Wednesday May 14, 2014
BY LUWITA HANA RANDHAWA
Challenging, exciting, engaging.
These three words were used by James Lai Siaw Pin to describe working at Gamuda Berhad, Malaysia’s leading infrastructure and property developer.
As a senior design engineer, a typical day at the office for Lai involves drawing up project designs and managing project consultants.
“I get to put into practice the technical knowledge I learnt at university and exercise my communication skills,” says Lai, who has been with the company for three years.
Meanwhile, site engineer Noor Affida Raffika Mohamad Nazari has an outdoor office, supervising and conducting inspections at project sites.
“Currently, I’m attached to the Maluri MRT station where we are at the site-clearing stage. A lot of people ask me, ‘Isn’t it hard to work all day in the sun?’ ... but it’s not tough if you love doing it,” she says.
The two engineers began their journey with the company as Gamuda Scholarship Award recipients; Lai in 2008 and Noor Affida Raffika in 2010.
“Gamuda has always been involved in iconic projects, like the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) project which was featured on the Discovery Channel. So I knew it would be a good platform for me as an engineer,” says Lai, who studied civil engineering at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.
Noor Affida Raffika, who studied civil engineering at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, describes being a scholarship award recipient as a great and valuable opportunity.
“Gamuda engaged with us during the entire scholarship period, making sure we excelled in our studies and providing us not only with internships but other training as well during our time as students.”
This focus on an individual’s career growth and personal development continues, she adds, having taken part as an employee in both internal and external training where she has been able to explore new things.
“As new employees, we also undergo a mentoring programme where we will have one or more mentors who will advise and guide us in our career development and personal well-being. There is an abundance of knowledge and experience here, and our seniors are open to sharing and teaching,” says Lai.
But it’s not just all work and no play; Gamuda also provides recreational and social opportunities for employees.
Organised by Gamuda Sports Club, Lai is going on a caving expedition to Gua Tempurung, Perak, this weekend for a short getaway trip with his colleagues.
Now in its 19th year, applications for the 2014 Gamuda Scholarship Award will close on April 30.
The scholarship covers full tuition fees and living expenses for local universities and tuition fees for universities abroad.
Shortlisted applicants will attend a one-day workshop followed by an interview session.
“This year, we are inviting previous scholarship award recipients who are now in senior positions, to be part of the selection process,” says Gamuda Group Learning and Development head Sim Kay Loh.
“We want applicants with strong academic background, leadership potential and the right values to come, knowing a little bit about the company, and most importantly, to be themselves.”
For more information, visit www.gamuda.com.my/scholarship/.