PETALING JAYA: Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the government is supportive of the construction industry’s transformation towards utilising advanced technology and producing safer and better quality construction. The statement was delivered as part of the opening address at Rehda Institute’s Modern Construction Technology Roundtable and Forum 2026.
The opening address, delivered by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) chief executive officer Ahmad Farrin Mokhtar, highlighted the National Construction Policy 2030 and the Construction Action Plan 2026–2030 (CAP30) as the policy foundations for higher productivity, digitalisation and modern construction practices. It emphasised that progress must be measured by improvements in how projects are planned and delivered.
Nanta also called for coordination among developers, consultants, manufacturers and contractors to realise the benefits of Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) and prefabrication. On digitalisation, he encouraged industry players to extend the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) beyond design by incorporating scheduling and cost information to assess the implications of changes before they affect project delivery.
“The future of Malaysia’s construction industry will not be determined by technology alone. It will be shaped by how effectively we adopt it, how well we develop our people and how closely the government and industry work together,” the address stated.
Organised by Rehda Institute, the roundtable brings together developers, contractors, consultants, manufacturers and technology providers to examine the commercial and practical challenges of modernising construction.
Rehda trustee and Malaysia Productivity Corporation’s champion of the construction and built environment productivity nexus Datuk Seri Michael Yam urged industry players to assess technology based on its contribution to productivity across the entire development process.
“Labour pressure has not eased, buyers expect better quality and ESG requirements are tightening. Yet for many firms, the existing way of building still works. If we want them to change, we must show where the return lies and what the realistic first step is,” he said.
He said meaningful productivity gains require improvements in regulation, contractual risk allocation, design, procurement, site execution and workforce skills, alongside investment in technology.
The programme featured panel speakers from Autodesk, MAPEI Malaysia, Trowers & Hamlins, the UK Parliament and was moderated by Foo Chee Hung from MKH Bhd.
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