Category: May 2022

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May 2022

Teh Tarik with Andrew Goh: Printable imagination

ARCHIVE: May 2022

Printable imagination

Sheena Wong 

Three-dimensional (3D) printing provides fast, reliable and replicable digital manufacturing with maximum utilisation of raw materials. This technology has been around for many years and there is still an ever-growing list of remarkable things that we can produce with 3D printing. 

Andrew Goh started using 3D printing as a method of digital fabrication for his university project. Since then, he has customised a personal inventory of household products, toys, smartphone covers, broken parts and more. 3D printing has become very handy for Andrew, especially when he needs to create an equivalent replacement for a broken part.  

“You will no longer be limited by the unthinkable as you can create any imaginable item, or replicate any product in real-size almost instantly, with the help of 3D printing,” said Andrew, as he shared his view in the application and potential of his favourite hobby with the Rise team. 

The application of 3D printing extends to various areas. One of the unsung heroes of the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) and the coveted Gamuda Inspiration Award (GIA) 2019 recipient, Sujana Mohd Rejab has also been printing 3D prosthetics limbs for children in need.   

Rapid prototyping, democratising innovation

Prototyping with 3D printing began developing rapidly in the 1980s when automakers wanted to build an engine model quickly and precisely. Instead of assembling a real and expensive engine, they designed and printed a real-size model with 3D printing.  

The precision of 3D printing has accelerated the speed of rapid prototyping, leading to faster production, fewer iterations and lower costs. One-off prototypes can now be designed and produced in a matter of hours, often with a turnaround as short as a day. 

The types of 3D printers and materials are also getting better, faster and more compact. The key to this modern age of digital printing is essentially its design flexibility, high-speed and less wastage – people want what they want, and they want it yesterday. 

Today, the technology of 3D printing is promising and fast progressing. It will also revolutionise the way we approach traditional manufacturing for major industries such as the automotive, engineering, architecture and medical sectors, leading to higher productivity and independent production capabilities.  

Gamuda’s Digital Industrialised Building System (IBS) is a typical scale-up form of digital printing, which Andrew envisioned to be a more customisable and sustainable construction method that would make up the future of home building. 

Click on the image below to find out the list of things that Andrew has produced with 3D printing.
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May 2022

RM250,000 of annual innovation fund now open to all!

ARCHIVE: May 2022

RM250,000 of annual innovation fund now open to all!

Joyce Shamini 

Learn about the initiative here

Video produced by Yeo Han Fai, Software Development Engineer with Gamuda Excellence Transformation

If you could relate to the scenarios above, the Innovation Fund might be what you’re looking for. The Group has allocated RM250,000 yearly to support staff-driven innovation projects. To date, two teams, one working on a subcontractor’s applications and management webapp and another on a AI-driven tunnelling segment installer, have tapped into this golden opportunity to put their ideas to the test. 

Beyond just providing a hassle-free means of securing initial funds to build an MVP (minimum viable product), the initiative also offers end-to-end support from the Group’s digital engineering experts. After all, challenging the norm or breaking conventions can be intimidating and risky. That’s where the programmes offered by Gamuda Excellence Transformation (GET) come into play to provide individuals and teams with the confidence to deliver the best outcomes.  

From developing a compelling proposal to acquiring digital skillset, project members would be supported throughout via workshops, coaching and more. The first step begins with looking around us, identifying problems worth solving and getting in touch with GET through the Innovation Portal.

Because everyone’s an innovator in Gamuda!

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May 2022

Ask Dr Gaya: Living with COVID-19 in the endemic phase

ARCHIVE: May 2022

Living with COVID-19 in the endemic phase

Adam Anand Row 

With COVID-19 case numbers dropping in some parts of the world, it is starting to feel like the end of the pandemic is finally in sight. As we begin a return to normality, you may be wondering what will change when COVID-19 becomes endemic. Is it time to learn to live with the virus? Or is it a reset button to start all over again? 

Epidemic, endemic, pandemic – what are the differences? What is a likely timeline for COVID-19 to become globally endemic?

An epidemic is defined as an unexpected increase in the number of disease cases in a specific geographical location, while a pandemic refers to an epidemic condition that has extended beyond its original geographical area. Finally, endemic is used when a disease is still persistent but is limited to a certain region or geography, or by the frequency or occurrence of cases. 

As far as a likely timeline for COVID-19 becoming endemic, this is very subjective as we are still seeing cases rise from time to time. However, Malaysia has reached the stage where the government is looking toward endemicity based on the number and type of cases being detected, deciding that now is the best time to take the first steps towards this new phase. This includes opening up borders, reducing quarantine periods and relaxing restrictions. 

Though we may not be quite ready for COVID-19 to be officially declared endemic, Malaysia and many other countries in the world have already begun the transition to treating COVID-19 as endemic in April 2022. What changes can we expect, and what will life be like when COVID-19 becomes endemic?

We can mostly expect a return to normalcy, however the situation is extremely fluid, as every day there are changes and new adaptations based on new studies and research being done as well as information that the government is getting from the health governing bodies like the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

Besides adhering to COVID-19 SOPs, what else can we do to maintain our health throughout the endemic phase? Is there anything you suggest we can do to protect our family members from COVID-19 as it becomes endemic?

First and foremost, we still need to adhere to social distancing and personal protection mechanisms like face masks, hand hygiene and frequent sanitisation, as these barrier mechanisms still help prevent infection. When it comes to the care of family members or other at-risk individuals like the elderly population, it is paramount that their health is maintained through regular medical checkups and by making sure they keep following their existing medication routine. Maintaining a balanced diet and getting enough exercise which helps to strengthen immunity are key to defending yourself from infection of any virus, let alone COVID-19. 

What is the likelihood that we will need another vaccination booster, and how often would that be?

This question is still up for debate. Vaccine manufacturers are currently working on a booster shot, but who will require it, or when that would be, is still being researched and studied. Once this information is confirmed, you can be sure that we will advise Gamuda employees on the appropriate action to take. 

What is Long COVID? If I have contracted and recovered from COVID-19, what can I do to improve my health condition?

Long COVID is the persistence of symptoms weeks after recovering from COVID-19, which can include breathlessness, fever, cough, body aches, and even depression and anxiety. The body still has a remnant reaction to the prior COVID-19 infection, and though no longer infectious, the person still suffers from the sequelae of that infection, causing lingering symptoms. If you are still feeling unwell after recovering from COVID-19, you would need to be assessed and undergo certain blood investigations and other investigative procedures so that you can be treated accordingly. 

We are currently in the process of finalising a checklist and self-assessment, which will be shared with each business unit to screen past positive cases at a one-month interval post-infection. Patients can then seek further consultation and treatment at Gamuda Clinic or contact our hotline at +603-92222232 between 8:00am-5:00pm from Monday to Friday, and between 8:00am-2:00pm on Saturday. Those who have noticed a change even without the assessment are always free to walk-in for a consultation if they feel they need to. 

Leave us a comment below if you would like to hear from Dr Gaya on any other health topic. #AskDrGaya
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May 2022

Batu Patong Eco Village

ARCHIVE: May 2022

Batu Patong Eco Village:
Preserving nature, empowering local community

Sheena Wong 

As builders, we are known for our beautifully laid out and landscaped townships, well- designed homes, modern rail networks and urban highways. So, it may come as a surprise to many that we played a key role in developing the Batu Patong Eco Village – a sustainable initiative that is consistent with our value of empowering and enriching communities. 

Globally, ecotourism has been on the uptrend in the past decade with growing appreciation and concern for the environment, nature and biodiversity. The local ecotourism industry is alive and especially well in East Malaysia – becoming increasingly popular among tourists from Europe, Australia and Japan.  

Hence, the creation of Batu Patong Eco Village, nestled in the verdant jungle of the Kelabit Highlands, aims to leverage this phenomenon by providing an authentic experience for like-minded enthusiasts in the unspoilt hinterland of Sarawak. Find out more about the eco-resort HERE.

Batu Patong Eco Village is a notable cooperation between Gamuda and the local Kelabit community to promote a legacy, self-resilience, social empowerment and a sustainable business model for the local community to take charge of their community project in the town of Bario. It all started when several descendants of the original Batu Patong community needed assistance to re-settle into their old longhouse in the early 2017. 

The project kickstarted the homecoming for many Batu Patong folks to rebuild and resettle on the land which their ancestors originally inhabited. It also helped boost the local economy and promote eco-tourism in Batu Patong and the Bario Valley, providing a significant source of supplementary income for the community. 

Batu Patong Eco Village consists of seven eco-lodges where each of the lodges can accommodate three to six guests. 

90% of the timber for the construction was sustainably harvested from the surrounding jungles. 

The Gamuda team and Kelabit community conducting a site survey.

Eddie Chan pointing at Batuh Kelabet or Gibbon Stone, which is rumoured to be Kelabit ancient ceremonial ground where the Kelabit people carve stone to mark their important site for festive and as their burial ground. 

If you are interested to visit Batu Patong Eco Village, go to their Facebook page or place your reservation with bp.ecovillage@gmail.com 

Special thanks to the dedicated Batu Patong team members – Audrey Lakai, Joshua Kong, Yii Hing, Deric Kua, Hanief Shamsuddin and Safiy Zakwan, who have been pivotal in winning multiple accolades for the resort recently – the Malaysia Property Award FIABCI 2021 (Resort Category) and the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards 2019 (Green Initiative Awards – CSR Category). 

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May 2022

Gamuda’s largest solar rooftop feat

ARCHIVE: May 2022

Photo by Freepik.com

Gamuda’s largest solar rooftop feat

Sheena Wong 

Gamuda has installed a total of 2,208 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the rooftop of the Quayside Mall in Kota Kemuning, which is our largest feat to-date. The massive array covering 5,706sqm, or more than 53% of the available roof area, has a total generation capacity of 1,192 kilowatts peak (kWp) or 1,536,900 kilowatts hour (kWh) per year. This will provide an anticipated energy savings of RM560,969 annually, which is an offset of about 15% of the current electricity consumption for the mall. 

Behind the scene, the solar PV installation project was led by Leong Sai Pink, Gamuda Land Manager of Product Management Unit – Design and Innovation, in close collaboration with Chang Peu Lee, Gamuda Land Assistant General Manager of Facilities Management, and two of our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) – Puganesan Thiruselvan, Gamuda Engineering Head of Renewable Energy and Power System, and Faris Bin Mohd Yusof, Gamuda Engineering Assistant Manager of Renewable Energy. 

What are the types of self-owned solar system?

According to Puganesan and Faris, the Government has always encouraged TNB consumers to install a solar PV system to hedge against the rising cost of electricity. Apart from enjoying energy bill savings, generating energy via a self-owned solar PV system will reduce our dependency on the electricity gridline, which is currently 42% generated by environmentally harmful coal fired plants. 

The SELCO model was chosen based on the available space on the premise rooftop which allows a maximum of 1,192kwp installation size to offset 15% of energy consumption. It does not allow any excess to flow into the utility network but useful for properties with constant usage of electricity such as shopping malls. 

There are three categories of programme under NEM 3.0 differentiated by consumer premises and quota allocation. 

*For Gamudians who are interested in installing or retrofitting solar PV on their rooftop, check out NEM Rakyat that is designed for domestic consumers to install solar PV systems in their homes or residences. Any excess energy produced through the solar PV systems will be exported to the electricity grid through a “one-on-one” offset basis for a term of ten years. Visit the SEDA website at https://www.seda.gov.my/reportal/nem/ for more information. 

Solar PV installation took over three months 

Bird eye view of the solar PV panels at Quayside Mall 

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May 2022

A roaring victory in the Lion City

ARCHIVE: May 2022

Photo by Freepik.com

A roaring victory in the Lion City

Joyce Shamini 

All smiles from the Singapore based tender team. Front left to right: Yeoh Ting Hee, Kenny Yong, Jefry Santhosam, Bennett Chang. 

Back left to right: Tan Pei Qi, Lee Yek Chan, Eileen Teo, Grace Chong, Tee Dick Way 

 

Last February, a joint venture between Gamuda Singapore and Wai Fong Construction Pte Ltd. broke new grounds with the award for constructing Defu Station and Tunnels package worth SGD$467 million (RM1.45 billion) from the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA). Unprecedented for a Malaysian contractor, it was a landmark achievement for Gamuda as a relative newcomer in the landscape. 

In Singaporean government projects, companies are allocated tender limits based on their business grades. Making a thorough review of the organisation’s track record, financial position, workforce personnel, growth, and more, this process could make or break the bidder’s chances of prequalifying in the first place. Over the last 1.5 years, Gamuda Singapore tendered for six contracts in the latest MRT line known as the Cross Island Line where each could involve up to 15 unique competitors vying for the job.  

Considering that each tender process typically takes 5-7 months, with numerous presentations to LTA, it was no small feat for a lean team of just 10-15 persons, said Assistant Tunnel Manager, Jefry Santhosam. Facing overwhelming competition from local bidders and veteran players from Japan, China, Korea and Australia, nerve-racking prequalification rounds, and enduring long tender cycles – the journey was an emotional yet fruitful one for the team. 

On arriving at this crowning moment, Jefry shared that it was not an overnight success but rather the culmination of Gamuda’s long term proven expertise and innovations across various projects. For example, the construction of the Gali Batu Multi-Storey Bus Depot was pivotal in establishing its reputation in the region while gaining exposure to the local supply chain. Jefry also cited that the digital innovations from the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project, such as the Autonomous Tunnel Boring Machine were also compelling factors that propelled the organisation onto the global stage. 

The story of Gamuda Singapore is truly one of perseverance and unyielding faith in the capabilities of our colleagues and leaders. Standing on the shoulders of giants, we all play a part in securing the Group’s future success in Singapore by continuously delivering our best! 

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May 2022

Taking on down under

ARCHIVE: May 2022

Copyright © Gamuda Berhad

Taking on down under

Ryan Mok 

Gamuda Land’s 661 Chapel St.

In 2015, Gamuda Land entered the Australian market with 661 Chapel St. in Melbourne as part of our strategic business plan of growing local versus foreign sales contribution to a 50:50 ratio, balancing out our Ringgit vs non-Ringgit revenue. The decision to enter the Melbourne market came naturally due to similarities in terms of demographics – sizeable South East Asian community and business practices such as legal and taxation systems.  

We caught up with Mr. Ngan Chee Meng – Chief Executive Officer of Gamuda Land to share his views having led our property arm in the overseas market (Vietnam, Singapore and Australia) in the last fifteen years. Mr Ngan shared that culture, regulatory requirements, and customers’ profile differ in these three market segments. 

“In Malaysia, most of our buyers prefer link-houses and apartments in well-planned townships with parks and good amenities nearby. Whereas in Australia, it is a challenge to do this, mainly because of the regulatory situation whereby buyers pay 10% and nothing more until the completion of the development. Regulations like this require a high upfront investment, and we can only recoup at the end of the project. That’s why, we do smaller-scale developments in Australia that suit the local Australian culture and market needs,” said Mr. Ngan. 

“Vietnam is a more open market, and we need to understand the intricacies of the culture and business practices. For instance, the Vietnamese prefer cash purchases rather than going through the local banking system. It is common to handover ‘bare looking’ homes without the final finishing as the Vietnamese buyers prefer to put their own touch into the final design of their homes.”

“Hence, it is imperative that we understand the market and our buyers’ profiles thoroughly to deliver projects that suit their demands. Above all, staying true to our DNA of ‘listening to what the land has to tell us’, we’ve thoughtfully incorporated biophilic designs, greenery and parks as well as good amenities into our design and planning.” 

On growth opportunity in Melbourne, Mr. Ngan said the end of COVID-19 lockdowns had led economists to predict a resilient market despite figures showing the market cooling down this year, particularly with re-emerging offshore interest and the arrival of more international students as a result of border reopening. Demand for well-designed properties is also increasing as the country adapts to the endemic stage.  

Artist impression of Normanby’s al fresco zone.

Post-pandemic, closer connectivity to shops, parks and public transportation are key considerations for property purchasers. There is also an increase in demand for adaptive layouts for multifunctional space.  

Mr. Ngan excitedly shared about our upcoming mixed-use development – the newly acquired parcel at 272 Normanby Road – South Melbourne’s largest urban renewal precinct – Fishermen’s Bend.  

Our project vision is to have biophilic designs for Norman by, connecting homeowners to nature coupled with a rooftop garden, solar energy and efficient floor plans for an optimised maintenance. The development will also enjoy a picturesque view of a future park, to be built by Gamuda Land.  

With the aim to expand further, we are actively looking for strategic acquisitions with smaller scale en-bloc developments in Melbourne and Sydney, targeting one new project per year in the next five years. 

Over to our colleagues in Australia, Jarrod Tai, Assistant General Manager for Projects and Developments said, “One of Gamuda Land’s core strengths is its strong brand ethos towards Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives.” 

“In my work I’ve encountered business partners, government authorities, buyers and new team members that have been strongly drawn by Gamuda Land’s track record in this space. I believe that being ambassadors for Gamuda Land’s ESG initiatives is a powerful way for us to attract the required ingredients for success in our work and for the group in Australia and globally,” he added. 

Christina Wong, Assistant Manager for Sales and Marketing talks about her journey on completing 661 Chapel Street.  “To establish our presence, keeping abreast with the latest on-ground market intelligence and speaking with the local team is integral. Being a self-starter, this helped me look ahead through standing out by creating a point of difference. As for coping in a new country, I believe in always being proud of our Malaysian roots, capabilities and always be genuine to everyone,” Wong said modestly. 
Wong concluded, “The ESG efforts reflected in our Normanby project of having a park right at the doorstep will meet the needs of a post-COVID lifestyle. The integration of ground source heat pump technology into the development will also greatly enhance Gamuda Land’s brand image as a group that provides tangible, sustainable and innovative solutions.”
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