Mohd Merzan (third left, front), Ngieng (left, front) and others listening to a presentation.
SIBU: The amendment to CIDB Act 520 has enhanced the provision for building materials standard compliance and better empowered Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to regulate building materials, whether local or imported, listed in the Fourth Schedule.
Sarawak CIDB director Mohd Merzan Hashim said this when speaking at the seminar on Quality and Building Materials Standard Compliance – Act 520 (Amendment) 2011, here yesterday.
“The amendment to Act 520 approved by Parliament and enforced since Jun 1, 2015 has enhanced the provision for building materials standard compliance and gives more empowerment to CIDB as a body to regulate building materials whether local or imported listed in the Fourth Schedule.
“It empowers CIDB to inspect listed building materials to ensure the building materials concerned meet the certified standard.
“This role is implemented through verification process and issuance of Certificate of Approval (COA) for imported materials as well as verification and inspection in factories, hardware shops and construction sites.
“For standardisation purpose, listed building materials need to obtain Standard Compliance Declaration (PPS) issued by CIDB before they can be utilised,” he said.
According to Mohd Merzan, the Fourth Schedule listed 13 categories of materials involving 70 types of products, which specifies it is compulsory for the materials or products concerned to be certified by CIDB before they are used in construction.
Failure to do so, he added, would result in confiscation, among others, by CIDB.
“This means that the whole network of project works, starting from planning, drawing plan structure, costing, inspection of materials at worksites, as well as inspection and commissioning need to emphasise the selection of materials that meet the standard requirement and are certified by CIDB,” he pointed out.
He said since the amendment to Act 520 was enforced, many local manufacturers still did not apply for PPS from CIDB.
“As of August this year, only 407 manufacturers have made application for PPS and only 323 are still active across the country thus far.
“From the 323 active manufacturers, 22 are from Sarawak,” Mohd Merzan noted.
The organising of this seminar was part of CIDB’s initiative to improve understanding and disseminating of information to manufacturers, consultants, clients and contractors to ensure the selection of materials used are in accordance with Act 520 (Amendment) 2011.
There were five presentations, one of which focused on requirements in the Act on compliance standard for building materials, approach on PPS application for certification of building materials, sharing by industry players and explanation on product certification processes.
Also present were CIDB general manager (Standard and Building Materials Division) Sazali Che Amat, Customs Department assistant director Stephen Manai, JKR Sibu mechanical engineer Lee Zheng Fuk, United Chinese Association (UCA) Sibu division president Ngieng Ping Sing, CIDB Sibu branch manager Chuang Kuang Hong and manager (Enforcement Division) Mohd Shapiee Md Siaji.