Talk on Building and Property Management

The speakers with the audience

The Faculty of Accounting and Management (FAM) organised a talk on “Building and Property Management” on 2 August 2016. The talk was delivered by Building Managers Association of Malaysia (BMAM) President-cum-UTAR Industrial Advisor Tan Sri Datuk Eddy Chen Lok Loi and RCMC Sdn Bhd Principal Consultant Richard Chan Chee Keong. FAM Dean Dr Sia Bee Chuan was also invited to attend the talk.

Tan Sri Chen said, “Building management affects all of us. There is an increasing number of the stratified properties, including apartments, condominiums, and SOHOs (Small Office, Home Office). As the tenants or owners of these properties, we hope that the value of these properties will not depreciate in the future. So, we look for good property management and high property security. Malaysia is experiencing a hike in population and there will be an increasing demand of properties in the market, which is precisely why the industry is desperate for well-trained building management graduates. As a building manager, our responsibility is to provide high quality professional consultation on the management of properties, equipment, tooling, and physical capital assets. We must be able to enhance two core values over time, which are instant income and the value of the building over time.”

Chan (left) and Tan Sri Datuk Chen (right) answering students’ questions

Chan said, “In order to become a good building and property manager, we must understand that the knowledge gained in studies may not necessarily be relevant to the industry. Innovation and creativity are the main characteristics needed to become a good manager. I always tell my colleagues that the designer’s dream is the engineer’s nightmare. The design for a building may be very modern, but that design may not be useful or logical for the end user. So, our duty is to maintain the modernity of the design maintaining its usefulness at the same time.”

Chan added, “A successful building manager must have a clear mind and be brave enough to create new ideas.” He also advised the students on the heavy responsibilities shouldered by building managers, especially in the issues of public safety and security. Before ending the talk, Chan also revealed a series of building maintenance photos depicting faulty design and construction.