Fadillah (front, centre) joins the QLASSIC Day 2017 Award recipients in a group photo.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) celebrated the achievements of 43 developers and contractors, who achieved a more than 80 per cent score based on the Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC).
The awards were presented on Monday during the ‘QLASSIC Day’ – an annual event that promotes the use of the quality assessment system.
The recognition of the high-achieving construction industry players is a part of CIDB’s efforts in transforming the local construction sector by encouraging industry players to enhance the workmanship quality in construction.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof officiated at the opening of QLASSIC Day 2017, which is now in its fourth year.
CIDB chief executive Datuk Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid was also present at the ceremony.
In his remarks, Fadillah emphasised the importance of quality standards for the construction industry.
“The industry, both in the private or public sectors, must view quality as a prerequisite for industry players to operate and develop. The year-on-year increase in QLASSIC adoption by the industry is indeed a positive indication of the emphasis placed by the industry in providing quality of the highest standards in workmanship,” he said.
It is noted that the adoption of QLASSIC by industry players has increased on a consistent basis since its introduction by CIDB in 2007.
The latest figures showed that QLASSIC adoption rates had increased based on the number of projects assessed, standing at 311 projects last year – up from 272 in 2014, and 270 projects in 2015.
Currently, the overall total number of projects assessed with QLASSIC is 1,515.
At the event, Fadillah also launched the ‘Quality Guidebook for Homeowners’ – an information kit on QLASSIC and how to assess the quality of one’s house using QLASSIC methods.
On this, Asri pointed out that this year, the construction sector was encouraged by the increase in the number of projects that achieved a score of 80 per cent and above.
“With the current QLASSIC growth trend that we are on, we are confident that we will be able to achieve the quality and safety aspirations as outlined under the Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP) 2016-2020,” he added.
Perumahan Kinrara Bhd, a member of I&P Group, stands as the current highest achiever of the QLASSIC score – having obtained 85 per cent for its private residential project Bandar Kinrara Phase 8A5B.
The contractor recognised for building this project is Vilabina Utara (M) Sdn Bhd, while the architecture firm is BEP Arkitek Sdn Bhd.
As part of QLASSIC Day 2017, a forum was held to discuss the ‘end user-centric views’ towards quality in construction, including challenges faced and initiatives taken.
Panel members of the forum on ‘Improving Customer Satisfaction with QLASSIC’ included CIDB senior general manager (technology sector) Datuk Elias Ismail, Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government senior federal counsel and head of legal and claims division Roshan Kshatriya, National House Buyers Association secretary-general Chang Kim Loong, and Sime Darby Property Bhd chief transformation officer Datuk Wan Hashimi Albakri.
The moderator was Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) technical committee chairman Datuk Laxana Naidu.
QLASSIC is a system and method to assess and evaluate the quality of workmanship of building projects based on the Construction Industry Standard (CIS 7), and was established as a means to objectively compare the quality of workmanship between construction projects through a scoring system.
For more information, visit www.cidb.gov.my.