(From left) Ngo, Chai, Mohd Khairudin, and Awang Zamhari in a photocall during the RISM Sarawak Surveyors’ Congress 2026.
KUCHING May 8): Surveyors can no longer remain as ‘behind-the-scenes professionals’ as the profession now plays an increasingly strategic role in shaping Sarawak’s development, sustainability agenda and land governance, said Prof Mohd Khairudin Abdul Halim.
The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) deputy president said surveyors today go beyond measuring land boundaries and recording technical data, with the profession now directly influencing policymaking, infrastructure planning and long-term environmental management.
“Surveyors today are no longer merely technical professionals working behind the scenes.
“We are becoming strategic contributors in shaping policies, guiding development, managing sustainability and supporting the future direction of the nation,” he said at the RISM Sarawak Surveyors Congress 2026 here.
Mohd Khairudin said Sarawak is rapidly positioning itself as a regional leader in progressive land governance, geospatial advancement and sustainable resource management.
“Today’s congress reflects that very aspiration. It demonstrates Sarawak’s readiness not only to showcase its achievements, but also to contribute meaningfully to global discourse, particularly in how land, data and development can be managed responsibly for future generations,” he said.
He added that the surveying profession is transitioning from traditional land measurement and data-recording roles into one that serves as custodian of land resources, enabler of development and shaper of long-term outcomes.
He stressed that sustainability is no longer optional in modern development, noting that surveyors play a critical role at the beginning of the value chain through data collection, planning analysis and development execution.
“Poor data leads to poor decisions, and poor decisions lead to unsustainable outcomes.”
He said land and data have become strategic assets in today’s rapidly evolving world, serving as key drivers of infrastructure development, energy transition, urban planning and environmental management.
Citing challenges such as flooding, climate risks and urban pressures, Mohd Khairudin said surveyors are increasingly providing terrain intelligence, spatial insights and analytical data needed for resilient urban planning and adaptive infrastructure design.
“We now work closely with engineers, planners, developers and data scientists. In many ways, surveyors are becoming the central reference point across disciplines,” he added.
He also commended RISM Sarawak for its leadership and professionalism, describing it as one of the institution’s most progressive branches nationwide and a potential benchmark setter for the region.
“We look forward to closer collaboration with the Sarawak branch, more joint initiatives across regions, and the strengthening of professional standards nationwide,” he said.
Also present were Sarawak Land and Survey Department director Datu Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood, RISM Sarawak chairman Norman Chai Wuihern, and Surveyors Congress 2026 organising chairman Ngo Chee Hong.
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