The Future Ready Green Data Centres Symposium 2026: Sustainable and High Productivity Engineering, jointly organised by the Civil & Structural Engineering Technical Division (CSETD) of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) and CDL Academy by YTL Cement, was held on 24 September 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, bringing together approximately 180 industry professionals, including engineers, architects, consultants, contractors, project owners, policymakers, academics and technology providers.
The symposium opened with welcoming remarks by Ir. Ng Beng Hooi, Organising Chairman and Chairman of CSETD, IEM, followed by addresses from Ir. Yau Chau Fong, President of IEM, and Datuk Aziyah Mohamed, Co-Chairman of CDL Academy. YB Dato’ Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister of Works, officially opened the event and highlighted the importance of balancing speed, quality, resilience and sustainability in data centre development, with BIM, IBS, modular construction and digitalisation supporting productivity and competitiveness.
Distinguished dignitaries included YB Dato’ Ir. Haji Yusuf bin Haji Abd. Wahab, Chairman of CIDB Malaysia; Dato’ Ir. Ibrahim bin Esa, Director General of Public Works; Sr. Ahmad Farrin, Chief Executive of CIDB Malaysia; Datuk Sr. Mohammad Zaid Zakaria, Chairman of CDL Academy; and Ir. Chen Harn Shean, Deputy President of IEM.
A key highlight was the launch of ECOCem Prime™, a low-carbon cement solution introduced by CDL Academy through YTL Cement and officiated by Datuk Aziyah Mohamed.
The technical programme featured keynote presentations by YB Dato’ Ir. Haji Yusuf bin Haji Abd. Wahab on sustainable data centre construction, and Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Leong Kah Hon of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) on low-carbon materials, embodied carbon reduction and sustainable design.
Session 3, Sustainable Construction Solutions from the Perspective of Manufacturers, featured Lee Mun Sam, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pretech Solutions Sdn. Bhd.; Lim Tze Liang, General Manager (Technical), CDL Sdn. Bhd.; and Jungin Park, General Manager of Dongnam Sdn. Bhd., who discussed DfMA, IBS, digitalisation, low-carbon cement, durability and lifecycle considerations.
Session 4, Building Malaysia’s Next-Generation Data Centre Ecosystem, featured Vinesh Kumar Natali, CEO and Managing Director of Meinhardt EPCM Group, who shared international perspectives on speed-to-market, sustainability, digitalisation, supply chain resilience, talent development and integrated project delivery.
Session 5, From Design to Application – Enhancing Productivity Through Sustainable Construction, featured Dato’ Ar. Dr. Cheah Kah Lip, Managing Director of Akitek Akiprima Sdn. Bhd.; Ir. Alvin Ang Cheng Hin, Managing Director of TY Lin International Sdn. Bhd.; and Jack Haberman, Operations Manager of Leighton Asia. Their presentations highlighted integrated design, BIM, precast and modular construction, collaboration and efficient project execution.
The symposium also featured networking and a Data Centre Infrastructure Showcase, providing opportunities for participants to engage with industry experts and solution providers. The strong participation demonstrated growing industry commitment to sustainable, productive and resilient digital infrastructure. The event provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration and innovation, reinforcing the engineering profession’s role in Malaysia’s digital transformation and the shared commitment to “Making Construction Better”.
By Ir. Ng Beng Hooi
