ards. In this respect, it was agreed that standards in different countries should be geared primarily to individual re- quirements. The CAA's role should he directed towards helping to establish appropriate standards and assisting to improve existing standards. It would be unrealistic to attempt to achieve uniform standards as unrestricted in- terchange of architectural personnel would normally be to the disadvantage of developing nations.
RIBA. Where Malaysia was concerned, although it had severed its apron-string relationship with the RIBA, a close and useful relationship was still being maintained with the British Institute with its enormous resources especially in the fields of practice and education. RAIA. Where in the past students had to turn to UK to gain their full archi- tectural training, the majority of new architects graduated from the nearer Australian schools in recent years. Through direct arrangements, the Malaysian Professional Practice and Practical Experience Examination has equal standing with the RAIA and the RIBA. It is hoped that the arrange- ment can be extended to Singapore. SIA Relationship with the Singapore Institute of Architects is on a special and close basis because of the geo- graphical and economical closeness of Singapore which politically was once a part of Malaysia.
Regular joint consultations are held to study, discuss, co-ordinate or har- monize matters concerning practice and education. As many practices have offices in both territories, interchange- ability of personnel is a vital reality. So are uniform Codes of Conduct, and Scales of Fees.
The future. The symposium concluded that the Malaysian Institute should continue to support all activities of the CAA with the objective of achieving mutual benefits.
The idea of a Commonwealth As- sociation of Architects was conceived in 1963, and the association came into being in 1964 with a first full con- ference in Malta in 1965. Now in 1969, several years and many con- ferences later, the benefits as well as shortcomings are becoming evident.
The Malaysian Institute of Archi- tects would like members of the Asian Region to consider the relationship of the Asian Regional members to the CAA. in all its functions and aspects.
Malaysia would like the Asian Re- gion countries to think or start to think on how the CAA. can be more effective both generally and in relation to the Asian Region in particular.
16
Communication and
organisation problems in
professional institutes
by Lim Cheong Keat past president Singapore Institute of Architects
IN professional institutes it is usually not possible for each successful coun- cil to predetermine its manifesto, especially in developing countries, mainly because the new council mem- bers (and indeed the whole institute) may be unaware of the resources avail- able to carry out anything but the most ad hoc or rudimentary of pro- grammes.
To achieve anything beyond this calls either for long term planning (which has got to be carried out by many successive councils), or for an effective infrastructure effective infrastructure with per manent staff.
The vast majority of professional institutes in developing countries are amateur and voluntary organisations, dependent upon the efforts of part time members. In most cases they can only count on the energies of the elected council members, who are after all only a small percentage of the total professional body.
It is therefore important for each institute to analyse its own condition and to make some fundamental changes.
In the context of Asia, the archi- tectural profession is critically chal- lenged by changing conditions of professional practice, as well as by social and economic development. It may be even necessary for the pro-
it
fession to redefine and to recast its own role.
Within the British tradition of architectural practice, which has ser- ved our elite professional groups in the past, we have inherited a certain in- sularity against foreign traditions, and understandably architects within the Commonwealth are often quite un- aware of practice conditions in say Thailand, Korea, Philippines or Indo- nesia. If the Commonwealth group of professional institutes within the Asian region are to play a responsible part in regional affairs, it is clear that they must become more fully acquainted with the conditions in the neighbour- ing countries.
Before undertaking a programme of regional co-operation, it is all the more important that we should exam- ine the existing infrastructure within each institute.
or is able
In Singapore until three years ago the SIA did not have a proper address, and it became one of the first tasks to establish our premises and to employ what full-time staff we could afford to act as a permanent base for institute activities. Notwithstanding the limita- tion of resources, we had three main objectives in our basic programme. These were:
1. To increase membership and to improve communication and
Far East BUILDER, January 1970
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