Surveyors and architects hold key meeting
By Lyna Mohammad

PUJA President, Dato Paduka Awang Hj Zakaria (R), chairing the meeting

Dato Paduka Awg Hj Abd Majid, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Development (R), with Pg Dato Hj Kamarulzaman at the dinner. Photo: Lyna Mohammad

Pertubuhan Ukur Jurutera & Arkitek (PUJA) held its Mid-Term Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Ministry of Development building yesterday morning. The meeting was chaired by its president, Dato Paduka Awang Hj Zakaria. Among the agenda of the meeting, attended by 97 corporate members of the organisation, was a report from the president, minutes of the previous AGM, Secretary General's Report, Surveying, Engineering and Architectural Discipline Report as well as the Treasurer's Report.

Among the issues brought up was the major developments of years 2001-2002 which were the formation of 3 divisions, i.e. Surveying, Engineering and Architectural Divisions as approved by the AGM, appointment of a committee to organise the 19th Conference of ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations(AFEO) to participate in AFEO activities, including CAFEO-20 in Cambodia, ASEAN Engineers Registration and CAFEO-21 to be held in Indonesia as well as to accept land surveyors and estate surveyors as members of PUJA (B) under the Surveying Discipline.

The formation of the 3 Disciplines, meanwhile, permit each profession to pursue activities, agenda and programmes independently. This flexibility would meet the aspirations and goals set by the Discipline members while remaining a cohesive institution to give greater and stronger clout. The Disciplines, although already formed, will be given more defined form once the Council work out the delegation of power and responsibilities to the disciplines.

An Annual Dinner & Forum of the organisation, was held later in the evening at the Orchid Garden Hotel in Berakas, where the Guest of Honour was Dato Paduka Awg Hj Abd Majid, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Development.

Panelists for the forum were Dato Paduka Hj Abdullah DP Hj Abu Bakar, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Communication, who is also the Vice President, Dr Roger Lawrey, Head of Economics Department of UBD, Dato Dr Hj Abu Hashim Abdul Ghani, from Malaysia Board of Engineers, Mr Seah Kwee Yong from the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers and Mr Edward de Silva from SAA Architect.

The forum "Quality Development Through Professionalism" started after the dinner where the panelists ended it with a Questions and Answers Session.

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin