Board of Engineers, Malaysia Professional Development Programme, i.e. BEM-PDP:- CODE OF ETHICS / REGULATIONS COURSE Topic:- Code of Ethics and Corporate Environmentalism – the ETI push-pull factor” by:Engr. Rocky H. T. Wong P.Eng., FIEM; Hon. AFEO-ASEAN Engr; Fellow (AAET); Past Chairman – ACEM; A Past Vice-President – ENSEARCH; Chairman – IEM pro ETI Bureau; Head Commissioner – ASEAN Engineers Register (AER) of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations i.e. AFEO.

Preamble 1/3:-  This lecture to BEM registered graduate engineers will part prepare them for either the BEM PAE or the IEM’s PI – with the aim to quality both as professional engineers registered with the BEM and as corporate members of the IEM.  This is an abbridged and edited version of ENSEARCH’s 4 th K. Kumarasivam Memorial Public Lecture on 5 th Sept – Yours-truly was the key-note speaker.  ENSEARCH stands for the Environmental Management and Research Association of Malaysia

Preamble 2/3:-  The BEM, the IEM, the ACEM, FIDIC and other engineers centric organisations each has a Code of Ethics- which in IEM’s case for example, is known as the “Code of Professional Conduct” covered by a set “Regulations on Professional Conduct” forming a part of the IEM Constitution & Bylaws  “A Code of Professional Conduct designed to cover all eventualities must necessary be written in general terms expressing broad ethical principles…”

Preamble 3/3:-  “… Almost every case of doubt as to the proper course of action required to conform to the Code of Professional Conduct arises from a conflict between a member’s personal interest and his duty to others”  To have a broader appreciation of an Engineer’s Code of Ethics - I therefore link the same to Environmentalism - hence the topic

 Why is the Code of Ethics important to engineers? If is a HALLMARK of professionalism; A BASIC qualifying requirement; An EDGE in competition; Ultimate BENEFIT of the profession.  By adhering to the Code of Ethics, the engineering profession will benefit in promoting its reputation, credibility and respect.  The result; the engineering profession will maintain its attractiveness as a rewarding and respectable profession.

AFEO Code of Ethics:- (As an example) (As applied to all ASEAN Engineers) The Profession; An ASEAN Engineer shall at all times uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of the profession by his or her behaviour, actions or words. With Colleagues; An ASEAN Engineer shall not maliciously or rescklessly harm or attempt to harm whether directly or otherwise the professional reputation of another engineer, but shall however foster the reputation of colleagues for the advancement of the profession. Towards Employers and Clients; An ASEAN Engineer shall serve employers and clients with honesty, loyalty and integrity in conforming to the highest standard expected of their respective community. The Public; An ASEAN Engineer in providing his services shall be at all times governed by the paramount interest of the public, in particular their environment, welfare, health and safety. The Oneself; An ASEAN Engineer shall maintain or enhance his or her health and competency in subscribing to self and continuous professional development.

ENVIRONMENTALISM  Putting things together and in perspective, the start-line of my understanding of ENVIRONMENTALISM is a rearranged “3 threes” approach, or the “3 X 3 Approach”, in a Supply and Demand Equation, viz:- The first three: 3R’s, The second three: 3E’s, and The third three: 3P’s

 I assign the 3R’s to the Demand Side, with corresponding snaps:- Reduce (more for less), Reuse (par-excellence maintenance; e.g. upkeep, repair, de-bottlenecking, or, revitalized, modernized, computerized), and Recycle (saved, salvaged, reprocessed) - i.e. waste to wealth, or: waste not want not).

 The 3E’s define the overall Equation:- Ecology ( the impact), Economics (the consequence), and Equality (the common denominator). “Smog is back in Japanese Cities” – so said the Star on Saturday, 25th August, 2007 (Page W36) which reported:- “Smog is menacing Japanese cities for the first time in 30 years and cropping up in rural areas for the first time ever, alarming the government and point the finger at neighboring China….”

 Completing the Equation, the 3P’s bring up the Supply End:- People (the cause), Priorities (the wishes), Politics (the power – benevolent or abuse?) The people live off and survive on the breasts of Mother-nature, and being caring, Mother- nature understands our need, but not our greed.

1986 – Start of GATT’s Uruguay Round (Trade in Services included for the first time) 1992 – UN organized the Rio Summit; only the year before ~ Mahathir launched Vision 2020, - Malaysia – one of 4 Asian Tigers, - Malaysia became “Boleh-land” - Malaysians becoming more confident and slipped into complacency – WTO replaced GATT – introducing the phenomenon of globalization; meaning trade liberalization, and now Trade is linked to Environment.

 Climate change, green house gases and environmental degradations are real.  Malaysia, a trading nation, encounters market forces determined by green consumers.  The environmental agenda forms the back-drop of measures originating from the E.U. “The threat of global warming and high price of oil are … seeding the new revolution – a green one” – the hope of a young Malaysian.

“A sustainable energy future is possible, but only if we act urgently and decisively to promote, develop a full mix of energy technologies – including improved energy efficiency for buildings, industry and transport, more efficient use of natural gas and coal, renewables, and where acceptable, unclear energy” – a quote and the “prayer” from the Opening of the International Energy Conference 2006, i.e. the 2006 iEC, organized jointly by AAET and ACCCIM.

“Sea level rise and agricultural changes due to climate change are estimated to result in 150 million environmental refugees by 2050; 50 million people globally may be displaced due to climate change induced famine…” a quote from Dr. Rajandra K. Pachauri (Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, India); also at the 2006 iEC.

 For Engineering Technology and Innovation (ETI) to be effective, there must be in place the “3T’s” as follows:- Talent: equates to knowledge-workers in the 21st Century commercially flattened, on-line, real-time global market place dealing with the new k-economy. Technology: the acquisition and utilization of which should have no gap in the supply chain; and be based on technology fundamentals. Tolerance: don’t cramp the styles of the young, the forward- looking, the liberals, the progressive and the talented.

 As engineers, be you in practice or in other positions in the corporate world but dealing or associated with ETI circumstances; guided by the Code of Ethics, you will adopt good corporate governance processes (which usually relates to ISO series) and even adopting incrementally improving Environmental Management System (EMS)  And for those who are in government service (including statuary bodies) or in GLC’s and especially those engaged in regulatory functions over ETI affairs & matters – you will adopt and implement Good Regulatory Practices (GRP)

 Those true believers in the Code of Ethics, besides supporting your corporation’s /organisation’s EMS, you may also choose to formulate your own personal EMS.  What is personal EMS?

 “Environmentalism”: distilled to its fundamental core value is all about “care”.  Our “care” should be the path-finder of a meaningful life of mindful concerns; the anchor of our principles and social responsibilities; and our “care” should be the very essence of our bothered conscience.  When our “care” floats up to a spiritual level expression and exercise of “care”. EMS can be IMS ~ Integrity Management System will result in less corruption, with Good Regulatory Practices (GRP) also!?

 Take note of the 13 th UN Climate Change Conference 2007 (under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – UNFCCC) in Nisa Dua, Bali : an attempt to draft the Bali Roadmap to replace Kyoto Protocol after 2012  Whilst the World is all worked up over Global Warming the focus of the Bali Conference and Summit; it is also interesting reading of the articles attached herewith.

 You may wish to remember this topic on the Code of Ethics as the 3 t(h)rees approach. THANK YOU