About Us

The Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) is a statutory body constituted under the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 with perpetual succession and a common seal and which may sue and be sued. It was formed in 23rd August 1972.

BEM falls within the ambit of responsibility of the Minister of Works. Vested with wide powers, the Minister may suspend the operation of the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 in any part of Malaysia by notification in the gazette. The appointment of the Board Members and the Registrar is made by the Minister.

Its primary role is to facilitate the registration of engineers and to regulate the professional conduct and practice of registered engineers in order to safeguard the safety and interest of the public.

Through its mechanism of control, BEM has taken upon itself to reclassify the engineering works, streamline the Scale of Fees and amend the Engineers Act to reflect the pragmatic needs of the engineers and engineering industry. For example, the latest amendments of The Registration of Engineers Act 1967 was made on 1st April 2007 to meet the challenges of globalization and companion trade liberalisation. The objectives among others are:

  1. To enforce the implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
  2. To add more function to advise the Government & Public.
  3. To strengthen the penalty.
  4. To strengthen the suspension period.
  5. Introduction of new Part that deals with the establishment, powers & conduct of proceedings of a Disciplinary Committee.
  6. Action on submitting engineer related to CCC or others.
  7. Impose additional conditions to ensure engineers follow latest developments.
VISION

The engineering services provided by Malaysian engineers are of world class quality with full regards to the public interest and safety in mind.

MISSION

To regulate engineering profession so as to ensure that professional engineering services provided in the country are in compliance with appropriate legislation and policies.

CLIENT'S CHARTER
  1. All matters pertaining to the registration of engineers will be processed within stipulated time frame.
  2. BEM will actively participate in all activities related to the engineering profession with other government agencies or interested parties.
  3. All complaints and enquiries from public relating to engineering services will be attended to expeditiously.
QUALITY POLICY

The Board is committed to provide excellent service to Registered Engineers and related stakeholders and continually improving its standard from time to time.

COMPOSITION OF BEM

BEM consists of 17 Board Members comprising of:

  1. President
  2. 14 Professional Engineers from various sector:
    - 5 from public sector. 
    - 5 from private practice. 
    - 2 from local authority or statutory authority. 
    - 2 from private sector (full time employment).
  3. 1 representative of the Board of Architects Malaysia.
  4. 1 representative of the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia.

They are Professional Engineers, Architect and Quantity Surveyor of high standing and vast experience as in the opinion of the Ministry of Works are able to render services and contribute towards that end. The appointment are by the Ministry of Works under Section 3 of the Registration of Engineers Act 1967. The Secretary and the Registrar who are Professional Engineers shall be ex-officio members.

COMMITTEES OF BEM
  1. Management Committee
  2. Engineers Act Committee
  3. Application Committee
  4. Scale of Fees Committee
  5. Professional Practice Committee
  6. Examination & Qualification Committee
  7. Publication Committee
  8. IT Committee
  9. National Monitoring Committee
  10. Quality Committee
  11. Training and Education Committee
  12. Engineering Accreditation Council

List of Board Members

FUNCTIONS OF BEM

The functions of BEM according to Section 4 of the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Revised 2007) are:

  1. Maintain the Register

    The Board shall keep and maintain a Register which shall be in five Parts:
    Part A     - which shall contain the names, addresses and other particulars of Professional Engineers.
    Part B - which shall contain the names, addresses and other particulars of Graduate Engineers.
    Part C     - which shall contain the names, addresses and other particulars of Temporary Engineers.
    Part D - which shall contain the names, addresses and other particulars of Engineering consultancy practices.
    Part E - which shall contain the names, addresses and other particulars of Accredited Checkers.

  2. Process Applications for Registration

    BEM through its Examination and Qualification Committee conducts the Professional Assessment Examination (PAE) to assess the quality of experience gained by the Graduate Engineers and his competency. Every application for registration, be it as Graduate Engineers, Professional Engineers, Engineering Consultancy Practices or Temporary Engineers (foreign engineers) is scrutinized thoroughly by the Application Committee to ensure compliance with the Act and with the policy of BEM. Application to register as Accredited Checkers will be assessed by Accredited Checkers Committee.

    BEM also applies restrictions on practices of bodies corporate with the aim that engineering consulting services provided by these bodies corporate would be done professionally for the benefit of the client/public. Restrictions are also imposed to Temporary Engineers.

  3. Assessment of Academic Qualifications

    BEM through the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC)* conducts accreditation of engineering degree programmes offered by institutions of higher learning within Malaysia. Accreditation is done through the evaluation panel (from academic and industry/practice) whose members are appointed by EAC. The accreditation panel shall visit the institution to evaluate the curriculum, facilities and the quality management system and have dialogue with the management, academic and support staff, students and industry stakeholders.

    The period of full accreditation shall be five years after which it has to be revalidated.  Where there are minor shortcomings in meeting the accreditation requirement, the programme may be given accreditation for a period of less than five years during which the faculty must take necessary corrective measures.

    BEM through the EAC in general uses as a guide the list degree programmes leading to Professional/Chartered Engineer by accreditation organisations of the country where the degree is issued.  

    Prior to conduct of a new engineering programme institution of higher learning shall obtain approval from the relevant authorities.  The authority normally will require supporting document from the EAC.

    * The Engineering Accreditation Council is the body on accreditation, representing the Board of Engineers Malaysia, the Institution of Engineers Malaysia, Malaysian Qualification Agency and Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia (JPA).

  4. Regulate the Conduct and Ethics of the Engineering Profession

    Since its inception in 1972, BEM has been a medium for the engineers to decide on matters relating to their professional conduct or ethics. Any matter concerning the professional conduct of registered engineers will be studied by the Board to determine whether there is a breach of professional ethics or code. If the need arises, BEM will carry out investigations to establish whether there is a prima facie case against a registered engineer for contravening the Act. The procedures to follow are prescribed in Section 15 of the Act.

    If there is a breach of professional ethics or code of conduct on the part of the engineer but such breach is not serious enough to warrant suspension or cancellation of registration, appropriate action, e.g. warning, censure or advice would be taken by BEM as deemed fit. Such measures should be viewed by the engineers at large as a concerned effort on the part of BEM to rid the black sheep of the engineering fraternity.

  5. Disputes on Professional Conduct and Ethics

    BEM through its Professional Practice Committee hear and determine disputes relating to Professional Conduct and Ethics of registered engineers.

  6. Fix the Scale of Fees

    In this respect the Scale of Fees Committee of BEM continues to have dialogues sessions with the Treasury of Malaysia on issues involving mode of remuneration, quantum and conditions of payment.

  7. Stakeholder
    To be a stakeholder in a contract for Professional Engineer services when requested.

  8. Publication

    The Publication Committee of BEM undertakes the task of promoting engineering profession through The Ingenieur and other printed materials. The Ingenieur (4 issues per year: March, June, Sept and December) is used as a  communication tool for BEM to disseminate information on the activities of the Board, regulations, code of ethics, career development, update and guidelines and such other news as decided by the Board. 

  9. Promotion of Continued Learning and Education

    BEM has set certain guidelines in connection with the financial assistance provided. BEM will consider providing financial assistance to seminar or conference which is organised by a non-profit making organisation. The seminar or conference must be technical one that will benefit the registered engineers.

    The promotion of continued learning and education does not stop here. BEM would also consider giving grant to selected type of study related to engineering or contribute prizes for selected competition also related to engineering.

    In order to keep abreast with changing techology, BEM encourages all registered engineers to continually improve themselves through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Programme.


INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

BEM is committed in its role in bringing the engineering profession to greater heights and to project the image of engineers in the right perspective. Strategies have been formulated and links have been initiated with various Government departments for it to continually provide assistance to the Government from municipal level right up to ministerial level. BEM also endeavours to exert its influence in any high profile committee that would decide on any matter that concerns the practice of Professional Engineers serving in the private and public sectors. Representatives of BEM also sit in various committees, including that of the Board of Architects Malaysia and the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia, thus ensuring that the voice of the engineers is heard, and their recommendations taken into consideration.

Developing links with the professional engineering bodies both locally and internationally is also one of the main strategies of BEM.

ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services
BEM participated in ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS).  AFAS was launched jointly by ASEAN countries to work towards freer flow of trade in services within the region through the signing of ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) on 15.12.1995 by ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) during the 5th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok. The objectives of AFAS are:
  1. to enhance cooperation in services amongst ASEAN Member Countries in order to improve the efficiency and competitiveness
  2. diversify production capacity and supply and distribution of services of their services suppliers within and outside ASEAN
  3. to eliminate substantially restrictions to trade in services amongst ASEAN Member Countries
  4. to liberalise trade in services by expanding the depth and scope of liberalisation beyond those undertaken by ASEAN Member Countries under GATS with the aim to realising free trade in services

Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA)
The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Engineering Services had been signed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur. The participating countries were Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

BEM is proud to lead and draft the MRA. The objectives of the MRA are to facilitate mobility of engineering services professionals and exchange information to promote adoption of best practices on standards and qualifications.

Under the MRA, a professional engineer or practitioner who holds the nationality of an ASEAN Member Country and who possesses qualifications and experience that complies with the equirements specified in Part B of the Assessment Statement may apply to be placed on the ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineers Register (ACPER) and accorded the title of ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer (ACPE).

The registration of ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer is now opened. BEM hopes to register a pool of Malaysian ACPE by end of 2008. 

APEC Engineer Register & EMF Engineer Register (Engineers Mobility Forum International Engineer Register)
The Board was one of the founder of the APEC Engineer Register in 1997 and EMF Engineer Register in 1999. Malaysia through its Monitoring Committee has been appointed as Chairman of the APEC Engineer Register from the year 2001 to 2005.

So far, 13 member economies including Malaysia have been approved to operate an APEC Engineer Register.