Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu (representing the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia YAB Datuk Sri Mohd. Najib Hj Tun Abdul Razak),

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Hj Ruslin Hj Hasan – Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur,

Ar Paul Lai Chu, Immediate Past President PAM,

Ar Wan Mohammad Khair-il bin Wan Ahmad, Organising Committee Chairman

Fellow Presidents of allied Institutes,

Honourable Guests,

Dato’ Dato’, Datin Datin

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I feel greatly honoured to be standing in front of my professional peers. While at the same time feeling a great weight of responsibility falling on my shoulders. PAM has been blessed by good and honourable leadership from its inception and it will be quite a feat to keep up the standard. Many good men have gone before me and of course one iron lady.

Architects have always been dreamers and visionaries. We have the uncanny ability to transform a dream or vision into built reality. In many aspects the city and world of the future are already on the drawing boards of our offices and the minds of young students in university. It will be interesting to see how Architects adapt to this fast changing world environment where uncertainty is perhaps the only certainty.

We are living in a rapidly changing world where even the environment is now a major player in world economics. The recent Tsunami devastation and the sudden increase in oil prices in a single day as a result of Katrina in the USA were definitely “ACTs of GOD” by Malaysian definition.

I remember coming back from Australia in 1992, not too long ago and like all returnees from overseas made application for employment with firms. Got a call from the late Dato’ Kington Loo one hot afternoon and a week later started work at BEP Architects. I was always a keen business minded person. But working with Dato’ Kington Loo showed me the other side of what being a professional was all about. He was perhaps the consummate definition of an Architect. He could sketch, draw, design and detail very quickly. He was solid in Contract Administration and legislations, Hardworking, Unwavering in Honesty and Integrity. Untiringly serving the Profession at PAM and LAM. Few years later he coaxed me to start volunteering time to serve the profession in PAM and in many ways I owe tonight to him.

It’s interesting to find truth in simple principles. Whilst I was pondering between doing a doctorate or going straight to work, my Architectural Professor saw my indecisive pain and shared two simple principles that still work very obviously in my life. One principle was – “Its not the qualifications, titles or money that you will make or gain But it’s the people that you will meet along the way that will bless your soul”. This has always been so evident in my short career. In PAM Council I met fellow professionals who continue to this day to sharpen me like iron sharpens iron. Good solid friends.

The second was “ in the land of the blind …. the one eyed man is king”. I did not need to know it all. This was a big encouragement for the younger generation to get involved and contribute.

This year, god willing, I would like to work with Council on the following 5 goals:

1. We will promote the creative ability to design as a core competency of the architect that can add value to society

- Through the media, publications, talks, lectures, design seminars, student discourse
- Competitions and awards
- Encourage R&D and publication of research and theoretical thought

2. We will facilitate Capacity Building to meet global challenges through networking, sharing of knowledge and resources, CPD and specialization

- Networking with other specialists – accountants, lawyers, bankers, the media, etc.
- Sharing of Knowledge through CPD, apprenticeships, mentoring
- Sharing Resources through joint venturing, partnering, etc.
- Encourage specialisation and sustainability of work for the specialist.

3. We will work to strengthen the profession – through the improvement of service delivery, reduction in red-tape, abortive works, appropriate fees for service and consequently a better future for the architectural profession

- improvement of service delivery (systems)
- reduction in red-tape (CCC, OSC, authority processes)
- Reduce non-productive abortive works and re-emphasise the concept of signing-off
- Appropriate fees for service and the ability to properly collect all fees (LAM stakeholder)
- New PAM Form and the Architect’s Position and Role in contract administration

4. We will reinforce the important role of Architectural Education and Training to raise up a new generation of graduates, architects and professionals who will be relevantly equipped to face a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive world environment.

- increase the student membership base
- greater involvement of student members
- more inter-action between academia and practitioners
- Apprenticeship and training in firms
- Discourses between practitioners and students

5. We will improve the services and “friendliness” of PAM to better serve members and the public

I would like to thank the organizing chairman tonight, Ar. Wan Mohammad Khair-il bin Wan Ahmad for doing a great job and also Ar. Mohd Shah Dato Sanad, Chairman of Membership Committee for his untiring behind the scene work.

In closing I just want to re-iterate the call for PAM members to contribute and give time to serve the Institute and make a stand for a stronger Profession and Building Industry. Remembering the two earlier mentioned principles that – in the land of the blind …. The one eyed man is king, and its not in what you can get out of it …… but sometimes its in who you will meet along the way.

The recent film by Tim Burton “The Big Fish” is quite thought provoking and seems to portray these principles in the life of the man.

Lastly – an old religious saying goes …. That man is born into the world with his fists clenched, hoping to grasp hold of all things in the world. But when he dies, his hands are wide open …… all things having passed him by. So give your time to serve.

Thank you very much and have a great night.

Ar Dr Tan Loke Mun
President PAM