KUALA SELANGOR, Sept 25 — Industry players in the construction and handicraft sectors are recommended to optimise the use of the technology industry in efforts to reduce dependence on foreign workers.

The president of the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), Foo Chek Lee said the move was seen to be capable of assisting the contractors to complete projects in a shorter time at minimal cost.

He said the use of the latest technology in the construction process could also raise the final work quality produced by developers besides reducing the risks of accidents at project sites.

"Among the technologies that could be applied by contractors is the IBS (Industrialised Building System) where the concept of fabrication with the building components are produced at the factory in a controlled environment with tight work quality monitoring.

"Thereafter, the completed component need only to be sent to the building site to be fixed as a structure using a minimal work force,” he told Bernama.

He said this when approached after the MBAM corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme at Taman Alam Kuala Selangor, here today.

MBAM was set up in 1954 with the aim of becoming the patron for players in the construction industry and other related sectors, with about 12,000 members involving more than 900 contracting companies and building equipment suppliers nationwide. — Bernama