The inaugural Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Quality Day 2019 was held at the KVMRT Training Centre, Sungai Buloh on 14 November 2019.

The event was organised by Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) Quality and System Assurance Department of the Standard and Compliance Division, as a celebration of the World Quality Day, with the objective of increasing awareness on the importance of quality towards both the organisation and national growth.

With the theme ‘Celebrating Improvements’, the event looked at celebrating the continuous improvement in terms of quality in the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line and the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line. It was attended by relevant parties from MRT Corp, MMC-Gamuda KVMRT Sdn Bhd and Work Package Contractors (WPC) for the SSP Line and their subcontractors.

MRT Corp Quality and System Assurance General Manager, Ir Zulkifli Mohamed kickstarted the event with the welcoming remarks, where he stressed on how quality elements need to be recognised for the success of the Project. He expressed his hope for the event to be organised continuously and thanked the Construction Development Industry Board (CIDB) for their cooperation in making it a success.

The first item in the KVMRT Quality Day 2019 agenda was a presentation by Encik Mohammad Faizal Abdul Hamid from CIDB, on the topic ‘The Importance of QLASSIC in Construction’. In his session, he emphasised on the importance of assessment scheme for all construction works. He also listed on the costs of poor workmanship quality, and explained on the long-term repercussions of it, such as loss of reputation and confidence in business. Apart from that, he shared on the international benchmark on building inspection, and added that it should be adopted and adapted here in Malaysia.

After a short break, the event continued with the KVMRT Quality Paper Competition presentation. This was the final stage where from a total of 25 papers submitted, five were selected to be presented during the KVMRT Quality Day 2019.  These five were then judged by a panel consisted of officials from MRT Corp, MMC-Gamuda KVMRT, Universiti Kuala Lumpur and Department of Standards Malaysia. The papers centered around MRT Corp’s five Quality Policy and required the participants to present on quality-based topics related to quality practices, case studies and issues, improvements and findings on the KVMRT Project. The competition was opened to all personnel involved in the SSP Line.

Upon the completion of the presentations, the event continued with the arrival of the Guest of Honour, SIRIM QAS International Chief Executive Officer, Encik Mohd Azanuddin Salleh, accompanied by MRT Corp Chief Executive Officer, Encik Abdul Yazid Kassim, MRT Corp Director of Standard and Compliance, Tuan Haji Mohd Yusof Kasiron and MRT Corp Leadership Team.

In his opening speech, Encik Abdul Yazid expressed his hope for all participants to gain knowledge from this event that will be beneficial for the Project. He highlighted the importance of holistic approach in quality – for quality to be incorporated not only during the construction phase, but should also be part of the Project from the very beginning.

Encik Mohd Azanuddin then officiated the event, where in his speech, he applauded KVMRT’s strong commitment towards making quality as an integral part of the organisation. He added that SIRIM QAS International is proud to be part of KVMRT’s certification process. He expressed his hope that the event will be able to strengthen quality practice in the organisation.

The prize giving ceremony for the MRT Corp Quality Awareness Contest and KVMRT Quality Paper Competition came next, which were presented by Encik Mohd Azanuddin and accompanied by Encik Abdul Yazid and Tuan Haji Mohd Yusof.  The winners were as follows:

MRT Corp Quality Awareness Contest

1^st Place – Nur Asyikin Abd Halim of MRT Corp Integrated Management System and Operational Knowledge

2^nd Place – Muhammad Zakirullah Rahim of MRT Corp Electrical and Mechanical System

3^rd Place – Wan Nahariyah Wan Md Adnan of MRT Corp Electrical and Mechanical Building Services

KVMRT Quality Paper Competition

1^st Place: Colas Rail (SY205) – Quality Assessment and Its Effectiveness

1. Siti Norhaslina Mohtar
2. Nabila Nur Zakariah
3. Sri Hartatie Abdullah
4. Ahmad Zaki Razali

2^nd Place: MRT Corp – A Case Study of Handing Over SY205 Utility Building (UB) Equipment Room at Elevated MRT Station SSP, KVMRT Project

1. Muhammad Fadzil Sulaiman
2. Norazreen Samsuri
3. Beloumie @ Abu Ansya’ari Jamaludin

3^rd Place: MRCB (V210) – Implementation of QLASSIC for Mechanical and Engineering Works

1. Muhammad Qhuziel Abdul Nutalib
2. Iqbal Faliq

A presentation of certificates to the WPCs for the Pier Assessment was also carried out.  The assessment was to ensure the quality of workmanship on pier exposed surface was as per specification.  MRT Corp performed the assessment, with assistance from MMC-Gamuda KVMRT and observed by CIDB.

The second speaker of the day, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Deputy President, Professor Dato’ Dr Khairanum Subari began the second half of the event, with the topic ‘Quality Tools for Enhancing Performance in Project Management’. In her presentation, she touched on the topic quality assurance, quality control in project management and quality tools to be used in managing a project. She also discussed on the cost that a project may face from failure in implementing quality into a project.

The last item for KVMRT Quality Day 2019 was a presentation by SIRIM QAS International Principal Auditor, Encik Syed Faddly Syed Bahrudin who spoke on the topic ‘Integrated Management Systems (IMS) Benefit: Where do we stand?’.  He discussed on the implementation of IMS and the benefits that comes with it. He also tackled on the obstacles of its implementation.

All the guests and participants went home with valuable information that would benefit the Project, especially in terms of quality.