CHAPTER 2

PROFESSIONALISM
AND
CODE OF ETHICS
Prepared by

Ir. Dr. Salina Binti Budin

 OUTLINE

• PROFESSIONALISM AND CODES OF ETHICS (3 HOURS)

• REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS WITH BOARD OF ENGINEERS (BEM)
• ROUTE TO BE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
• REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT 1967 (REVISED 2015) [REA 2015]
• REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS REGULATIONS 1990 (REVISED 2015) [REG
2015)
• INTRODUCTION TO CODE OF ETHICS FOR YOUNG ENGINEERS
• GUIDELINE FOR CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
 LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this chapter, students must be able to;

1. Familiar with Registration of Engineers Act 1967 and Registration

of Engineers Regulation 1990

2. Understand the requirement and procedure on Graduate Engineer,

Professional Engineer and Professional Engineer with Practicing
Certificate

3. Practice the code of ethics.

4. Apply code of conduct in their profesion

 REGISTRATION OF
ENGINEERS ACT, 1967

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?

 REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT,
1967

• REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT (REA), 1967 (ACT138)

WAS PASSED BY THE PARLIAMENT IN 1967.
• REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS REGULATIONS, 1990 CAME
INTO FORCE ON 1STJULY, 1987.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
ENGINEERING ACT?
 BEM REGISTERS ALL:-

• PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS,
• GRADUATE ENGINEERS, AND
• FOREIGN (TEMPORARY) ENGINEERS.
 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

• SECTION 7(1)(A), REA NO PERSON SHALL, UNLESS HE IS A REGISTERED

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, PRACTISE, CARRY ON BUSINESS OR TAKE
UP EMPLOYMENT WHICH REQUIRES HIM TO CARRY OUT OR PERFORM
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
 GRADUATE ENGINEERS

• SECTION 7(2), REA NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (1), A

REGISTERED GRADUATE ENGINEER MAY, SUBJECT TO SECTIONS 7A
AND 8, TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT WHICH REQUIRES HIM TO CARRY OUT
OR PERFORM PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
 FOREIGN/TEMPORARY ENGINEERS

• AMENDMENTS IN 1987 (ACT A662) INTRODUCED THE

“TEMPORARY REGISTRATION AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
OF ANY FOREIGN ENGINEER” AND MAKING THE ACT EXPLICIT
IN THE RESTRICTION ON EMPLOYMENT OF UNREGISTERED
PERSON AS AN ENGINEER: “NO PERSON SHALL EMPLOY AS
AN ENGINEER ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT REGISTERED UNDER
THIS ACT”.
 AMENDMENTS 2015
SUMMARY
AMENDMENTS 2015
 REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGIST

10C(1) A person wo holds any qualification which is

recognized by the Board shall be entitled on application
to be registered a an Engineering Technologist

A person who is registered as an Enginnering

Technologist under subsection (1) shall be entitled on
application to be registered as a Graduate Engineer
upon fulfilling the requirements under subsection 10(1)
 REGISTRATION AS INSPECTOR OF
WORKS

10E A person who holds any qualification which is

recognized by the Board shall be entitled on
application to be registered as Inspector of works
REGISTRATION AS PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS
ROUTE TO BE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS
 ROUTE TO BE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS
• A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IS A PERSON REGISTERED UNDER
SUBSECTION 10(2) OF THE REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS
(AMENDMENT) ACT 2015.
 ROUTE TO BE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS
• APPLICANT WHO APPLIES FOR REGISTRATION AS A PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEER MUST BE A REGISTERED GRADUATE ENGINEER WITH BEM.
• ROUTE 1 AND 2 SHALL BE DONE FROM THE DATE OF APPROVAL AS
GRADUATE ENGINEER WITH BEM.
• A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER FROM AN OVERSEAS REGULATORY BODY
MUST FIRST REGISTER AS A GRADUATE ENGINEER TO ENSURE THAT
HIS/HER BASIC DEGREE IS “ENGINEERING” IRRESPECTIVE OF HIS
PROFESSIONAL STATUS.
• ONCE HE/SHE IS REGISTERED AS A GRADUATE ENGINEER WITH BEM,
HE/SHE THEN SHALL FOLLOW ROUTE 3 OF THE FOLLOWING ROUTE
TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
ROUTE 1
ROUTE 2
ROUTE 3
 ROUTE TO BE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS WITH PRACTISING
CERTIFICATE
• A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH PRACTISING CERTIFICATE IS A
PERSON REGISTERED UNDER SUBSECTION 10(D) OF THE
REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS (AMENDMENT) ACT 2015.
 ROUTE TO BE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS WITH PRACTISING
CERTIFICATE
• APPLICANT SHALL BE ENTITLED ON APPLICATION TO BE REGISTERED
AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH
• PRACTISING CERTIFICATE IF HE/SHE:
1. IS A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH THE BOARD;
2. HAS PASSED A PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY EXAMINATION
CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD;
3. HAS BEEN RESIDING IN MALAYSIA FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS
THAN SIX MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
APPLICATION.
 CODE OF ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS

• BEM HAS, THEREFORE, PRODUCED THE GUIDELINES HEREIN THAT

OUTLINE THE CONDUCT EXPECTED OF ENGINEERS.
• THESE GUIDELINES ARE SET OUT UNDER A NUMBER OF BROAD AREAS
RELATING TO THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION
• 1) REGISTRATION
• UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT 1967 (ACT 138) AND
SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, THE MOST RECENT BEING YEAR 2002, IT
IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW THAT ANY PERSON PROVIDING
ENGINEERING SERVICES BE A QUALIFIED PERSON AND REGISTERED
WITH THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA. THIS REQUIREMENT
EXTENDS TO FOREIGNERS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO SEEK
REGISTRATION AS TEMPORARY ENGINEERS.
• DO'S
• 1.1 AN ENGINEERING GRADUATE WITH ACCREDITED ENGINEERING DEGREE MUST
REGISTER WITH THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT
• AS AN ENGINEER
•
• DON’TS
• 1.1 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT BE THE SUBMITTING PERSON FOR DESIGNS BEYOND
HIS/HER AREA OF COMPETENCY
• 1.2 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT ENDORSE HIS PE STAMP AND SIGN ON REPORTS OR
PLANS NOT PREPARED BY HIM.(SEE ALSO CONSULTANCY - 2.3 OF DON’T )
• 1.3 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT ENTER INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH ANY PARTY NOT
PERMITTED UNDER THE ENGINEERS ACT.
• 1.4 AN ENGINEERING CONSULTANCY PRACTICE SHOULD NOT PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES IN ANY BRANCH OF ENGINEERING WHERE NONE OF ITS DIRECTORS ARE
REGISTERED TO PRACTISE IN THAT BRANCH OF ENGINEERING.
• 1.5 AN ENGINEER MUST NOT PRACTISE IN THE BRANCH OF ENGINEERING HE IS NOT
REGISTERED IN
• 2) CONSULTANCY

• IN THE REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT 1967 (REVISED 2002), PROVISION IS INCLUDED FOR THE REGISTRATION
OF ACCREDITED CHECKERS AND THE REQUIREMENT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
BEGINNING YEAR 2005.

• DO'S

• 2.1 AN ENGINEER SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND RECEPTIVE TO PEER REVIEW OR CHECKING OF HIS WORK IF
REQUESTED/REQUIRED BY THE CLIENT/AUTHORITIES.

• 2.2 A CHECKER ENGINEER MUST BE OPEN TO THE VIEWS AND DESIGN CONCEPT OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGNER AND
IN AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT, THE CHECKER MUST GIVE JUSTIFICATION FOR HIS DISAGREEMENT.

• 2.3 A CHECKER ENGINEER SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHECKING OF THE WORK HIMSELF.

• 2.4 AN ENGINEER SHOULD UNDERTAKE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ENHANCE HIS KNOWLEDGE
AND CAPABILITY.

• 2.5 AN EMPLOYER ENGINEER SHOULD ENSURE THAT HIS EMPLOYEE ENGINEERS ARE BONA FIDE ENGINEERS
REGISTERED WITH BEM.

• 2.6 AN ENGINEER SHOULD REPORT UNETHICAL PRACTICE TO BEM.

• 2.7 AN ENGINEER WHO IS A SUBMITTING PERSON MUST ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
WORKS DELEGATED TO OTHERS BY HIM.

• 2.8 AN ENGINEER SHOULD MAKE OPTIMUM USE OF MANPOWER, MATERIALS AND MONEY.

• 2.9 AN ENGINEER SHOULD BE AWARE OF GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENT TO USE LOCAL MATERIALS, WHEREVER
POSSIBLE.
• DON’TS
• 2.1 A CHECKER ENGINEER SHOULD NOT ACCEPT CHECKING OF WORK NOT WITHIN HIS
AREA OF COMPETENCY AS WELL AS WORK THAT HE IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH.
• 2.2 AN ENGINEERING CONSULTANT SHOULD NOT CARRY OUT PROJECTS FOR FEES
BELOW THE MINIMUM OUTLINED IN THE SCALE OF FEES.
• 2.3 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT ENDORSE ANY WORK NOT PERFORMED AND/OR
SUPERVISED BY HIM.
• 2.4 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT SUPPLANT ANOTHER ENGINEER.
• 2.5 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT COMPROMISE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
• 2.6 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT OFFER HIS OPINION ON ENGINEERING MATTERS UNLESS
HE HAS FULL FACTS TO SUPPORT THE OPINION.
• 2.7 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT BASE HIS DESIGN ON UNSUBSTANTIATED DATA, FOR
EXAMPLE DESIGNING FOUNDATION WITHOUT SOIL INVESTIGATION.
• 2.8 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN
CONNECTION WITH THE WORK HE IS UNDERTAKING UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL FROM
BEM AND CLIENT ARE OBTAINED.
• 2.9 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT ACCEPT WORK OUTSIDE HIS REGULAR WORK WITHOUT
THE EXPRESSED PERMISSION OF HIS EMPLOYER.
• 3) SUPERVISION
• THE SUPERVISION OF WORKS DESIGNED BY THE SUBMITTING ENGINEER IS
A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAW 5 (UBBL 5). THIS
BYLAW STATES THAT SUPERVISION MUST BE PROVIDED BY THE SUBMITTING
ENGINEER TO ENSURE THAT THE WORKS CARRIED OUT ARE AS INTENDED IN
THE DESIGN. DELEGATION OF SUPERVISION IS PERMITTED BUT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS SUPERVISION STILL RESTS WITH THE SUBMITTING
ENGINEER.
•
• DO'S
• 3.1 AN ENGINEER WHO IS THE SUBMITTING PERSON SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
PROJECT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS SELF-SUPERVISED AND/OR DELEGATED
SUPERVISION.
• 3.2 AN ENGINEER MUST BE METICULOUSLY PROPER AND CORRECT IN CERTIFICATION OF
WORKS.
• 3.3 AN ENGINEER MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH AND KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE WORK HE IS TO
SUPERVISE.
• 3.4 AN EMPLOYER ENGINEER SHALL ENSURE THAT HIS STAFF UNDERGOES REGULAR AND
PROPER SKILLS-TRAINING.
• 3.5 AN ENGINEER SUPERVISING A PROJECT SHALL KEEP PROPER RECORDS OF ALL
DOCUMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE PERTAINING TO THE PROJECT.
• 3.6 AN ENGINEER MUST BE CONVERSANT WITH TIME AND COST IMPLICATIONS IN THE
ISSUANCE OF ANY INSTRUCTION.
• 3.1 AN ENGINEER MUST NOT OVER OR UNDER CERTIFY PROGRESS OF WORKS.
• 3.2 AN ENGINEER MUST NOT MAKE WRONGFUL CERTIFICATIONS.
• DON’TS
• 3.3 AN ENGINEER MUST NOT CERTIFY WORK NOT WITHIN HIS
EXPERTISE.
• 3.4 AN ENGINEER MUST NOT ACCEPT SITE SUPERVISORY STAFF WHO
ARE NOT QUALIFIED OR ARE INCOMPETENT.
• 3.5 AN ENGINEER MUST NOT DELAY APPROVALS WITHOUT
JUSTIFICATION.
• 3.6 AN ENGINEER MUST NOT INTENTIONALLY DELAY INSPECTION OF
WORKS.
•
• 4) REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
• ALL ENGINEERS REGISTERED WITH THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA MUST BE
FAMILIAR WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT
1967 (ACT 138) AND ITS SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS. IGNORANCE OF THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT IS NO DEFENSE IN THE COURTS OF LAW IN
MALAYSIA.
•
• DO'S
• 4.1 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOTIFY THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES (WITHIN
REASONABLE/STATUTORY TIME LIMIT) ON CHANGES IN DESIGNS OR
WITHDRAWAL OF SERVICES.
• 4.2 AN ENGINEER SHOULD SUBMIT COMPLETED FORMS IN TIME FOR INSPECTION
AND APPROVAL FOR CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS / CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
AND COMPLIANCE.
• 4.3 AN ENGINEER SHOULD BE AWARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY
MATTERS DURING AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
• 4.4 AN ENGINEER SHOULD ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY
MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED AS PER DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
• DON’TS
• 4.1 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT ALLOW WORKS TO PROCEED
BEFORE PLANS ARE SUBMITTED TO AND/OR APPROVED BY THE
RELEVANT AUTHORITIES.
• 4.2 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT UNDERTAKE A PROJECT FOR WHICH
THE CLIENT IS NOT GOING TO FULFILL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
• 5) CODE OF ETHICS
• ALL ENGINEERS ARE EXPECTED TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF THE
PROFESSION BY BEHAVING IN A MANNER EXPECTED OF HIM IN THE CODE
OF CONDUCT OF ENGINEERS.
•
• DO'S
• 5.1 AN ENGINEER MUST BE CONVERSANT WITH THE CODE OF CONDUCT
OF ENGINEERS.
• 5.2 AN ENGINEER MUST UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR RESPONSIBILITY
AND LIABILITY AS STIPULATED IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
• 5.3 AN ENGINEER MUST RESPOND PROMPTLY TO COMPLAINTS AND
ENQUIRIES BY CLIENTS /AUTHORITIES.
• DON’TS
• 5.1 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT SOLICIT/ TOUT.
• 5.2 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT KNOWINGLY MISLEAD THE PUBLIC BY
GIVING MISREPRESENTED INFORMATION SO AS TO GAIN
COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGE/MILEAGE.
• 5.3 AN ENGINEER SHOULD NOT RESPOND TO AN OPEN
ADVERTISEMENT TO BID FOR PROVISION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
IF SUCH PROVISION FOR THE SERVICE REQUIRES BIDDING FEES OR
EQUIVALENT AS IS USUALLY IMPOSED ON CONTRACTORS.
• 5.4 AN ENGINEER SHOULD AVOID FAVORITISM AMONG VENDORS
AND OTHER SUPPLIERS.
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
 CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
A registered Engineer shall at all times hold paramount the safety, health
and welfare of the public.
 CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
A registered Engineer shall undertake assignments only if he is qualified
by education and experience in the specific technical fields in which he is
involved.
 CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
A registered Engineer shall issue public statements only in an objective
and truthful manner.
 CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
A registered Engineer shall act for each employer or clients as faithful
agent or trustee.
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
 CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
A registered Engineer shall conduct himself honorably, responsibly,
ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honour, reputation and
usefulness of the profession
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
End of
Chapter