ACEM Sabah strengthens ties with DBKK and DOSH to streamline engineering approvals and enhance safety standards

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 23) : The Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) Sabah Branch successfully hosted a high-level technical sharing session on Thursday, serving as a vital bridge between engineering practitioners and the authorities who shape industry standards.

The engagement featured key guest speakers, including Saiman bin Angak, Director of the DBKK Engineering Department; Hana’aifah binti Suhaili, Director of the DBKK Traffic and Transport Department; and Haji Zulkifly bin Sulaiman, Director of DOSH Sabah.

The event saw overwhelming participation from ACEM members and non-member practitioners. This two-way interaction resulted in a highly productive outcome, with an open dialogue centered on sharing practical challenges to improve the efficiency of the approval process and reduce project turnaround times without compromising safety or quality.

A primary focus of the session was achieving absolute clarity on essential engineering submissions to DBKK, specifically regarding Earthwork, Drainage, Traffic Site Plans (TSP), Mechanical & Electrical plans as well as Structural plans.

By aligning with the latest requirements and protocols, ACEM Sabah aims to ensure that all practitioners are fully equipped to meet current submission requirements efficiently.

The discussion also highlighted the critical importance of the Construction Design Management (CDM) Regulations 2024, which came into effect on 1 June 2024, as emphasised by DOSH Sabah. ACEM Sabah highlighted that for modern engineers, the priority is integrating safety directly into the design phase to protect lives and streamline project execution. Furthermore, the session also addressed the 2022 revision of the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) Sabah, with Ir. Lee Tet Fon leading the discussion on the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) to ensure all building safety standards are strictly met within the latest legal frameworks.

The Chairman of ACEM Sabah, Ir. Benny Song, urged all members to use this rare forum to seek specific clarifications for their active projects, noting that direct interaction with department directors is essential for navigating the increasingly complex regulatory landscape in Kota Kinabalu.

Looking ahead, ACEM Sabah remains deeply committed to this collaborative approach. The association intends to continue this momentum by planning similar interactions with other key agencies, such as SESB, Sabah Water Department, JPP Sabah and DID Sabah, to further enhance the engineering ecosystem throughout the state.