The proposal, tabled at the association’s 48th annual general meeting on April 11 at the Kinabalu Club, argues that existing national registration requirements do not adequately reflect Sabah’s legal and geographical context, according to Borneo Post.

SEA compared the move with existing requirements for lawyers and land surveyors, who must obtain additional state-specific approval before practising in Sabah.

“It is a fact that a lawyer qualified in Kuala Lumpur cannot appear in a Sabah court without specific admission to the Sabah Bar,” SEA president CC Lo was quoted as saying.

“Similarly, a land surveyor from Penang cannot automatically conduct cadastral surveys here due to our distinct land laws under the Sabah Land Ordinance.”

“We are simply asking for engineering standards to catch up with the legal and surveying professions. This is not about creating barriers, but about ensuring public safety and legal compliance.”

Under the proposal, out-of-state engineers would need to pass an assessment covering Sabah’s legal frameworks, local council by-laws, land use regulations and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

It also recommends testing on Sabah-specific conditions, including seismic risks, geological conditions, and tropical climate, which differ from those in the peninsula.

SEA further suggested the creation of a state-level endorsement register, similar to systems used by the Sabah Bar and the Land Surveyors Board.

The association said that while the Board of Engineers Malaysia handles national registration, Sabah retains jurisdiction over key areas such as land, water, electricity supply and local government, which directly affect engineering projects.

The proposal will be submitted to Sabah’s industrial development, entrepreneurship and transportation ministry for funding.

It would then be forwarded to the state’s local government and housing ministry for implementation as the custodian of the proposed competency assessment.