MALAYSIA’S construction sector could benefit from having more major players of international standard, said IJM Corp Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director Datuk Soam Heng Choon.

“We have 60,000 to 70,000 contractors in Malaysia, both big and small. Given our population, do we need so many? “

We probably need small renovation contractors, but for real builders, we must have some champions... like South Korea’s Samsung and Hyundai, and Japan’s Shimizu and Taisei Corp,” said Soam, who has been with IJM Corp for nearly 27 years.

The civil engineer by training said the younger generation did not want to get involved in the construction industry because of the perceived three “Ds” — dirty, dangerous and difficult.

“In terms of salary, a construction worker earns better than a waitress or waiter in a hotel. It’s just that they have a comfortable environment and air-conditioning, while those in construction do not, so they don’t want (to work in construction),” said Soam, who was appointed CEO and managing director of IJM Corp on April 6, last year.

IJM Corp is trying to address the labour shortage in the sector by focusing more on the industrialised building system (IBS), which makes up 30 to 40 per cent of some of the group’s projects.

Soam said the company was trying to increase its IBS component and it welcomed the move by the government to increase the usage of IBS so that it could reduce dependency on labour.

“Given that a lot of younger Malaysians have difficulty in finding jobs, they should change their mindsets to look at construction as an avenue.

“If you go to Australia, the United Kingdom or Europe, paying for a plumber is not cheap,” he added.

Soam joined subsidiary company Road Builder (M) Holdings Bhd in 1989, and values the group’s effort to groom its executives.

He served as the deputy CEO and deputy managing director of IJM Corp from June 7 2013 to April 5, last year.

Soam then took over from Tan Sri Krishnan Tan, who is still on the board and advises the company on business growth.

“When my time comes, I will also step aside for the next person to take over.

We consciously train and groom our people so that there is a clear line of succession.

“We are currently training my deputy. He is much younger, in his 40s. By the time I retire, he should be nearing 50. So, it is about the right time,” added Soam.