JUST TO SHARE (Lau Tai Onn): Attendance of 2020 IEM 61st Virtual AGM

On Saturday, July 25, 2020, I attended the 61st Annual General Meeting of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM Virtual Meeting)" from 9:00am till 1.00pm at home using Webinar with my desktop computer.

The AGENDA for the virtual Annual General Meeting was as follows:-

1. Welcome Address by the President for Session 2019/2020 (Ir. David Lai Kong Phooi).

2. Presentation of Honorary Secretary (Ir. Mohd Khir bin Muhammad) Report Session 2019/2020.

3. Presentation of Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2019 by Honorary Treasurer (Ir. Chen Hern Shean).

4. Proposed Amendments to the IEM Constitution.

5. Presentation of Results of Election for Council Session 2020/2021 by Election Officer (Ir. (Dr) Hj. Keizrul bin Abdullah).

6. Presidential Address 2020/2021 (Ir. Ong Chin Loon).

I registered my interest of participation of this virtual AGM on July 18, 2020 and since then I received 3 reminders and 2 notices from IEM almost on a daily basis from July 21 till July 25, 2020.

I clicked the link to join the Webinar at 8.45am and waited for the AGM to begin at 9.00am. Initially I was not sure how to “sign in to the system for verification of attendance”. I posed my query online and Ms. Janet Lim of IEM Admin promptly advised that once I joined in, the system picked up my log-in already.

Honestly, I was most interested in the Results of Election for Council Session 2020/2021. It was announced that Ir. Prof. Dr. Norlida bt. Buniyamin is the new Deputy President of IEM, meaning that by the Session 2022/2023, IEM will be having the First Woman President in history after being established on May 1, 1959.

It was noted that Ir. Mohd Khir bin Muhammad (aka MKM) was voted in as one of the 3 new Vice Presidents, and Ir. Dr. David Chuah Joon Huang the new Honorary Secretary.

Ir. MKM was the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee on Information & Publications (InfoPub StandCom) for Sessions 2009/2010 and from 2015/2016 till 2017/2018 as well as the Bulletin Editor from 2014/2015 till 2017/2018 (4 consecutive sessions). Ir. Dr. Chuah was the outgoing Vice Chairman of InfoPub StandCom as well as the Journal Editor of Session 2018/2019.

It is observed that many past office-bearers of InfoPub StandCom got elevated to higher portfolios in the IEM Councils. For example, Ir. David Lai was the InfoPub Vice Chairman of Session 2012/2013, InfoPub Chairman of Session 2013/2014. He became IEM President of Sessions 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. Ir. Tan Yean Chin was the InfoPub Vice Chairman of Session 2010/2011 and became IEM President of Sessions 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Ir. Yam Teong Sian was the InfoPub Vice Chairman of Session 2013/2014 and became IEM Hon. Secretary of Sessions 2015/2016 and 2016/2017.

The following are some snapshots of my computer screen during the proceeding of the AGM:

Notice of AGM (Virtual Meeting) via email

After logging into Webinar

Virtual meeting in progress. It was a pity that the screen of the speaker was too small for viewing.

Activities on display

Our InfoPub StandCom chief is on the bottom right-hand side

Total membership of IEM as it stands today

Important announcement: Printed copies of our monthly bulletins no longer posted to members from April, 2020!

Ms. Janet Lim is one of the long serving Secretariat staff (16 - 20 years) and her name was specifically mentioned by IEM President during his opening address for excellent service. Janet is also in the InfoPub Secretariat. Ms. Ooi Beng Ean who serves more than 25 years was the secretariat staff I met when I was a fresh graduate engineer about 40 years ago!