Malaysia set to become South East Asia hub for FM

Malaysia is to launch South-East Asia's first FM manual.

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With about 30 assets and facilities management contractors in Malaysia, the country is rapidly aimed at becoming the FM hub for the South-East Asia region, confirmed deputy president of the Malaysian Association of Facility Management, Professor Abdul Hakim Mohammed.

With over 2,700ha of shopping complex space and purpose-built offices built in 2010, Malaysia is presenting much opportunity for the FM sector in the country.

"Many contractors are just cleaners. We need to train them to become FM contractors," said Mohammed. He added that the contractors for the public sector were ready as they were guided by policy, a manual and a standard operating system from the government.

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"We are now waiting for the training modules and registration for the private sector. Once we make it compulsory [for them to register], then the industry would develop fully."

Ruslan Nordin, MD of Global Facilities Management, a company which has also established itself in the Middle East, added that Malaysia would be the first country in South East Asia to produce and provide an AFM manual. He said this was crucial in providing competitively-priced and quality services within and outside the region.

"When we go to the Middle East, for instance, to countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, we can offer value-for-money in terms of services.

"Compared to western companies, which charge premium rates, we provide the same standard and quality with better pricing. That is our value proposition."