Ici magazine (latest)

OF

S P E C I A L E D I T I O N | INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

7TH JUNE 2014

15 INTERVIEW ANSWERS

FROM SR. ENG, HIMSELF!

FACTS ABOUT A

QUANTITY SURVEYOR!

WHAT’S LIFE AS

A QUANTITY SURVEYOR?

Quantity Surveyors are the financial consultants of a construction industry

whose training and experience qualify them to advice on cost and contractual

arrangement and to prepare contract documents.

They act in liaison architects, consulting engineers and contractors to safeguard the

clients interest. They are independent experts who operate in a specialized area of

the construction industry

WHAT IS A

QUANTITY SURVEYOR

7th JUNE 2014

Q uantity

S urveyor

The ra

ng

e of services o

ffered b

y a

7TH JUNE 2014

ESTIMATING & COST ADVICE

COST PLANNING

PROPERT DEVELOPMENT ADVICE

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

ADVICE ON TENDERING PROCEDURE & CONTRACTUAL

ARRANGEMENT

FINANCIAL CONTROL

OVER

CONTRACTS

CASH FLOW BUDGET

VALUATION OF WORK IN PROGRESS

FINAL ACCOUNT IN RESPECT OF THE CONTRACT

R. Eng Teit Goy (in the top picture) is from Perak and is now currently living in

Kuala Lumpur. Mr. Eng graduated from TAR College in 1991. He then became a chartered

quantity surveyor (Senior, SR) and has his own licensed Quantity Surveyor firm which is

known as ‘PCM Kos Perunding SND BHD’ in

Kuchai Entrepreneur’s Park, Kuchai Lama,

Kuala Lumpur for around 22 years.

WH

O’S

MR. ENG

7TH JUNE 2014

7th JUNE 2014

THE

INTERVIEW

QS is just like an accountant for a project I

development. It’s not only that, but also involved

in the contractor issue. The first exercise which will

be involved is from the estimation of

developments, preparing your tender exercise

which is the BQ, and then calling a BQ, division of

BQ, award of the contract, implementation of the

contract, closing of the final account. So that’s

probably the whole activity that is involved by the

qs and on top of that there are also some

construction dispute.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE KEY

CHALLENGES FACED BY A QS IN A DAILY

BASIS?

Everyday we don’t know what is going to happen the

next day. The only thing is that we get ourselves prepared.

Well prepared in the sense that you must understand the

new product thatis coming into the construction industry.

You also must know the new meter of construction in the

industry. And of course there are some legal dispute also

that’s where you have to know and keep track and updated

about informations and technologies coming into the industry.

WHAT PART OF QS ROLE DO YOU

MOST ENJOY?

I ENJOY all my job. All my involvement

that’s very important in a career. You

have to enjoy your work you know.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT

PROPERTY TAX?

Property tax is the government tax that’s

going to tax you on the profit you gain from

the property construction. You must know

what is the property tax and the percentage

that they are going to charge. Once you sell

your property in the first year, 25% of your

profit, second year 30 %, third year 50%, and

after 5 years you are not subjected to tax.

WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO

BECOME A QS?

I like the job, simple as that. It all

involve dollars and cents. That’s very

simple. And also QS is the one in the

industry that involved in contraction or

dispute in the industry. So I also like all

these issues on how you select and how

you judge, deciding on a conclusion or

your dispute. That’s also very

important. So for a qs to get a full

membership, the last exam paper

always involve the dispute. I like to be

involved in all of these.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN

5 YEARS TIME?

I may not beome a qs. Just like an architect.

After 10 years, then you may not become an

architect. You know you can go for other

profession and other business. In fact, I’ve got

my own planning. Everybody will do the same

thing in their career. You have the short term

planning and long term planning. My ultimate

aim is that one day I’m going to have my

construction company. I’m also having my

manufacturing now. So 5 years I can tell you

that I might become a developer, hopefully.

SHARE US A COUPLE OF

MISTAKES YOU’VE MADE.

There are some mistakes but not major

ones. One of em’ is carelessness of the

staff. But all these are minor problems.

Sometimes disturbance of the quantity,

documents are incomplete. All these are

minor problems not major problems.

HOW DO YOU SOLVE THESE

PROBLEMS?

Well, we try to minimize these things by

implementing some ISO system. That way we

can cross check on the different staff. That’s

the only way you can do it.

WHAT DO YOU LEARN FROM

THESE MISTAKES?

We are not going to repeat the same

mistakes at any time in the future. We

will keep improving our office

organization.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR

PERSONAL LIFE AND YOUR

JOB?

That is quite difficult I would say. I enjoy

my work. I’m almost working every 7

days a week. I don’t feel it’s torturing to

myself. I also get the chance to travel

during my work. I travel to quite a

number of countries. Even getting

involved in some overseas job.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO

BECOME A QS?

I would say MYSELF. I know what I want

first thing.

WHAT IS THE MOST

CHALLENGING PROJECT

YOU’VE DONE SO FAR?

We did quite a number unit jobs. For

example, some ports and hospitals. We’re

also doing some fast-speed factories,

projects that are worth 2 billion, we are

also involve in some high rise project and

also some different matter of

constructions. One of em’ is the top-down

construction. You know you’re going down

one level and going up three levels to

catch up with the time frame.

If you were to hire a QS,

to work with you, as a trainee,

what are the skills and experience you were to look for in an

ideal candidate?

I have no requirement in terms for trainee. But I know that when anyone comes

out of college today, probably do know anything. In the industry, technology,

information, what ever and all very much depends on individual whether you

want to learn or do not want to learn. So it points down to ATTITUDE. I can

accept anybody whether good results or poor result or whatever that is when

you come into construction industry, IT’S ALL UP TO YOU!

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU

GIVE FOR SOMEONE WHO

WAN’TS TO BECOME A QS?

Learn everything, be more

observant, take more

opportunity to be involved in

all activities not only for the

company but also for contractors,

developers & suppliers and fellow

consultants and then you can

equip yourself much faster

compared to others.

DURING OUR

INTERVIEW