive enough to draw the large number of students that the country requires for its industrialisation programme"

Encik. Abdul Nasser said the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, IEM in short, was formed some 42 years ago with merely 50 members when it was started.

However, it has nearly 15,000 members currently in Malaysia and overseas, he added.

Throughtout the 9 branches for Sarawak and Miri where Bintulu and Sibu are regions under the Sarawak Branch, the Institution has presently 1000 registered members where 80 were registered under Bintulu Region.

He said, engineers turn ideas into reality and always a problem solvers of making things work better, more efficiently, quicker and less expensive.

He said, about 60 percent of minister in Singapore are engineers including their various high ranking civil servants, proven that the versatility of the profession.
 
At the dinner, Mr. Abdul Nasser also announced that one of the patron of the anniversary, the member of Parliment for P190 Bintulu, Dato' Tiong King Sing JP was conferred the Seri Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah award (SSSA) which carries the title of Dato' Seri by Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj, Sultan of Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Also present at last night dinner held at Parkcity Berveley Hotel here were the State Assemblyman for Marudi Sylvester Entri Muran, Chairman of IEM Sarawak, Peter Chong Chung Ping, the organising chairman of the anniversary of IEM Bintulu Region Mr. Liew Jui Ming, the Redisent of Bintulu Abdullah Chek Sahamat, local community leaders, contracotrs and the registered engineers in the Bintulu division.