At ENGINEER & MARVEX 2025, beyond the big innovations and power-packed keynotes, one casual yet unmissable session had young engineers leaning in: Is the Ir. title really worth it?
The “Sembang Chillex” talk tackled the topic of ‘Best sangat ke jadi Ir.? Gaji naik, hidup senang… atau mitos semata-mata? (Is it really that great to be an Ir.? Salary increments, an easy life… or is it all a myth?)
It brought the heavy topic of professional engineering into a laid-back but eye-opening conversation: career growth, higher salaries, international recognition, versus the effort, exams, and long journey to get there.
Much like how law graduates must pass the bar to practice, engineers too face their own gatekeeping milestone. An engineering degree makes you an engineer; but the coveted ‘Ir.’ prefix – granted only after years of supervised experience, assessments, and endorsement by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) – unlocks the authority to sign off projects, supervise peers, and command leadership opportunities.
The panellists were unanimous: the Ir. isn’t just an option, it’s a strategic necessity.
- “It might not be compulsory in all roles, but without it, your career options shrink,” advised Ir. Associate Professor Dr. Syuhaida Ismail of MIMA.
- “The process didn’t just make me an engineer – it made me a better leader, more confident, more capable,” shared Ir. Pukalenthi Subramaniam, M&E consultant.
And with the Washington Accord, the Ir. carries weight far beyond Malaysia – recognised from the UK to the US to Australia. Yet the message was clear: experience is king, and the Ir. should be seen as the ultimate upgrade, not a replacement for hard-earned skills.
“If you can, do go for it,” advised Dr. Ir. Is. Prabakaran Rajah.
The takeaway? In a field that never stops evolving, standing still is not an option. The Ir. title isn’t just about prestige, it’s about future-proofing your career.