Architect's Role Diminishing in Malaysia: PAM

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- The role of an architect in Malaysia is diminishing and losing ground, said Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president, Ar Saifuddin Ahmad. Saifuddin said the architect's traditional territory was slowly being taken away by other professions and the people at the top still idolised foreign architects. "Even when the local architects are involved, they only play second fiddle to these foreigners," he said at the institute's annual dinner here Friday. The president said he has directed the PAM secretariat to send letters to all companies, especially government and government-linked, asking them to give local architects the opportunity to prove their worth. Saifuddin said he wanted to focus on architectural education this year and improve not only the system but to ensure that the schools of architecture and their graduates get the recognition and accreditation they deserved. "It is about time that PAM champions this as there are many graduates from unrecognised schools in the market. "At times, it is ridiculous to discover that graduates from prestigious schools of architecture in the US, China and Japan are not recognised here due to the current system of accreditation adopted by the Board of Architects Malaysia. He said PAM would propose a formula to address the matter and present it to the board for consideration. The issue was raised at the board meeting on June 1 and was well-received, he said. -- BERNAMA