On 2nd November 2012 at MITI Office, TEEAM held a discussion with MITI Officials on the progress of MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement) in the E&E sector in the ASEAN region and other FTAs (Free Trade Agreements), as well as to provide inputs from the E&E service sector for positioning Malaysia in a favourable position when AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) becomes a reality in 2015.

The delegation from TEEAM was headed by Ir Rocky H T Wong (Honorary Fellow & Technical Adviser), Ir Chew Shee Fuee (Vice President), Mr Ho Khai Hong (Honorary Secretary) and Ir Yong Ah Huat (Council Member). On hand to receive TEEAM were Mr P Ravidran (MITI Senior Director), Ms Normah Osman (MITI Director) and Ms Farha Ramdzan (MITI Assistant Director). Ms Sharifah Azlinda (DSM Assistant Director, Policy & Standards Division) and ST Officials Ms Nur Faidarina Alias and Ms Rohaida Mat Lazim were also present.

MITI welcomed TEEAM’s effort in the promotion of MRA development in the E&E sector in ASEAN especially in the E2WMRA. TEEAM provided inputs on issues of concern and MITI took note of the following suggestions:

• review the MRA on EEE to expand the scope of E&E products to include more products in order to cover the entire spectrum of E&E products;
• develop ASEAN Codes of Practice (basing on IEC Standards) for the various practices that are normally regulated that can be used to harmonise the regulatory regimes.
• encourage the cost effective concept of “1 standard, 1 test & 1 approval”;
• review the laboratory & certification procedure to facilitate E&E trade within ASEAN countries;
• Malaysia to take the lead of the ASEAN E2WMRA to facilitate the mobility of the necessary professionals / skilled workers/ talents of the delivery teams for Electrical Engineering Works; and
• propose to set up a high voltage high power laboratory in ASEAN.

Hence, TEEAM would submit followup papers, outlining TEEAM’s (representing the EEE sub-sector grass roots stakeholders) recommendations to attaining regional coherence for the post- 2015 AEC in order for MITI to present it to the Minister for further action. TEEAM thanked MITI for the fruitful and encouraging discussion.

During the meeting – Issues of concern were discussed

For the album – (from left) Ms Farha Ramdzan (MITI Assistant Director), Ir Chew Shee Fuee (TEEAM Vice President), Ms Normah Osman (MITI Director), Ms Sharifah Azlinda (DSM Assistant Director, Policy &Standards Division), Ir Rocky H T Wong (TEEAM Honorary Fellow & Technical Adviser), Mr P Ravidran (MITI Senior Director), Ir Yong Ah Huat (TEEAM Council Member), Mr Ho Khai Hong (TEEAM Honorary Secretary), Ms Nur Faidarina Alias and Ms Rohaida Mat Lazi from ST.