USM Expert Strengthens National Engineering Leadership

Universiti Sains Malaysia, through the River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC), continues to contribute to national policy and technical development by providing expert advice to government and regulatory bodies. In 2024, Ir. Ts. Dr. Chang Chun Kiat, Deputy Director of REDAC, was elected Vice Chairman of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Penang Branch for the 2024/2025 session.

This appointment underscores USM’s role in providing specific expert advice at regional and national levels. Through REDAC, USM actively collaborates with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), the Penang State Government, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) to support policy development and capacity-building in flood risk management, urban water resilience, and sustainable drainage systems.

REDAC’s participation in national technical committees ensures that applied research and scientific evidence inform public policy and infrastructure decisions. Dr. Chang’s leadership within IEM represents both individual excellence and institutional trust in USM’s capacity to guide sustainable engineering and climate-resilient urban development.