Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran (second left) hands over the appointment letter to Lau, as others look on.
SIBU: Safety and health ought to be applied and practised in every single corporation, irrespective of the size of the corporation, says the newly-minted National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairperson Alice Lau.
She believes that many multi-national companies (MNCs) and government-linked corporations (GLCs) have adopted such policy and observed significant improvements in the management of occupational safety and health.
“My goal now is to focus on small-medium enterprises (SMEs), to engage and get them to adapt to these policies so as to continuously improve and achieve good results in terms of safety and health.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that safety and health should not be seen just as a policy, but also applied in every single corporation – big or small. The policy should be adopted and practised, and not be left idle,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Lau took over from Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who had served as Niosh chairman since 1994.
Lau, who is Lanang MP, is stepping in with an open-minded approach in order to learn and adapt while staying determined to build on this foundation.
“I am also ready to be guided to continuously contribute to the safety and health industry. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get into the thick of things to know the needs of this industry.
“We need to continuously create awareness among corporations and the public, while ensuring that what we are doing what is in accordance to the actual needs of the industry,” she said.
According to Lau, Niosh has four main objectives – to serve as an institute on safety training, consultancy services, research and development, and information dissemination.
On her appointment, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude for being appointed as Niosh chairperson and was humbled by the opportunity to lead the organisation.
She also gave thanks to Lee for his untiring efforts in creating awareness and championing the cause for occupational safety to employers and the public.
She recalled how Lee first joined Niosh as its director after it was established in 1992, after which he was appointed as the chairman under the Human Resources Ministry two years later.
“We cannot deny the fact that Tan Sri Lee had given his heart and soul to Niosh and even treated it as his second home over the past 27 years of his service to Niosh.
“I hope to have the opportunity to meet Tan Sri one day to learn more from him and to seek new paths for pursuing excellence and also new ways of making positive differences in this organisation,” she remarked.
Lau also extended her appreciation to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his trust in appointing her as the new Niosh chairperson.