Architects slipping away

The Star

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will not be able to achieve its target of 10,000 architects by the year 2020 because many architects are leaving the country, according to Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president Dr Tan Loke Mun.

“There were some 1,600 professional architects in Malaysia 10 years ago. It is surprising that the number remains the same now,” he told a press conference after the annual PAM architectural students works exhibition 2007 here yesterday.

Tan said that while the population of Australia was almost equivalent to that of Malaysia, Australia had around 12,000 architects.

He said out of the 20 architecture institutions nationwide, only five were recognised while another 15 were still going through the recognition process.

“Due to this, most of the students from these institutions end up going overseas to further their studies, and the current trend is that they don’t come back.”