THE THE PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL

INTERVIEW INTERVIEW QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

The main purpose of these questions is The main purpose of these questions is to manifest professionalism of a to manifest professionalism of a

candidate. A candidate should have candidate. A candidate should have gained some understanding of the gained some understanding of the

Professional Code of Ethics and Professional Code of Ethics and conduct before entering for the conduct before entering for the

Professional Interview. The questions Professional Interview. The questions selected by the Examiners may be selected by the Examiners may be

expected to be familiar.expected to be familiar.

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A candidate would be expected to A candidate would be expected to demonstrate:-demonstrate:-

a)a) That he has thought sufficiently That he has thought sufficiently about the role of the engineer in the about the role of the engineer in the society vis-à-vis his professional society vis-à-vis his professional Code of Ethics.Code of Ethics.

b)b) That he can write in clear and That he can write in clear and concise manner that is intelligible to concise manner that is intelligible to laymen.laymen.Candidate would be expected to Candidate would be expected to

answer only 1 question out of 2 answer only 1 question out of 2 selected by the Examiners from selected by the Examiners from among the 15 questions listed below:- among the 15 questions listed below:-

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1.1. Discuss the dilemma engineers face Discuss the dilemma engineers face in balancing capital expenditure in balancing capital expenditure versus optimum design for efficient versus optimum design for efficient operations and maintenance, operations and maintenance, bearing in mind the impact of capital bearing in mind the impact of capital expenditure on the engineer’s fees.expenditure on the engineer’s fees.

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2.2. Technological and economic Technological and economic efficiencies in providing service to efficiencies in providing service to the public are the expected benefits the public are the expected benefits from the privatisation of public from the privatisation of public utilities companies in Malaysia. utilities companies in Malaysia.

Discuss with examples whether the Discuss with examples whether the technological benefits of technological benefits of privatisation have been achieved.privatisation have been achieved.

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3.3. Are the present safety Are the present safety practices of your industry practices of your industry adequate? adequate?

What steps do you consider What steps do you consider should be taken by the should be taken by the industry to address the industry to address the present situation?present situation?

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4.4. The manifestation of professionalism The manifestation of professionalism among engineers occurs through their among engineers occurs through their interactions with other segments of the interactions with other segments of the society, which can be viewed essentially society, which can be viewed essentially as an exercise in group dynamics. as an exercise in group dynamics.

In this regard, the Institution of Engineers, In this regard, the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) is ideally constituted to Malaysia (IEM) is ideally constituted to serve this purpose. Discuss the various serve this purpose. Discuss the various functions that can be provided by IEM in functions that can be provided by IEM in promoting professionalism.promoting professionalism.

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5.5. In this technological age, the power of In this technological age, the power of the engineers in shaping the society the engineers in shaping the society and environment is all pervading and and environment is all pervading and can profoundly affect the lives of can profoundly affect the lives of many members of the society. many members of the society.

Enumerate, from your personal Enumerate, from your personal experience, how largely positive experience, how largely positive impacts have accrued from the impacts have accrued from the contributions of engineers.contributions of engineers.

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6.6. ““He shall not under any circumstances He shall not under any circumstances solicit advisory or consultative work, solicit advisory or consultative work, either directly or by an agent, nor shall either directly or by an agent, nor shall he pay, by commission or otherwise any he pay, by commission or otherwise any person who may introduce clients to person who may introduce clients to him”. him”.

Discuss the ways in which an engineer, Discuss the ways in which an engineer, especially one that is a newcomer to the especially one that is a newcomer to the field, can project him/herself as a field, can project him/herself as a responsible professional to the society responsible professional to the society without being guilty of violating the without being guilty of violating the above.above.

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7.7. As an engineer responsible for the development As an engineer responsible for the development of a new project, your first task according to the of a new project, your first task according to the planning schedule is to clear the land and planning schedule is to clear the land and prepare the site for construction. To do so, you prepare the site for construction. To do so, you will need to clear vast stretches of land that will will need to clear vast stretches of land that will undoubtedly cause land erosion and undoubtedly cause land erosion and subsequently contaminating of streams and subsequently contaminating of streams and rivers around the site. rivers around the site.

You are under tremendous pressure to finish the You are under tremendous pressure to finish the task as the job is already behind schedule. task as the job is already behind schedule. Given the constraints that you have with regards Given the constraints that you have with regards to deadline, limited technical solutions and the to deadline, limited technical solutions and the preservation of the environment, discuss the preservation of the environment, discuss the ethical considerations, which confront you under ethical considerations, which confront you under the circumstances.the circumstances. IEM-COE-PI

8.8. Engineers are often entrusted with the Engineers are often entrusted with the responsibility of implementing large-responsibility of implementing large-scale projects involving millions of scale projects involving millions of dollars. In view of the large amount of dollars. In view of the large amount of money changing hands, the integrity and money changing hands, the integrity and ethical standards of engineers are being ethical standards of engineers are being put to test. put to test.

What measures can an engineer take to What measures can an engineer take to prevent corruption and unethical prevent corruption and unethical practice of cutting corners in order to practice of cutting corners in order to safeguard the good image of the safeguard the good image of the engineering profession?engineering profession?

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9.9. In recent years, there is stronger In recent years, there is stronger awareness by the public at large awareness by the public at large for better quality works in a for better quality works in a construction project. construction project.

How can a professional engineer How can a professional engineer ensure better quality construction ensure better quality construction without conflicting with the profit without conflicting with the profit objectives of both the owner and objectives of both the owner and the contractor?the contractor?

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10.10. ‘‘Conflict of professional interest Conflict of professional interest frequently arises in the working frequently arises in the working environment of an engineer’. environment of an engineer’.

Discuss the statement and Discuss the statement and propose the appropriate propose the appropriate solutions for overcoming the solutions for overcoming the problems.problems.

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11.11. Recent years have seen increased Recent years have seen increased national and international Protocols national and international Protocols and Regulations and national Acts and and Regulations and national Acts and Legislation on the control of many Legislation on the control of many forms of pollution. forms of pollution.

Discuss the needs and consequences Discuss the needs and consequences of observing these regulations with of observing these regulations with special reference to the particular special reference to the particular industry you are involved in.industry you are involved in.

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12.12. ““In today’s dynamic marketplace, many In today’s dynamic marketplace, many organisations/industries are initiating organisations/industries are initiating cost reduction measures to remain cost reduction measures to remain competitive”. competitive”.

Discuss the contradictory demand of Discuss the contradictory demand of cost reduction programmes and the cost reduction programmes and the need to invest to enhance the standards need to invest to enhance the standards of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) in the industry. Is it possible to be cost-in the industry. Is it possible to be cost-effective yet meeting the ever-increasing effective yet meeting the ever-increasing HSE requirements?HSE requirements?

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13.13. Engineers are increasingly playing a Engineers are increasingly playing a significant role in the nation’s fast significant role in the nation’s fast pace development. pace development.

Please suggest how engineers can Please suggest how engineers can make greater contributions with make greater contributions with awareness in safety, health and awareness in safety, health and environment and how engineers can environment and how engineers can keep abreast with the development keep abreast with the development of technology without confining to of technology without confining to one’s specific roles or disciplines.one’s specific roles or disciplines.

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14.14. In a turnkey project, the turnkey In a turnkey project, the turnkey contractor requested you as a contractor requested you as a consultant to put up irregular (i.e. consultant to put up irregular (i.e. non-conforming to current non-conforming to current engineering practice) proposals to engineering practice) proposals to maximise profits from the project. maximise profits from the project.

Discuss the key points that you must Discuss the key points that you must address so as not to compromise on address so as not to compromise on your professional ethics.your professional ethics.

IEM-COE-PI

15.15. With the rapid development in IT, With the rapid development in IT, would virtual Laboratories be a good would virtual Laboratories be a good substitute for real ones in substitute for real ones in engineering? engineering?

Elaborate on the merits and demerits Elaborate on the merits and demerits of the issue. of the issue.

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BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIABOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIAPROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT EXAMINATIONPROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT EXAMINATION

QUESTIONS ON CODE OF PROFESSIONAL QUESTIONS ON CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCTCONDUCT

These questions are applicable to Section B of the These questions are applicable to Section B of the Essay.Essay.

Candidates would be expected to answer only Candidates would be expected to answer only ONEONE question out of two which would be selected by the question out of two which would be selected by the examiners from among the 8 questions listed below:examiners from among the 8 questions listed below:

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1.1. The engineer has a duty of care to The engineer has a duty of care to the public under common law. the public under common law. Discuss, giving examples, the Discuss, giving examples, the obligations that his duty imposes obligations that his duty imposes on himself as a Professional on himself as a Professional Engineer.Engineer.

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2.2. If you were a consulting engineer and If you were a consulting engineer and was submitting Turnkey tender on was submitting Turnkey tender on behalf of a Turnkey Contractor, would behalf of a Turnkey Contractor, would you consider a conflict of interest you consider a conflict of interest between the role of a consulting between the role of a consulting engineer and contractor. engineer and contractor.

Enlarge on the ethics of this subject.Enlarge on the ethics of this subject.

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3.3. Identify the areas in which conflict Identify the areas in which conflict between the Resident Engineer’s between the Resident Engineer’s staff and contractor’s staff can staff and contractor’s staff can develop and give your views as to develop and give your views as to whether good relationship can be whether good relationship can be achiever without infringing on the achiever without infringing on the code of ethics. code of ethics.

Illustrate your answer from your own Illustrate your answer from your own experience.experience.

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4.4. It is clear to you that an Engineer It is clear to you that an Engineer engaged in a particular project engaged in a particular project (implement at the tax payer’s account) is (implement at the tax payer’s account) is not maintaining professional standards, not maintaining professional standards, i.e professional competence and integrity i.e professional competence and integrity are lacking.are lacking.

What would be your reaction? Would you What would be your reaction? Would you report the above incident to the Board of report the above incident to the Board of Engineers, Malaysia or bring this to the Engineers, Malaysia or bring this to the attention of the client or will you maintain attention of the client or will you maintain silence and which standard work being silence and which standard work being completed?completed?

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5.5. Every Engineer shall at all times so order his Every Engineer shall at all times so order his conduct to uphold the dignity and reputation of his conduct to uphold the dignity and reputation of his profession and to safeguard the public interest in profession and to safeguard the public interest in matters of safety and herein and others. He shall matters of safety and herein and others. He shall exercise his professional skill and the judgement to exercise his professional skill and the judgement to the best of his abilities in discharging his the best of his abilities in discharging his professional responsibilities. professional responsibilities.

He shall also act with firmness and integrity He shall also act with firmness and integrity towards all persons with whom his work is towards all persons with whom his work is connected. Discuss your responsibilities and connected. Discuss your responsibilities and obligations in the event that, due to building obligations in the event that, due to building operations under charge, adjacent buildings have operations under charge, adjacent buildings have been damaged beyond repairs. been damaged beyond repairs.

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6.6. ““Professional Engineer should be Professional Engineer should be allowed to practice as consultants allowed to practice as consultants and as contractor at the same time”. and as contractor at the same time”.

Do you agree with the statement? If Do you agree with the statement? If so, give your reasons objectively for so, give your reasons objectively for supporting it. If not also give supporting it. If not also give reasons for appeasing it. reasons for appeasing it.

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7.7. Under normal circumstances, a consulting Under normal circumstances, a consulting engineer should not supplant the work of another engineer should not supplant the work of another consulting engineer after knowing that the 1st consulting engineer after knowing that the 1st consulting engineer has already been entrusted consulting engineer has already been entrusted with the work.with the work.

If he has been asked by the same client to take If he has been asked by the same client to take over the work of that 1st consulting engineer, over the work of that 1st consulting engineer, what do you think should be the proper procedure what do you think should be the proper procedure in effecting the charge of consultants”. in effecting the charge of consultants”.

How should the matter be dealt with if the 1st How should the matter be dealt with if the 1st engineer refuses to agree to this change because engineer refuses to agree to this change because he has not been paid his fees by the client?he has not been paid his fees by the client?

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8.8. A consulting Engineer has submitted structural A consulting Engineer has submitted structural design plans to the local authority for a certain design plans to the local authority for a certain building. The client terminates his services after building. The client terminates his services after the plans have been approved by the local the plans have been approved by the local authority. You are then engaged to take over his authority. You are then engaged to take over his work and complete the project including work and complete the project including supervision of construction. supervision of construction.

What are your professional responsibilities and What are your professional responsibilities and those of the previous engineer who has those of the previous engineer who has submitted the plans? If you have to make submitted the plans? If you have to make changes to the structural drawings, what do you changes to the structural drawings, what do you think should be the proper procedure in dealing think should be the proper procedure in dealing with this matter and also how you assign with this matter and also how you assign professional liability? professional liability?

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