School of Science and Engineering

EYB 4502- ENGINEERS AND SOCIETY

Assignment 2

Name :
ID :

Lecturer :
Question

Assuming that you are the principal partner of a reputable engineering-based firm
in a small state in the country. Your family is very well reputed, respected and
influential, having lived and worked in the state for decades. Leaders of a certain
political party approach you seeking your assistance to campaign for them in a
forthcoming state by-election. Amongst others, upon winning the said elections,
they have promised to award your company with all the major projects awarded by
the state government. It is desirable for your firm to secure new projects. Discuss
critically on your actions, taking account of the IEMs Regulations on Professional
Conduct
Introduction

As an engineer, it is our responsibility to give opinion that should be honest and

truthfully. Before making such statement, the engineer know his capability and
qualification related to the statement that he giving. Also when giving support, he
should know that no any individual person should get benefit and good treatment
while others are in disadvantage which not fair .

Based on the given situation, I am the principle partner of a reputable engineering-

based firm and my family is very well reputed, respected and influential in the
small state for decades. So I understand that the respect to my family are because
of honest and truthful commitment from all my family members for very long
time. The respect towards us is from great responsibility and commitment to open
in the state. The people in the state will be the first priority

Finally my action is that, I will dismiss the approach of political party to help them
in winning the election even though it would benefit me in the future which I dont
want because it is not the professional conduc and ethics of an professional
rngineer. This is a respect shown to my engineering profession and company.

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Literature Review

BEMs Code of Professional Conduct

This is the code of professional conduct or ethics set by Board of Engineers

Malaysia to ensure engineers behave professionally.

According to this situation, the BEM Guidelines for Codes of Professional

Conduct are stated:

Section 1
A registered engineer shall at all times hold paramount safety, health and welfare of
the public.

Section 4
According to this section a registered engineer shall act for each employer or
clients as faithful agent or trustee.

Section 4.3
A registered engineer shall not solicit or accept financial or other valuable
consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside agents in connection with the
work for which he is responsible. In the event that he does as such, he is
dishonouring the profession, in addition it can be viewed as taking bribe,
furthermore will affect his decision making.

Section 5
According to this section a registered engineer shall conduct himself honorably,
responsibly, ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation and
usefulness of the profession.

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Section 5.2
A registered engineer shall not offer, give, solicit or receive, either directly or
indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a contract which may be
reasonably construed as having the effect of intent to influencing the award of a
contract. He shall not offer any gift or other valuable consideration in order to
secure work. He shall not pay a commission, percentage or brokerage fee in order
to secure work. This code keeps engineers from affecting the honor of agreement
in any case, furthermore should not offer help in order to secure work.

5.5
A registered engineer shall not maliciously injure or attempt to maliciously injure
whether directly or indirectly the professional reputation, prospect or business of
another engineer. This code ensure engineers that they not spoil professional
reputation, prospect or business of another engineer in any manner, as it is not
ethical and bad image for the profession.

Section 6
A registered engineer shall not directly or indirectly
a) Supplant or attempt to supplant another engineer.

Section 7
Except with the prior approval of the board, a registered engineer shall not be
adirector or executive of or substantial shareholder in or agent for any contracting
ormanufacturing company or firm or business related to building or engineering. If
such approval is given, such engineer shall not undertake any contract work
wherein he is engaged as a consulting engineer in such project unless it is in
respectof a design and build project.

Section 10
A professional engineer in private practice shall not without the approval of the
board enter into professional partnership with any person other than a professional
engineer in private practice, a registered architect, a registered quantity surveyor or
a licensed land surveyor.

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THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA
REGULATIONS ON PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

According to this situation, the BEM Guidelines for Codes of Professional

Conduct are stated:

Section A

The following Regulations on Professional Conduct are made by the Council under
Section IX of the Bylaws. In these regulations member means a member of any
grade referred to in Section II of the Bylaws, and employer includes client.

Section B

(6) A member called upon to give an opinion in his professional capacity shall, to
the best of his ability, give an opinion that is objective and reliable.

(8) A member shall not make any public statement in his capacity as a
professional engineer without ensuring that his qualification to make such a
statement and any association he may have with any party which may benefit from
his statement are made known to the person or persons to whom it is directed.

(10) A member shall not recklessly or maliciously injure or attempt to injure,

whether directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects or business of
another engineer.

(13) A member shall not accept remuneration in connection with professional

services rendered to his employer other than from his employer or with his
employers consent; nor shall he receive directly or indirectly any royalty, gratuity
or commission on any article or process used in or for the purposes of the work in
respect of which he is employed unless or until such royalty, gratuity or
commission has been authorised in writing by his employer.

(14) A member shall not improperly solicit work as an independent advise or

consultant, either directly or by an agent, nor shall he pay any person, by
commission or otherwise, for the introduction of such work.

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Problem Analysis and Discussion

Support the engineering profession dignity

The dignity of the engineering profession should always be supported and

maintain. As an reputable engineer, we should not campaign for the political party
just for individual own selfish purpose. An ethical engineers should provide
professional services and through this he will gain reward and recommendation
from the service he provided .

A professional engineer should not trade the honor regarding the profession
because of his own benefits but spoiling the image concerning the profession.

Protect the firm image and fellow associates

For the situation, which I were the important person of respectable engineering
firm, I have obligation and duty to protect the image of fellow partners and all
staffs as well as the firm. The firm mission to get new projects and provide service
but it should be done through the rules and regulation stated and following the
correct path.

All the other partner will not support the political party just to get new projects in
the future. By choosing to support the political leaders, this could spoil the image
of the company and my partners because the public will never want unethical
approach of political leaders and engineers.

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Do not spoil the chances of other engineers

The engineering projects is done for service for the public and nation, so this
projets should be awarded through the proper rules and regulation process for the
best engineering firm. As a principal partner, I should be fair by following the
correct path so everyone will have equal opportunity to get the projects.

The engineers with required skills and qualification should get the project . This is
the engineering ethics everyone should follow and provide service to the public
and nation.

Be integrity and competent

The work of an engineering firm often involve large sum of money. The projects
involved are often related to benefits of others which is public and nation. So, as an
engineer we should be integrity and competent when trying to get the project and
in the process of doing the project. This attitude is very important to gain respect
from the public.

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Engineers get recognition from employers due to their performance

Engineers will be recognized and paid because of their professional services, and
skill toward their client. When there is a work available or requsted by the client,
we should only do it only if we are qualified for the task and it us our
responsibility.

The project that will be awarded to my firm by the political leaders as they
promised after winning the fortcoming election, is actually the government project.
So in this situation the clients will be the government and the public that voted for
the government. In the future, if my firm was chosen for major state project it
should be only because of our professional skill, qualification and service.

Make safe, good, ready public statement and on the point with training and so on
making able to do something benefit for everyone

Engineers are proficient individuals with specialized capability and competency.

He should not make open expression which he is not considered the qualified and
appropriate individual to make. He should not uses his influence by giving
wrongfully open statement which might involve his family, partners, staff and the
firm through this action. This will do no good to them and also to the society who
had put their believe in them, if things go wrong.

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Do not wrongfully get the project

By helping the political party and as an reward for getting the major projects, as I
would like to think, is shameful act to the profession. It is on the grounds that there
is no moral strategy to secure projects and it can be considered advantages on to
the engineer but disadvantage to the society and other individual who might be
more qualified for the task. It is also called solicit of works.

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Conclusion

In spite of the fact that it is interest of a firm to secure projects, the procedure
should be followed according to standards and direction. Projects granted with
high privileged and priority by not ethically won't be professional for the firm. It is
not a moral way and the firm may lose its respect from the people. Besides,
professional an reputable engineer, he has to show great example to his fellow
workers for a better future and society.

At the end of the day, I will dismiss the demand of the political leader. If they are
willing to get some advice, I will additionally encourage them to listen to public
and genuinely to give administrations to society. With that way, they will have
success in the election and truly and honest support from the public.

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Reference

1. http://www.bem.org.my/v3/pdf/REA2015/REA2015.pdf
2. http://www.myiem.org.my/download/downloadlink.aspx?

fn=4647_regulations.pdf&id=4647
3. https://www.scribd.com/doc/82415287/Engineer-in-Society-BEM-Code-of-

Professional-Conduct-Ethical-Theories
4. http://nazrulanuar.com/author/?page_id=1234

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