Division History

Introduction to the Malaysia Division

In September 2000, Professor LA Clark who was the President of IStructE for that year signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM), which initiated a dialogue with IEM with the proposal of forming IStructE-IEM Joint Division. Subsequently, a small working Committee of a few dedicated members under the Chairmanship of Ir Tang Kam Kok was setup for the implementation of the joint Division.

However, the progress towards the formation of the joint Division was slow and eventually, a decision was made to form the Malaysia Division of IStructE instead. From January 2001 to November 2001, this small committee dedicated their time voluntarily, meeting bimonthly in the premises of the Association Of Consulting Engineers, Malaysia, to draft the Constitution of the Division. The Constitution was approved by IStructE on 4 October 2001. On 23 March 2002, a meeting for the local members was convened and a protem Committee was formed. Application was submitted to the local Registrar of Societies (ROS) on 3 July 2002, and approval from ROS was obtained on the 29 May 2003.

An inauguration meeting was held on 2 August 2003 and the first committee for the administration of the Malaysia Division was elected in office.

Members of IStructE who were involved from the conception to the establishment of the Malaysia Division were as follows:

Working Committee Members

Ir Tang Kam Kok, Chairman, Ir Chua Teng Au, Ir Dr Mohd Sabri Abdullah, Ir Hew Wee Ting, Ir Leong Saik Onn, Ir Dr John Tang, and Ir David Lau Hack Gin

Pro-tem Committee Members

Ir Tang Kam Kok (Chairman), Yg Bhg Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Chan Ah Chye, Ir Chua Teng Au, Ir Dr Mohd Sabri Abdullah, Ir Leong Saik Onn, Ir Dr Ooi Hong Beng, Ir Lingammuthu Animuthu, and Ir David Ng Shiu Yuen

Committee Members for session 2003-04, 2004-05

Ir Tang Kam Kok (Chairman), Ir David Lau Hack Gin (Hon. Secretary), Ir Leong Saik Onn (Hon. Treasurer), Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Chan Ah Chye (Advisor), Ir Chua Teng Au (Advisor), Ir Dr Mohd Sabri Abdullah, Ir Dr Ooi Hong Beng, Ir Lingammuthu Animuthu, Ir David Ng Shiu Yuen, and Mr Tan Choon Wei (Graduate representative).

In the first year of its establishment, the registered office was housed in the premises of the Association of Consulting Engineers, Malaysia (ACEM). From the second year onwards, due to space constraint in the ACEM’s office, the registered office was relocated to the office of the current Chairman.

Activities for the Division are jointly organized with the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia or the Association of Consulting Engineers, Malaysia as the Division does not have a fulltime secretariat and also to ensure that the activities will have a fuller participation from the structural engineers from the two other engineering institutions.

"The Structural Engineer" 18th November 2003