KUALA LUMPUR: Fresh into his role as the Construction Industry Development Board's (CIDB) chief executive officer, Datuk Mohd Zaid Zakaria has pledged to support the country's economic growth by boosting the skills of the workforce and delivering top-tier construction quality.
Zaid says the construction industry comprises a large workforce and makes up between four and five per cent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), underscoring its crucial role in supporting the government to boost the economy.
He stresses on the need for a shift from manual labour to embracing mechanical and robotic technologies for swifter and more efficient work processes and reduced waste.
Among the efforts to nurture a more skilled workforce is introducing construction-related technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses.
These courses, Zaid says, are aimed at helping the younger generation, especially those who may not wish to further their studies, acquire future skills and ensuring the industry has enough skilled workers.
"We want to offer something that other TVET institutions don't. We want to provide the younger generation with the skills that they prefer because in reality, they no longer want to become bricklayers or work with concrete.
"So, we leave these jobs to foreign workers, but we train our youths to be skilled with
technologies," he says.
Among the courses offered are Building Information Modelling, Drone Operator Controller and Welding, which promise lucrative wages.
The CIDB has also developed the Construction Skills Qualification Framework, which aims to ensure that workers' skills are of international standard.
"For example, back in the day, our assessment was done by individuals. Now, the process is monitored by a third party, ensuring transparency and preventing any attempt to kowtim (conspire) with the evaluator," says Zaid.
"Generally, we want to make sure that our workforce's skills match the international framework."
Zaid says the board's aim is to establish a similar framework to improve contractors' skills.
The board, he says, will strive to support the government in boosting economic growth by easing construction operations through digitalisation, which they have been adopting even before the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Many contractors say they are happy with the CIDB because they can apply for construction work and (deal with) other matters online.
"We started digitising work processes in 2017, before the Covid-19 pandemic, and all dealings with the CIDB are now online."
Zaid says the board is also committed to supporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, adding that it has been encouraging contractors to create new and greener products.
"We are promoting an initiative for our contractors to attain accreditation through the Contractor Quality Management System, which encourages them to align with ESG principles.
"We encourage our cement producers, for example, to explore creating new and environmental friendly products.
"We work together — they chip in funds for the CIDB to conduct research, focusing on how to make their products greener."
Having skilled workers, Zaid says, will also improve the industry's construction offerings.
"Construction is an enabler. We don't just build hospitals so that people can get healthy.
"We build hospitals so that others can use them to treat people.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that every facility and asset is built efficiently and in an orderly manner, and the client gets value for money.
"So, I want to help the government ensure that the construction of hospitals and factories proceeds smoothly and our economy can thrive."