Professional Documents
Culture Documents
and advertisement. In what ways should such restraint enhance the stature of
engineers as professionals? More importantly, given the advent (arrival) of
information technology age where virtual reality is becoming norm, how would any
violation of the IEM Regulations of Professional Conduct be detected and dealt with?
(The following write-up was prepared (written) by Mr. BAY prior to his sitting for PI on Feb 2014. It is shared here for reference of other
candidates.)
Introduction
IEM regulations of professional conduct are written rules and principles for members
to conduct themselves in ethical and morale manner when discharging their duties
and carrying their works. The regulations and rules are written in broad and general
terms and cover all eventualities.
The regulations, basically, require members to uphold the dignity of the profession,
be honest and fair to all parties, ensure works constitute no danger to public, do not
jeopardize the benefits of his fellow engineers, etc.
One of rules is member shall not use self-laudatory language or in any manner
derogatory to the dignity of the profession, to advertise or write articles for
publication, nor shall he authorize any such advertisement or article to be written or
published by any other person.
All these IEM regulations of professional conduct, including prohibit of active self-
promotion and advertisement, are to enhance the stature of engineers as
professionals and further promote the profession as an attractive and rewarding
ones.
Active self-promotion and advertisement like sales and marketing industry may result
the use of self-laudatory language. In my opinions, engineering works are application
of science knowledge to improve living standard of human. Engineers are those
involved with the roles. These kinds of roles are informative and implementation
patterns and not adjective and praising ways. It is important so that we can perform
our duties with real understanding and attending to engineering problems sincerely.
We do not say or make public perceive that we could perform something
extraordinary or can do much better or no one else could able to do similar. This rule
is essential to avoid wrong perception from the public and to show our sincerity to
contribute to the community while taking care of our business prospects.
In addition, the restraint can avoid unhealthy competition among engineers such as
deduction of fees. This approach to secure works is definitely detrimental to the
profession and other engineers. The impacts are the profession could no longer be
an attractive and rewarding one. In future, there will less and less talents willing to
join the profession making the industry not sustainable and stagnant from
advancement.
Again, as per earlier sub-chapter, active self-promotion and advertisement like sales
and marketing industry may result the use of self-laudatory language. It could
sometimes become worst if there is any manner derogatory to dignity profession.
Therefore, the violation can be detected by identifying the presence of these two
elements of advertisement and articles published on both traditional media and
online. If one uses self-laudatory language, the statement is unlikely providing
informative details tally with his qualification, capacity and competence. Both Board
of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) have the
directory and registration details and public could access via online to check the
registration of individual engineer.
To enhance competence
There is sometimes some bad apples. Therefore, there must be regulators and
enforcement system in place.
However, BEM does not able to play her roles and responsibilities unless there are
whistle blowers and assistance of IEM.
Most registered engineers are also members of IEM. IEM has similar mechanism to
suspend membership of default members. Hence, the close collaboration from both
BEM and IEM since earliest days is dealing with the matters.
By adhering to IEM rules and regulations, we could abide by most of the regulations
by BEM and REA, which include the prohibition of active self-promotion and
advertisement.
Conclusion