Recognised Abroad, Still Explaining My Worth at Home

Having professional credentials earned abroad assessed in Malaysia can be a challenging and, at times, discouraging experience. I have experienced this personally.

In my case, the difficulty was not an explicit statement that my certifications were unrecognised. Rather, being among relatively few people holding them seemed to become an obstacle. It left me wondering whether the number of local holders was receiving more attention than the certification’s content, assessment standards and relevance to professional practice.

This concern extends to CPD points I earned abroad. I would welcome a clearer process for assessing whether these points can be transferred or credited locally, taking into account the learning content, duration, supporting evidence and relevance to professional practice, subject to the receiving body’s requirements.

My experience also includes numerous competency-based training programmes based on C & G and TVET/MLVK frameworks. Some authorities have accepted these as evidence of my competence, which makes the uncertainty elsewhere harder to understand. I appreciate that different bodies have different requirements, but clearer explanations of how such training is assessed would help experienced practitioners understand what further evidence, if any, is needed.

My son encountered a similar difficulty when seeking recognition for his overseas studies. The limited number of graduates from the same institution appeared to complicate the process. TARC, however, accepted him without hesitation. I remain grateful for that fair treatment he received, regardless of his racial background.

My wife has also faced similar challenges in having her professional credentials acknowledged.

There is a certain irony in having bodies overseas recognise my credentials and experience, while still having to explain their value at home. When I accepted work with foreign organisations, some questioned my patriotism. Apparently, having my expertise recognised abroad was easier than having my decision to use it understood at home.

I believe serving an overseas organisation and Malaysia are entirely compatible. Professional recognition across borders can bring knowledge, experience and opportunities back to our own country.

I respect the responsibility of accreditation and professional bodies to uphold standards. Overseas credentials should undergo proper scrutiny, with clear criteria, an explanation of any gaps and a practical route to address them.

Experiences like these can influence where people choose to build their careers. If we hope to retain talent and welcome returning Malaysians, the pathways for assessing their competence deserve attention too.

I appreciate the entities that have considered my credentials and professional development fairly. My hope is for greater clarity and consistency, so that certifications, CPD, experience and demonstrated ability receive fair consideration

Construction Defects After Handover: Responsibility, Risk and Integrity

Based on my experience in construction and consultancy, handover is often where a different set of challenges begins. The building enters everyday use, systems operate under actual conditions, and defects that were previously unnoticed become apparent.

Water ingress, debonded tiles, drainage problems and recurring cracks can quickly lead to disagreements over responsibility, cost and the adequacy of repairs.

I think this stage deserves as much attention as construction itself. It tests the quality of the work, the effectiveness of contract administration and the willingness of everyone involved to resolve problems fairly.

1.0 UNDERSTANDING CPC, DLP, CMGD AND CCC

The Certificate of Practical Completion (CPC) generally marks practical completion under the construction contract. Under many conventional arrangements, it starts the Defects Liability Period (DLP) and triggers specified consequences concerning possession and retention.

The DLP provides a contractual mechanism for reporting and rectifying defects for which the contractor is responsible. Its duration and procedures depend on the contract.

The Certificate of Making Good Defects (CMGD) confirms that the applicable contractual requirements for making good defects have been satisfied. Under PAM arrangements, it is linked to release of the remaining retention and the process towards final certification. DLP expiry alone does not establish that rectification is complete.

The Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) serves a statutory purpose. It replaced the earlier Certificate of Fitness for Occupation, commonly called CF or CFO, for projects covered by the system introduced in April 2007. Unlike the former local authority certification system, CCC is issued by the authorised Principal Submitting Person (PSP).

These certificates address different responsibilities. They should not be treated as interchangeable.

2.0 IS THE CONSULTANT OUT OF THE PICTURE?

A common assumption is that the consultant’s involvement ends at handover. Generally, under conventional arrangements, that is incorrect.

Site attendance may reduce, but the appointed architect or contract administrator may still have duties involving defects inspections, instructions, assessment of rectification and certification. Engineers and other consultants contribute within their respective appointments.

Under PAM 2018, for example, the architect has a defined role in responding to the contractor’s notification that defects have been made good, either issuing CMGD or stating reasons for non-issuance.

I feel that uncertainty over these continuing roles can itself become a project risk. Before the site team disperses, the client should establish who receives complaints, who investigates, who instructs repairs and who verifies closure.

If a consultant’s appointment has ended, the remaining functions need an appropriately authorised arrangement. The consultant’s appointment, statutory role as PSP and potential responsibility for earlier professional services are separate matters.

3.0 INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE BEFORE ALLOCATING RESPONSIBILITY

A complaint identifies a symptom, BUT it does not necessarily establish who is responsible.

A leaking ceiling could arise from waterproofing workmanship, an unsuitable design detail, a pipe connection, subsequent alterations or inadequate maintenance.

PAM’s guidance emphasises investigating the category and root cause of defective work before attributing responsibility, including distinguishing workmanship, design and misuse.

Based on my experience, a repair can appear satisfactory during inspection yet fail again under rain, operating loads or normal occupancy. Verification should therefore reflect the conditions that caused the failure.

Repainting a damp wall, for example, should not close a water-ingress complaint unless the source has been addressed and the repair appropriately verified.

4.0 THE COMMERCIAL IMPACT ON BOTH PARTIES

For the client, unresolved defects can disrupt operations, damage property, increase maintenance costs and affect occupants’ confidence. Poor records also make responsibility and recovery of costs harder to establish.

For the contractor, repeated mobilisation, subcontractor attendance, unavailable replacement materials and repairs within occupied premises create additional costs. Delayed CMGD can prolong account closure and delay release of remaining retention.

Fair administration protects both parties. Premature certification may weaken the client’s practical protection, while withholding certification or money without proper contractual grounds can expose the client to disputes.

Where the contractor fails to rectify defects for which it is responsible, the contract may allow others to undertake the repairs and appropriate costs to be recovered. The prescribed notices and procedures remain important.

5.0 RISK ASSESSMENT : PRIORITISING THE RIGHT DEFECTS

I think defects should be prioritised by their consequences and likelihood of further harm, rather than simply by the order in which complaints arrive.

A practical assessment should consider:

• Safety and health consequences.
• Effects on essential services and building operations.
• Likelihood of recurrence or deterioration.
• Potential damage to adjoining areas or property.
• Risks created by the rectification work itself.

This approach is consistent with the risk management principles in ISO 31000:2018, which provides guidelines rather than a certifiable management system standard.

For example, a suspected loose façade component requires a different response from a minor paint blemish. Temporary protection, isolation or specialist assessment may be necessary before permanent repairs.

Repairs in occupied buildings also need suitable task risk assessments and, where applicable, elements of CONQUAS/QLASSIC should be considered and perhaps HIRARC, access controls and coordination with building management.

6.0 ABMS : INTEGRITY DURING DEFECTS CLOSURE

The defects stage also creates opportunities for improper influence: pressure to overlook incomplete repairs, inducements linked to certification, undisclosed interests in replacement contractors or unjustified deductions.

An Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) based on ISO 37001:2025 provides a framework for preventing, detecting and responding to bribery.

Applied to defects management, useful controls include declarations of conflicts of interest, appropriate due diligence on rectification contractors, transparent approval of repair costs, independent verification where warranted and accessible reporting channels.

I feel that integrity is particularly important when financial pressure meets technical judgement. Certification should be supported by evidence and the applicable requirements. ABMS controls support that discipline; they do not replace engineering assessment or contractual procedures.

A disputed defect or delayed certificate does not, by itself, establish bribery. Concerns require evidence and fair investigation.

7.0 CODES OF PRACTICES AND STANDARDS : ESTABLISHING ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Defect assessment should refer to the approved drawings, specifications, contractual requirements, applicable legislation, relevant Malaysian Standards and codes of practice, and manufacturers’ installation requirements.

Acceptance criteria should be identified before repairs begin, including any necessary testing.

CIDB’s CIS 7:2021, used for QLASSIC, provides a framework for assessing workmanship quality. However, its application to a particular defects dispute must be considered against the contract and the assessment’s intended purpose. A QLASSIC score should not be treated as conclusive proof that every element is defect-free.

Standards should be applied within their proper scope, using the edition required by the contract or applicable regulatory requirements.

8.0 HOW DO DEFECTS AFFECT CCC

This is an important distinction. 

Based on my experience, some clients suggest that outstanding defects could invalidate the CCC (very funny), sometimes using this as leverage against the contractor. Such statements require care: outstanding defects do not, by themselves, invalidate CCC, although defects affecting safety or statutory compliance warrant prompt investigation and appropriate action.

Jabatan Kerajaan Tempatan (JKT) distinguishes between non-critical defects that can be repaired during DLP and critical defects affecting safety or health that should prevent CCC issuance.

Minor finishing defects can usually proceed through the contractual defects process. Suspected structural instability, unsafe electrical installations or failed fire-safety provisions require prompt assessment and appropriate protective action.

An existing CCC should never be used to dismiss evidence of a dangerous condition.

JKT’s published FAQ states that an issued CCC cannot simply be withdrawn administratively. However, improper issuance, false certification or non-compliance can lead to enforcement or professional disciplinary action, while disputed validity may be referred to court.

9.0 MEANINGFUL CLOSURE REQUIRE EVIDENCE

DLP expiry and CMGD do not necessarily extinguish every subsequent liability. Latent-defect claims may remain possible, depending on the facts, contract, applicable law and limitation periods.

For housing projects, the developer’s obligations to purchasers also need separate consideration from its arrangements with the main contractor. Closing the contractor’s defects account does not automatically settle purchasers’ rights.

In my view, meaningful closure requires a clear record of the defect, its cause, responsibility, repair method and verification results. Repeated failures should prompt further investigation.

The objective is to restore the required performance of the work and give all parties a defensible basis for closure. That is where technical competence, risk awareness and professional integrity come together.

FOOD FOR THE THOUGHT - DATA CENTRES

When discussing concerns about data centres, perhaps we should begin by listening rather than labelling. People may question these developments for different reasons, including electricity demand, water availability, environmental impacts and how their personal information is used.

These concerns deserve proper answers. The International Energy Agency recognises that rapid data centre expansion can place pressure on local electricity systems and water resources. The impact depends on the location, design, cooling systems and how infrastructure costs are shared.

History also gives people reasons to question assurances. Previously secret surveillance activities, such as one agency's bulk telephone records programme, were subsequently publicly documented. This supports taking privacy concerns seriously, while assessing each new allegation on its own evidence. A confirmed abuse does not automatically validate every wider claim attached to it.

Deliberate attempts to mislead the public also exist. Documented investigations have exposed organised campaigns using fabricated identities and false narratives online. However, claiming that a particular theory was planted to misdirect people requires specific evidence too.

Data centres support many digital services, including AI. Their existence alone does not establish a hidden surveillance purpose. Questions about information collection should examine who collects it, why, who can access it and what safeguards apply.

A concern can contain a valid observation while the explanation surrounding it becomes exaggerated. Equally, an uncomfortable question may deserve investigation. We can remain open-minded, check sources and ask for transparency without ridiculing one another.

Public confidence grows when concerns receive clear answers, commitments are independently checked, and problems lead to corrective action.

SOFTWARE QUALITY: REQUIREMENTS, TESTING, RISK AND CORRECTIVE ACTION

When a banking application fails during a transaction, an online portal rejects a valid submission, or a business system produces an incorrect report, the immediate question is often: “Was the software tested?”

Another question deserves equal attention: “Were the requirements properly understood, defined and agreed upon?”

Software quality depends on requirements engineering, effective testing and informed risk decisions. These disciplines connect what people need with evidence of what a system delivers.

1.0 REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING

Requirements engineering involves discovering, analysing, documenting, validating and managing requirements. It helps stakeholders agree on the problem, the intended outcome and the conditions a solution must satisfy.

Interviews, workshops, observation, existing documents and prototypes help uncover needs and resolve conflicting expectations. Appropriate documentation may combine written requirements, examples and models.

For example, a customer might request another approval screen. Investigation could reveal that the actual need is to prevent unauthorised transactions. Understanding the purpose helps the team evaluate suitable solutions.

Requirements must also be clear enough to assess. Consider:

"The application must be fast"

An illustrative alternative is:

“Under a workload of 1,000 concurrent users, at least 95% of account-balance requests shall display a result within three seconds.”

These figures are examples requiring agreement based on actual needs and technical conditions.

Requirements should address functionality, quality expectations, interfaces, constraints and failure conditions. For a payment application, this includes what happens when a connection drops after confirmation and how a customer establishes whether payment succeeded.

2.0 MANAGING PRIORITIES AND CHANGES

Requirements evolve as stakeholders learn and business conditions change. Effective management includes prioritisation, version control, change assessment and traceability across the project lifecycle. These practices apply to traditional and Agile approaches.

Increasing a payment limit, for instance, could affect approval rules, fraud controls, customer messages and existing tests. Treating it as a simple number change may overlook those consequences.

Traceability connects the original need to its requirements, implementation and tests, making affected work easier to identify.

3.0 TESTING AND EVIDENCE EXAMINING

Software testing evaluates software and related work products to identify defects, assess quality and support decisions. It includes reviews performed without executing software and tests that examine running software. Testing supports checking specified requirements and evaluating whether users’ needs are met.

A payment application may calculate charges correctly yet leave customers uncertain about interrupted transactions. Both technical correctness and practical suitability require attention.

Testing also differs from debugging: testing can expose a failure; debugging investigates its cause and implements a correction.

3.1 Test Selection

Useful techniques include examining input groups, boundaries, combinations of conditions and changes between system states. Exploratory testing uses learning and observation to guide investigation.

For a hypothetical RM5,000 transaction limit, examples include amounts below, at and above the limit, invalid entries, repeated submissions and interrupted connections.

Different testing activities answer different questions:

A refund calculation may work correctly by itself but fail when communicating with a payment provider. One successful demonstration cannot establish the quality of the entire system.

4.0 SETBACKS, LIMITATIONS AND DISADVANTAGES

Requirements engineering and testing require time, competent people, stakeholder participation and suitable resources. Excessive documentation can slow decisions, while inadequate documentation can leave critical assumptions unresolved.

Testing also has practical limits. Exhaustive testing is generally impossible, repeated checks can become less effective at finding new defects, and the absence of detected defects does not establish that users’ needs have been met.

The following are illustrative implementation problems and responses:

A distinction matters here: correcting a defect fixes the immediate problem; corrective action addresses its cause to reduce recurrence.

For example, repairing one incorrect calculation is a correction. Investigating an ambiguous calculation rule, improving its specification and checking related calculations addresses the wider cause.

5.0 RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk assessment is an explicit part of risk-based testing. Risks are identified and analysed, and the results guide testing priorities, scope and effort. Testing considers both product risks and project risks.

Product risks concern the delivered software for example, incorrect payments, exposed records or unacceptable response times. Project risks concern delivery conditions, such as unavailable skills, delayed environments or insufficient resources.

A practical assessment should establish what could go wrong, its likelihood and consequences, existing controls, further treatment and responsibility. It should also identify the evidence needed to evaluate the treatment and the remaining risk requiring a decision.

For an illustrative payment service:

These examples do not imply that every organisation needs the same controls. Assessment should reflect its systems, information and operating context.

6.0 INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ISMS) ISO/IEC 27001

Some parties asked me about how ISMS can help. An Information Security Management System (ISMS) provides an organisational framework for managing information security. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 establishes requirements for that system, including information security risk assessment and treatment. Its purpose includes preserving the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.

An ISMS complements requirements engineering and testing. Security risks can inform requirements, those requirements can guide implementation and testing, and the results can support decisions about control effectiveness and remaining risk.

Its scope extends beyond software defects to the way information is handled through people, processes and technology.

For example, where assessment identifies a risk of unauthorised disclosure, the organisation might establish access requirements, implement appropriate controls and evaluate their operation. Responsibility must also cover how access is granted, reviewed and removed.

An ISMS does not replace broader software risk assessment or functional testing. Equally, passing functional tests does not establish that information security risks are adequately managed.

An organisation’s ISO/IEC 27001 certification and an individual’s professional qualification also serve different purposes. Neither guarantees that a particular application is secure or defect-free.

7.0 EVIDENCE, AUTOMATION AND RELEASE DECISIONS

Clear defect reports should identify the relevant version and environment, describe the steps taken, and distinguish expected from observed results.

Automation can accelerate suitable repeatable checks, but requires careful selection and maintenance. Its benefits depend on the quality of the checks performed.

For instance, confirming automatically that a payment page opens provides little evidence about payment accuracy or duplicate handling.

Test planning should establish scope, responsibilities, resources and completion criteria. Release decisions should consider the evidence available, unresolved defects, untested areas and remaining risks.

8.0 IREB, ISTQB AND MSTB

• IREB : the International Requirements Engineering Board - provides the Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE) certification scheme, supporting structured knowledge in understanding, documenting, validating and managing requirements,

• ISTQB - the International Software Testing Qualifications Board -  provides the Certified Tester qualification scheme, including the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL), supporting knowledge of testing principles, techniques, management and tools.

In Malaysia, the Malaysian Software Testing Board (MSTB) supports professional development and conducts examinations under the ISTQB Certified Tester scheme as Malaysia’s ISTQB member board.

The value of professional qualifications depends on applying the knowledge with experience, communication and sound judgement.

9.0 APPLYING THE KNOWLEDGE

Organisations should involve relevant stakeholders early, define measurable expectations, assess risks, maintain traceability and evaluate changes before implementation.

When failures occur, they should correct the immediate problem, investigate its causes, implement proportionate corrective action and verify effectiveness. Findings should feed back into requirements, controls and future tests.

Reliable software depends on clear requirements, meaningful testing and accountable risk decisions throughout its operational life.

SECURING ASIA’S ENERGY FUTURE: DIVERSIFIED SUPPLY, LOWER EMISSIONS AND THE ROLE OF LNG

An assessment based on information available as at 8 November 2026. Historical figures, preliminary estimates and forecasts are distinguished below.

Asia’s energy security depends on its ability to provide reliable and affordable energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These objectives must advance together: unreliable supply disrupts economic activity, unaffordable energy places pressure on households and industry, and continued emissions growth increases climate risks.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) can contribute to this effort by diversifying gas supplies and supporting certain industrial and electricity needs. However, its contribution to decarbonisation depends on how it is produced, transported and used and what energy source it replaces.

1) CURRENT POSITON: GROWING ENERGY DEMAND AND VULNERABLE SUPPLY

Asia is not one uniform energy market. Countries differ in domestic resources, infrastructure, purchasing power and energy policies. Regional planning must therefore accommodate different national circumstances.

Southeast Asia illustrates the scale of the challenge. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026 projects that the region will account for nearly 20% of global energy demand growth to 2035 under today’s policy settings. Before the current crisis, approximately one-third of its gas imports came from the Middle East, exposing buyers to concentrated supply routes.

The 2026 disruption demonstrates why this exposure matters. The IEA’s Global Gas Security Review 2026 reports the following:

These figures describe a market in which alternative suppliers have helped, but have not fully replaced disrupted deliveries. The full-year figure remains a forecast.

2) HOW DEMAND CAN RISE OVER TIME WHEN GAS CONSUMPTION FALLS TODAY

Long-term energy needs and short-term fuel consumption are different measures.

Industrial development, electrification, cooling and digital infrastructure can increase electricity requirements. However, high LNG prices can simultaneously reduce gas consumption by making gas-fired generation and industrial production less economical.

The IEA forecasts a 1.5% decline in Asia-Pacific natural gas demand in 2026, partly reflecting switching from gas to coal and reduced activity in energy-intensive industries. Lower gas consumption under these circumstances should not automatically be interpreted as improved efficiency or successful decarbonisation.

Southeast Asia also faces a structural supply challenge. In the IEA’s stated-policies scenario, regional gas production declines from approximately 210 billion cubic metres in 2024 to 175 billion cubic metres by 2035, while gas demand grows by more than 30%. These are scenario projections, rather than guaranteed outcomes, but they illustrate the potential widening gap between domestic production and consumption.

3) HOW LNG FROM OTHER COUNTRIES CAN CONTRIBUTE

The strongest contribution from overseas LNG is greater choice: more suppliers, more delivery routes and more flexibility when disruptions occur.

The United States has contributed additional supply through facilities including Plaquemines LNG and Corpus Christi Stage 3. Canada, Mexico, Mauritania and Senegal also entered the LNG export market through new projects reflected in the IEA’s 2025 assessment. Globally, LNG exports reached approximately 580 billion cubic metres in 2025, equivalent to around 13% of natural gas consumption.

Canada provides a practical example of a new supply route to Asia. LNG Canada loaded its first export cargo on 30 June 2025. Its initial two processing trains have a combined nameplate capacity of 14 million tonnes per year. Nameplate capacity indicates design capability; actual annual deliveries depend on operating performance and utilisation.

PETRONAS holds a 25% interest in LNG Canada and announced that its first cargo from the facility departed for Japan on 7 July 2025. The company identifies the project’s west-coast location as providing a direct shipping corridor to North Asian markets. This illustrates how a Malaysian energy company can diversify its portfolio through overseas production partnerships.

The policy implication is to evaluate suppliers as a portfolio. Diversification should consider geography, shipping routes, contractual flexibility, reliability, delivered cost and emissions performance. Purchasing from several companies does not provide sufficient protection if their cargoes depend on the same vulnerable route.

4) DOES LNG QUALIFY AS LOWER CARBON ENERGY?

LNG remains a fossil fuel. Its environmental performance must be assessed across the full chain:

The IEA’s updated September 2026 assessment estimates average emissions from LNG production through regasification at 18.6 grammes of CO₂ equivalent per megajoule delivered. This figure excludes final combustion and downstream distribution after regasification. It must therefore not be presented as LNG’s complete life-cycle emissions intensity.

An earlier IEA assessment, based on 2024 data, found that LNG had approximately 25% lower life-cycle emissions than coal on average under its methodology. That comparison does not establish an identical saving for every power station, industrial installation or supply route.

For a particular project, the assessment should examine:

• The fuel or technology being displaced,
• Gas leakage and methane emissions throughout the supply chain,
• Energy used for liquefaction and transport, and
• The efficiency and operating pattern of the receiving plant.

Whether renewable electricity, storage, electrification or efficiency could deliver the same service with lower emissions.

LNG can support emissions reduction where verified performance demonstrates an improvement over the realistic alternative. A general description such as “clean LNG” is insufficient evidence.

5) ACTIONS BEING TAKEN

Several developments show how energy security and emissions management can advance together.

More flexible LNG trade - The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that destination-flexible contracts represented more than 50% of LNG contracts in 2025, compared with 29% in 2016. Such arrangements help redirect cargoes towards markets experiencing shortages, although buyers remain exposed to competition and price increases,

Greater emissions transparency - Initiatives including the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and the Coalition for LNG Emissions Abatement toward Net-zero are improving the structure and visibility of emissions reporting. The IEA nevertheless cautions that significant uncertainty remains in supply-chain estimates, and

Regional electricity cooperation - On 14 January 2026, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, @Electricite du Laos and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)  signed an agreement supporting the second phase of the Lao PDR–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore Power Integration Project. TNB stated that the arrangement completed implementation enabling total electricity trade of up to 200 MW, including additional supply from Malaysia to Singapore.

This matters because energy security also improves when countries can share electricity and diversify the resources used to generate it.

6) WHAT'S NEXT

The following priorities emerge from these findings.

a) Plan Electricity and Gas together - Demand forecasts should consider industrial growth, cooling, data centres, renewable deployment, storage and efficiency. LNG terminals, pipelines and power stations should be assessed against several demand and price scenarios before investment decisions are made,

b) Diversify both Suppliers and Routes - Procurement strategies should examine common exposure to shipping chokepoints, upstream facilities and contractual restrictions. Emergency arrangements should identify alternative cargoes, delivery windows and available receiving capacity,

c) Match Contracts to Realistic Demand - Long-term purchases can support supply certainty, but excessive fixed commitments can become costly if demand falls. Buyers should assess volume flexibility, resale rights, pricing formulas and take-or-pay obligations together,

d) Make Lower Emissions Claims Measurable - Procurement specifications should define reporting boundaries, require credible methane data and provide for independent verification. Improvements at the liquefaction plant should be distinguished from improvements across the complete supply chain,

e) Accelerate Efficiency, Renewables, Grids and Storage - These investments should proceed alongside necessary fuel procurement. The IEA estimates that renewables, electrification and efficiency investments since 2015 reduced Southeast Asia’s fossil-fuel import costs by approximately US$30 billion in 2025,

f) Strengthen Operational Resilience - Receiving terminals, pipelines and power stations require effective maintenance, competent operators, emergency preparedness, cybersecurity and tested continuity arrangements. Additional supply contracts have limited value if receiving infrastructure cannot operate reliably, and

g) Assign Accountability and Track Results -  Governments, utilities and operators should establish owners, deadlines and measurable indicators. Useful measures include supplier concentration, outage frequency, energy intensity, methane emissions, verified emissions per unit of electricity and the share of demand that can respond during emergencies.

Asia’s energy future will be stronger when diversified LNG supply is combined with domestic resources, regional electricity cooperation and sustained investment in lower-emissions alternatives. LNG’s role should be judged by the reliability it adds, the exposure it reduces and the emissions improvement it can demonstrate.

SWRO: Turning Seawater into a Resource for Industry and Communities - By Nik Zafri

Cover image: AI-generated illustration of an SWRO facility - not a photograph of the former client’s installation.

Disclaimer and Acknowledgement

This article is intended for general technical awareness and knowledge sharing. It draws partly on my consultancy experience supporting a client with interests in construction and desalination towards ISO 9001 certification.

I have not personally observed a working installation using the approach informally described as “slow-boiling” desalination. References to that approach reflect general technical principles and applicable requirements, rather than firsthand verification of an operating unit.

This article does not assess project investment costs, commercial feasibility, water sales or selling prices. Any illustrative electricity-cost calculations are included solely to explain the calculation method and should not be interpreted as actual tariffs, total production costs, quotations or commercial projections.

The discussion does not replace project-specific engineering assessments, regulatory approvals or verification of water and recovered-salt quality for their intended use.

I also extend my thanks to the subject matter experts who prefer to remain anonymous for their valuable input and technical insights.

Water security is also business continuity.

For factories, power stations and mining operations, an interruption in water supply can affect production, equipment, product quality and contractual commitments.

Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) offers coastal industries an alternative source of freshwater, potentially reducing their dependence on rivers, groundwater and municipal treated-water supplies.

The main focus of this article is SWRO.

1) HOW DOES IT WORK

SWRO uses pressure to drive water through semi-permeable membranes, separating seawater into a low-salinity product stream, called permeate, and a concentrated salt stream, called brine. It operates through membrane separation rather than boiling and condensation.

Diagram 1: Simplified SWRO treatment process

llustrative process only. The treatment configuration depends on seawater characteristics and the required product quality.

Pretreatment protects membranes against fouling and damage. Energy-recovery devices recover hydraulic energy from the pressurised brine stream, reducing pumping demand. The concentrated stream still requires appropriate management.

2.0 CAN IT SUPPORT INDUSTRY

Municipal treated water remains a valuable supply. However, industrial processes may require water specifications that differ from drinking-water requirements.

SWRO can provide an alternative feedwater source, with additional treatment selected for each application.

Table 1: SWRO and its application to various industries

RO is used in boiler-feedwater and semiconductor water-treatment systems. However, SWRO permeate is not automatically boiler-ready or ultrapure water. Further purification and conditioning must meet the relevant equipment and process specifications.

The wider benefit is supply diversification. Where industry can use a suitable alternative source, it may reduce demand on freshwater resources shared with surrounding communities.

Chile provides a practical example. BHP reports that Escondida ceased groundwater withdrawals for operational water supply in 2019 and has sourced its operational water withdrawals from desalinated ocean water since FY2020. Its infrastructure uses reverse osmosis and pumps desalinated water inland to the mine.

3.0 EXAMPLE - WATER OUTPUT AND ELECTRICITY DEMAND

The following calculations illustrate the relationship between feedwater, recovery, product water and electricity consumption.

These are assumed values for explanation, not plant design criteria, a quotation or a performance guarantee.

Table 2: Assumed Values

3.1. Permeate Production

Permeate = Feed × Recovery = 1,000 × 0.45 = 450 m³/day

This is equivalent to 450,000 litres per day, before downstream treatment losses and plant service-water consumption.

3.2. Brine Production

Brine = Feed − Permeate = 1,000 − 450 = 550 m³/day

This simplified balance excludes pretreatment backwash, chemical-cleaning waste and other side streams. Actual intake and waste-management requirements must include them.

3.3 Electricity Demand

Daily electricity = Permeate × Specific electricity consumption = 450 × 3.5 = 1,575 kWh/day

The assumed energy figure must represent a clearly defined system boundary. Additional treatment or long-distance pumping may increase overall consumption.

3.4. Electricity cost

Daily electricity cost = Electricity demand × Electricity rate = 1,575 × RM0.40 = RM630/day

Electricity cost per cubic metre of permeate: RM630 ÷ 450 = RM1.40/m³

This is electricity cost only. Total water cost must also include capital recovery, financing, membranes, chemicals, labour, maintenance, testing, residuals management and distribution.

If all 450 m³/day were suitable for an industrial duty and displaced an equivalent municipal-water demand, the theoretical substitution over 30 operating days would be:

450 × 30 = 13,500 m³

Actual substitution would depend on plant availability, demand, storage and net usable output.

4.0 CAN DESALINATED SEAWATER BE CONSUMED?

Yes, properly treated and verified desalinated seawater can become safe drinking water.

Salt removal is one part of the process. Potable supply also requires control of chemical and microbial risks, appropriate post-treatment, protected storage and distribution, and compliance with applicable drinking-water requirements.

WHO guidance addresses these risks through a water safety plan approach. It also highlights stabilisation or remineralisation to reduce the corrosiveness of desalinated water, and the need to assess substances such as boron that may require particular treatment attention.

Diagram 2: The intended use determines the treatment pathway

Singapore’s NEWater is a separate source: it is produced from treated used water and is extensively used by industry. This distinction matters when comparing seawater desalination with water reclamation and reuse.

6.0 APPLICATION OF ISO 9000 SYSTEM

Different standards address different aspects of the operation.

ISO 13205 and ISO 23446 are technical references with different scopes. As of November 2026, ISO 23446:2021 remains published and is under systematic review; the review does not itself create a replacement edition.

An ISO 9001 certificate supports confidence in the organisation’s management system. It does not, by itself, establish that every batch of water is safe to drink. Product conformity still requires defined acceptance criteria, effective controls and verified results.

7.0 BOILERS AND JKKP

The connection with boilers can arise in two ways: SWRO water may undergo further treatment for use as boiler feedwater, or a separate thermal desalination system may use steam to evaporate seawater.

In Malaysia, the boiler and associated equipment must be assessed against Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (JKKP/DOSH) requirements.

For thermal systems sometimes described informally as “slow boiling,” the heating rate does not determine the legal classification. The equipment’s design, pressure conditions and heating arrangement must be examined.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health (Plant Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024, a steam boiler involves a closed vessel generating steam above atmospheric pressure. JKKP also defines pressure vessels as closed containers operating above or below atmospheric pressure.

A vacuum evaporator should therefore be assessed for applicable pressure-vessel requirements and exclusions. A steam boiler supplying heat to that evaporator may require a separate assessment.

For equipment classified as a regulated steam boiler, key requirements include:

• Required design verification and installation approval.

• Inspection and a valid Certificate of Fitness before operation.

• Registered boiler engineers or visiting engineers and boiler operators, according to applicable Twelfth Schedule arrangements.

• Appropriately registered competent persons or companies for prescribed specialist work.

• Applicable approval for alterations affecting the approved design or operating conditions.

Compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements forms part of ISO 9001 requirements. These legal obligations should therefore be identified and referenced in the Quality Manual and relevant procedures, and fulfilled regardless of certification status.

The management system should connect each regulated item to its approved design, registration details, Certificate of Fitness, competent-person appointments, inspection records and maintenance requirements.

Operating procedures should address the actual hazards, including steam burns, pressure release, vacuum collapse, low-water conditions, scaling, corrosion, chemical cleaning and safe isolation. Protective devices, operating limits and testing arrangements must follow the approved design and applicable requirements.

Water quality and equipment safety require separate evidence: a satisfactory water-test result does not demonstrate that a boiler or evaporator is safe to operate.

8.0 BALANCED DECISION

SWRO carries energy, maintenance and brine-management costs. Intake and discharge arrangements also require environmental assessment. Its suitability should be evaluated alongside demand reduction, leakage control, process-water recycling and other available supplies.

For a coastal industrial development, feasibility should cover the complete system: seawater quality, production demand, power reliability, membrane maintenance, storage, pipelines, environmental requirements and the final water specification.

From a consultancy perspective, this is where process-based management matters: understanding the intended use, identifying risks, establishing controls and retaining evidence that the system consistently delivers what was specified.

The objective is reliable water that is fit for its intended use, supported by sound engineering, safe equipment, controlled operations and evidence of quality.