IEM Sabah invited to Plumbing Asia 2026

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 26): The Sabah Plumber Association (SPA) paid a courtesy call on the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Sabah Branch to strengthen professional collaboration and to invite IEM members to participate in the Plumbing Asia 2026 Conference & Expo, scheduled for 25–26 April 2026 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).

SPA was represented by President Dr Carmen Wong Wui Meng and Vice President Teo Seng Peng, together with SPA representatives, while IEM Sabah was led by Branch Chairman Datuk Ir. Ts. Mohd Yaakob Bin Jaafar and Vice Chairman II Ir. Paul Yap, with executive committee members in attendance.

During the engagement, Dr Carmen briefed stakeholders on the event’s programme direction, potential speaker engagement and expo arrangements, including an estimated 80–100 exhibition booths featuring local and international exhibitors.

Dr Carmen said Plumbing Asia 2026 is positioned as a technology and solutions platform, focusing on knowledge-sharing and practical innovations for the industry, including smart-city and sponge-city approaches, non-revenue water reduction, leak detection, and industrial wastewater management.

Sabah was highlighted as an ideal host destination due to its strong market potential arising from ongoing water supply and sewerage upgrades, its strategic position as a gateway to ASEAN, strong government support, and its ability to attract quality trade visitors from government bodies, contractors, consultants and manufacturers — while reinforcing sustainability and ESG positioning under the theme “Smart Water, Strong Nation, Sustainable Asian Future.”

IEM Sabah welcomed the initiative and reiterated its role in advancing engineering professionalism and capacity building in the state. The branch affirmed its full support for SPA as a knowledge partner and event supporter, including contributing to programme quality, facilitating suitable technical speakers, and assisting with CPD structuring to ensure the conference delivers professional value for engineers and related practitioners.

IEM Sabah also noted that the platform provides an opportunity to showcase Sabah’s market potential and strengthen industry linkages with regional and international participants.