By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 28: Allegations that local expert engineers are not recognised as professionals are inaccurate and misleading, with over 290,000 engineering practitioners registered under the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) to date.
Works Minister Dato’ Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi highlighted that BEM is the sole statutory body under the Engineers Registration Act 1967 (Act 138) responsible for regulating, registering, and recognising professional engineers in Malaysia.
“The body recognises professional engineers through a clear, structured, and transparent pathway via the Professional Assessment Examination (PAE), covering 30 engineering disciplines.
“Local professional engineers are legally recognised and meet global standards, including in emerging engineering fields,” he said in a statement posted on his social media on Tuesday (Jan 27).
Speaking at the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) Meeting with Malaysian Engineering Institutions and Associations 2026 and the Launch of BEM Strategic Plan 2026–2030, Nanta stressed that registration with BEM is mandatory for all engineering practitioners.
He noted, however, that some engineers have yet to register, a matter he described as “not to be taken lightly”.
The newly launched BEM Strategic Plan 2026–2030 charts the country’s engineering direction based on four pillars: Talent, Governance, Recognition, and Innovation.
The plan aligns with the National Construction Policy 2030, New Industrial Master Plan 2030, Malaysia Madani, and initiatives from the Engineer Starting Salary White Paper to strengthen human capital and boost industry competitiveness. — DayakDaily
