By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 11: The Public Works Department (JKR) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) have been urged to streamline technical guidelines and approval processes for bamboo-based construction, as Malaysia seeks to strengthen the industry, and position itself as an ASEAN reference hub for sustainable bamboo construction.
Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the industry holds significant potential not only to support the construction sector but also to create economic opportunities for rural communities.
In a Facebook post, he called on JKR and CIDB to work with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), SIRIM and other relevant agencies to develop the quality assurance framework.
This includes examining certification requirements, professional engineer verification and compliance with safety standards.
“Our intent is clear: to support the growth of the bamboo industry so that it benefits both the people and the nation, while positioning Malaysia as a reference hub for sustainable bamboo construction within ASEAN,” he said.
“In the construction field, bamboo holds immense potential as a sustainable alternative building material. Technological advancements such as engineered bamboo enable its usage to expand from eco-resorts and pavilions to more innovative structural designs.
“With appropriate processing, treatment, and design, bamboo has the potential to become part of resilient, low-carbon construction solutions with high commercial value,” he added.
Nanta also highlighted the industry’s potential to generate new economic opportunities for rural communities, particularly those with land suitable for bamboo cultivation.
According to a TVS report, Nanta said the development of the industry must encompass the entire supply chain to ensure its economic benefits reach rural communities.
He also stressed the need for Malaysia to strengthen its capacity to produce bamboo-based building materials locally to reduce reliance on imports and reinforce the domestic industrial ecosystem.
“For me, if we can increase the use of bamboo in the industrial and construction sectors, there will certainly be opportunities for rural communities who own land.
“They can cultivate bamboo crops. Thus, empowering the rural economy is also one of our main objectives,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference after officiating BAMBuild ’26: The Future of Sustainable Bamboo Construction in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 11.
He also noted that the government had yet to set a specific target for bamboo adoption in the construction sector, as its immediate focus was on promoting the material and better understanding its potential, including by drawing on the experiences of other countries.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Works (KKR) in collaboration with JKR and CIDB, in conjunction with International Construction Week (ICW) 2026 and World Bamboo Day. – DayakDaily
