BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA (BEM)

 

 

 

i. Board of Engineers Malaysia

 

The Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) is a statutory body constituted under the Engineers Act (1967) formed in 1972. The board is established for the purpose of regulating the professional conduct and practice of registered engineers in order to safeguard the safety and interest of the public. Further information about BEM can be obtained from the address below

Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
Tingkat 17, Ibu Pejabat Jabatan Kerja Raya,
Kompleks Kerjaraya Malaysia
Jalan Sultan Salahuddin
50580 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-40407095
Fax: 03-26925017



Functions of BEM

 

BEM plays an important role in uplifting the image of the engineering profession. In order that it may play it's role effectively, BEM carries out its various functions as provided for in section 4 of the Engineers Act (1967). The functions are as follow

 

  1. BEM maintains a register consisting of 2 part
    2. Part A Which shall contain the names, business addresses and particular of engineers who are registered as Professional Engineers.
    Part B Which shall contain the names, business addresses and particular of engineers who are registered as Graduate Engineers
    BEM also keeps records of corporate bodies which are practising as Consulting Engineers as well as temporary registered Professional Engineers from foreign countries.
  1. Processing Applications for Registration
    BEM through its Examination and Qualification Committee screens every applicant's engineering qualifications to ensure that every Graduate engineer seeking registration with the board is qualified for the purpose.
  2. Assesment of Academic Qualification.
    BEM through its Examination and Qualification Committee assesses and accredits engineering degrees offered by local universities.
  3. Regulating the Conduct and Ethics of the Engineering Profession
    BEM is the medium for engineers to refer to on matters relating to their professional conduct. Any matter concerning the professional conduct of registered engineers will be studied by the Board in order to determine whether there is a breach of professional ethics and code.
  4. Fixing the Scale of Fees to be Charged by Registered Engineers for Professional Services Rendered.
    Scale of Fees Committee of BEM continues to have dialogue sessions with the Federal Treasury on issues involving mode of remuneration, quantum and conditions of payment.
  5. Publications
    Publication Committee of BEM undertakes the task of publishing its newsletter and bulletin or other printed materials.
  6. Promotion of Continued Learning and Education
    This function is spelt out in the Schedule (Section 3(7)4) of the Engineers Act (1967) which states that " All monies arising from fees payable under this Act shall be paid to ... and thereafter to providing scholarships and the promotion of learning and education in connection with engineering." And BEM being prudent has set certain guidelines in connection with financial assistance provided.
    BEM in association with IEM is conducting the BEM / IEM Graduate Examination to enable those working in engineering organisations and those whose engineering degrees are not recognised by the board to upgrade their academic qualifications as to qualify them for graduate registration with the board.
    7.

 

 

ii. Requirement for Graduate Engineer

 

Any person who wants to take up employment as an engineer must be registered as a Graduate engineer with BEM. BEM recognises the experience gained by an engineering graduate only after he has registered as a Graduate Engineer. As such it is important for an engineering graduate to register as a Graduate Engineer at the very beginning of his engineering career.

 

Requirement for Registration as a Graduate Engineer.

The recognised academic qualification for registration as a graduate engineer with BEM include the following:

a) An accredited engineering degree available in an approved list maintained by BEM.
b) A pass in Part I & Part II of the Engineering Council Examination of United Kingdom or Part 1 and Part II of the IEM/BEM Graduate Examination in any particular branch.

 

Main Branches of Engineering

 

A. Chemical D. Mechanical
B. Civil E. Mining
C. Electrical  

 

Others

 

1 Aeronautical 23 Industrial
2 Aeronautics 24 Instrumentation and Control
3 Aerospace 25 Manufacturing
4 Agricultural 26 Marine
5. Avionics 27 Maritime
6. Biochemical 28 Materials
7 Biomedical 29 Metallurgical
8 Building 30 Mineral
9 Building Services 31 Mineral Processing
10 Communications 32 Mining
11 Computer 33 Municipal
12 Construction 34 Natural Gas
13 Electromechanical Power 35 Naval Architecture
14 Electronics 36 Nuclear
15 Energy 37 Petroleum
16 Environmental 38 Production
17 Fuel 39 Radio
18 Geological 49 Structural
19 Geotechnical 41 System and Control
20 Health 42 Textile
21 Highway 43 Traffic
22 Hydraulics 44 Transport.
    45 Water Resources

 

Procedures for Registration as a Graduate Engineer


1. The applicant shall submit his application in form A
2. The completed form A shall be submitted together with
  1. Certified copy of the degree certificate and
  2. Certified copy of transcript of academic record or detail of course and subjects taken which is issued by the university.
    3.
3. The certified copy of the degree certificate from a foreign university which is not in the English language shall be accompanied by a translation of it in Bahasa Melayu or English.
4. Every document submitted must be certified as a true copy by a registered Professional Engineer who is registered with BEM
5. If the branch majored in by the applicant is not stated in the degree certificate or degree scroll, the applicant is required to enclose details of the subjects taken during his course. This is to enable BEM to determine the branch based on the course content and/or by reference to relevant professional bodies.
6. The application will be decided upon by BEM within 4 months from the date of receipt.
7. An applicant whose application is approved will be notified accordingly by letter.
8. The letter of notification would state the registration number and the branch of engineering in which the applicant is registered.

 

 

 

 

iii. Code of Professional Conduct for Engineers

 

Introduction

 

Engineering is a profession in which the knowledge of mathematical and the natural sciences gained by study, experiences, and practice is applied with judgement and discretion in order to use economically the materials and forces of nature for the benefits of mankind.

The Engineering Professional plays a paramount role in a developing country such as ours. The work of engineers shapes the physical environment of society, and has a profound effect on the economic growth and development of the nation.

It is therefore essential that the members of the engineering profession should always perform their duties to the highest standards of professional integrity. They should maintain the dignity of the profession, and not be led astray by commercial motives into performing actions, which are not for the good of the profession as a whole, or for the good of society in general.

The code of Professional Conduct describes the professional behaviour of Engineers. These "Notes" are intended to offer a detailed clarification of the items of the Code.

 

BEM Code of Professional Conduct
Definition of employer
  1. Unless it is otherwise expressly provided, the expression ‘employer’ shall for the purposes of this part, include client.
    2.
Conduct of Registered Engineer
  1. A Registered Engineer shall order his conduct so as to uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of the profession.
    2.
Responsibility to employer and profession
  1. A Registered Engineer in his responsibility to his employer and the profession shall have full regard to the public interest.
Discharge of duties
  1. A Registered Engineer shall discharge his duties to his employer with complete fidelity. He shall not accept remuneration for services rendered other than from his employer or with his employer’s permission.
    2.
Reputation etc. of a Registered Engineer not to be injured
  1. A Registered Engineer shall not maliciously injure or attempt to injure whether directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects or business of another Registered Engineer.
    2.
Canvassing and advertising prohibited
  1. A Registered Engineer shall not improperly canvass or solicit professional employment nor offer to make by commission or otherwise payment for the introduction of such employment. He shall not advertise except for the purpose of obtaining salaried appointment as permitted by the Board.
    2.
A professional Engineer in private practice not to practice with any person whose registration has been cancelled
  1. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not practise engineering with any person registration has been cancelled unless he has been reinstated under section 17(1) of the Act.
A salaried Registered Engineer not to compete with professional Engineers in private practice.
  1. A Registered Engineer shall not use the advantage of a salaried position to compete with professional Engineers in private practice.
    2.
Restriction on submission of plans and drawings
  1. (1) No registered Engineer other than a professional Engineer in private practice may submit plans or drawings to any person or authority in the federation unless such plans or drawings are in connection with equipment, plant or specialised products manufactured or sold by his employer or firm, or in connection with his own or his employer’s engineering works and buildings.

    (2) For the purpose of this rule, " employer" shall not include client.
    2.
Restriction on making payments or placing contracts
  1. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not be medium of payment made on his client’s behalf unless he is so requested by his client nor shall he, in connection with work on which he is employed, place contracts or orders except with the authority of and on behalf of his client.
    2.
Restriction on entering professional partnership.
  1. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not without the occurrence of the Board enter into professional partnership with any person other than a Professional Engineer in Private practice, a Registered Architect, a Registered Surveyor or a Licensed Land Surveyor.
A Professional Engineer in private practice not to intervene or to take over the work of another.
  1. A Professional Engineer in private Practice shall not, directly or indirectly attempt to supplant another Professional Engineer in private practice nor shall he intervene or attempt to intervene in or in connection with engineering work of any kind which to his knowledge has already been entrusted to another Professional Engineer in Private practice nor shall he review or take over the work of that other Engineer acting for the same employer, until he has either obtained the consent of that Engineer or has been formally notified by the employer that the engagement of that Engineer with work has been properly terminated.
    2.
A Professional Engineer in Private Practice shall not be a contractor
  1. (1) A Professional Engineer in Private Practice shall not be a contractor at the same time.

    (2) A Professional Engineer in Private Practice shall not act in a professional capacity for an employer and a contractor on the same project unless on the specific instructions of the employer.
    2.

 

Notes on the Code of Professional Conduct

 

I) General Professional Integrity

  • Items 25, 26 and 27 generally describe the professional standards that an Engineer is expected to maintain. The Engineer should always act so as to uphold the dignity and reputation of the profession.

    He should at all times apply the conditions of a contract with equal fairness between his client or employer and the contractor, and should be totally impartial in setting any questions which arise between his client, his employer or his employer’s client, and a contractor. He should be completely loyal to the interests of his client or employer; the Engineer should also keep in mind the general good of society as a whole.

    •

    II) Advertisement

  • Item 29 states that an Engineer should not advertise or canvas for employment.
    •
    1. Insertion in charity programmes, congratulatory messages, etc.
      2.
  • Notices of donations to charity, insertions in souvenir programmes, congratulatory messages in the press and similar notices may include only the name of the individual or firm making the announcement. Details such as type of professional activity, experience, qualification, address and telephone numbers should not be included.
    •
    1. Advertisement for staff
      2.
  • Advertisements in public media for staff should not include the name of the firm making the advertisement, all correspondence being addressed to some officer or box number. For advertisement in technical journals the name of the firm may be inserted.
    •
    1. Signboards on work sites
      2.
  • A signboard with the name and address of the Engineering firm or of individual engineer may be put up at the work site. There should be only one signboard per road frontage for a work site. The lettering should be not more than six inches high, and uniform in size and colour with the rest of the lettering, not self- illuminated or with moving lights.
    •
    1. Nameplates
      2.
  • Nameplates outside the office of a practising Engineer or Engineering firm should not be more than 4 inch high and any logo used should not be more than 6-inch square. In the tenant’s directory of a large building, this name should be in the same style as the names of other tenants.
    •
    1. Letterheads
      2.
  • The letterheads of a practising Engineer or Engineering firm should carry the names, addresses and qualifications of partners, but should not include details of experience, work specialisation or similar self-promoting material. Type of practice is permissible.
    •
    1. Telephone directories and other directories
      2.
  • An entry in the Yellow pages of the telephone directory is permissible but the entry must not be given special prominence by the use of a boldface type, large spacing, logo or special layout.

    The names of Members may be inserted in the Straits Directory of Malaysia. Insertion in any other commercial directory is not permitted unless by special permission form the Board of Engineers.

    •
    1. Advertisement of change of address
      2.
  • One advertisement in the press is permitted, which should contain the necessary details of change of address, without details of experience, work specialisation or similar self-promoting material.
    •