The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) held its first national townhall at ENGINEER MARVEX 2026, bringing members together to discuss the profession’s priorities and recognise engineers reaching new milestones in their careers.
IEM president Ir. Yau Chau Fong said the gathering was an opportunity for engineers to consider how they could contribute more meaningfully to Malaysia’s future. “The engineering decisions we make today will influence the Malaysia that we have for the future,” he added.
The townhall put IEM IMPACT 2030 in focus. The institution’s five-year roadmap sets out 13 programmes under six pillars: Innovation, Membership, Professionalism, Advocacy, Collaboration and Transformation. These include improving services for members, strengthening professional development and giving engineers a stronger voice in discussions on national development.
Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Sim Tze Tzin, a civil engineer by training, called on engineers to help Malaysia develop more technology and intellectual property of its own. Pointing to the growth of data centres, he said the country should also build the industries and supply chains around them. “We cannot just be another place for their data centres. We should be building the ecosystem for the next generation,” he said.
The event also included a certificate presentation recognising members’ professional progress. According to Yau, five engineers were conferred IEM Fellowship and 68 were conferred IEM Membership. Associate Members were also recognised, alongside engineers receiving regional and international professional registrations.
Yau said the recognition brought responsibilities as well as professional standing: to uphold engineering standards, practise ethically, share knowledge and serve society. The ceremony gave a personal dimension to the townhall’s wider message—IMPACT 2030 depends on the engineers who will put its ambitions into practice.