By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, May 29: Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang is urging the Sarawak government to uphold the Board of Engineers (BEM) Scale of Fees, stating that the current undercutting of professional engineering consultancy fees is threatening the sustainability of the profession in the State.
Gira, who is also a practising civil engineer, said engineering professionals in Sarawak are being given project fees “much below” the established Scale of Fees by BEM, with reductions as steep as 50 per cent.
He likened engineering professional practices to those in other fields, such as medicine and law, noting that people generally do not question their consultation fees.
“Like doctors, you wouldn’t question their consultation fees. You don’t dare to. The (doctor consultation) fees are given to you and you make the payments,” he told DayakDaily today.
He stressed that such non-compliance places significant strain on small engineering firms, many of which are struggling to meet fixed monthly commitments, including paying wages for engineers and support staff.
“This practice in Sarawak not only discourages younger generations from pursuing careers in engineering but also results in local professionals earning considerably less than their counterparts in Semenanjung,” he said.
This matter was also raised during the recent Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting that took place from May 19 to May 28, 2025.
In expressing his support for Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang’s remarks on the same issue, Gira called for a fair and structured approach moving forward.
On May 21, 2025, Lo stated that the State government should not encourage professionals to undercut each other in project tendering processes in order to be awarded the tender, thereby undermining the importance of engineers.
What makes matters worse is the prevalent undercutting of professional fees through the tendering system, with discounts of 30 to 50 per cent off the gazetted scale becoming “disturbingly common”.
“Therefore, I urge the Sarawak government to review the professional fees according to the BEM’s Scale of Fees,” said Gira. –DayakDaily
