BIM technology: Government amassed RM157 million to implement the Sarawak Pan Borneo Lebuhraya project

PUTRAJAYA, 15 Sept: The government has been able to save RM157 million through the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology in the implementation of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Lebuhraya project, said Chief Secretary of Ministry of Works (MOW) Datuk Seri Azman Ibrahim.

He said the use of BIM in the project in 2016 also managed to identify and resolve over 3,000 errors on design drawings, thus preventing the project from experiencing delays up to 10 years.

"We at KKR are working to transform the country's construction industry through the use of BIM. Actually, the use of BIM is not an innovation, it's been a long time. Only at the national level, we're working to achieve something that we can be proud of.

"For example, in 2016, we implemented the construction of Pan Borneo Sarawak using BIM. When we used BIM, we managed to resolve the clashes and we managed to save government money at that time RM157 million", he said.

He said this to reporters after attending the launching ceremony of Malaysia BIM Day 2026: Putrajaya Digital Built inaugurated by Minister for Public Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Minister in the Department of Prime Minister (Federal Region) Hannah Yeoh here today.

He said the use of BIM also helps to speed up the planning approval process from about 14 days to just 48 hours achieved without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) directly in the future KKR will incorporate the technology to accelerate the process.

In the meantime, Azman said KKR will expand BIM Lab facilities across the country to help contractors and consultants use the technology as well as reduce the cost of obtaining software.

"This year we got RM83.3 million to build BIM Labs across the country including in Sabah and Sarawak. That means we're going to have 16 BIM Signs overall", he said.

He said the effort was part of KKR's move to increase the use of technology to strengthen the country's competitiveness in urban planning and construction industry.

BIM is the process of preparing and managing information-driven three-dimensional (3D) models in the lifecycle of a project execution with these digital models being used by various parties for specific purposes to improve the level of effectiveness of overall asset management.

BIM is based on intelligent 3D models that provide information to architects, engineers and construction professionals who design, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure efficiently. -TVS