Page 14 - BASIC GUIDELINE FOR QS

Professional Practice: Guideline for Quantity Surveyor Chapter 1

1.2 History of Quantity Surveying Profession

Quantity surveying profession had evolve rapidly in England since more than a century. In
Malaysia, the profession first introduced in 1930. Before the existence of QS profession,
there are no proper control of construction cost and lead to wastage of building materials as

well as lost on the client side.
At that time, architect is the one who responsible in implementing construction works

as designing building. Architect will select or pick the experts in building craftsmanship.
Architect will be picked or take expert in building craftsmanship to carry out building works.
Sketch drawing usually used and most of the work was instructed during the construction.

Once they have done the work, the craftsman will claim payments of building materials used
and payment for labours.

Quantity Surveyor Profession exists in Malaysia early 1930, a result of a few
migration of Quantity Surveyor from Europe to Singapore. First Quantity Surveying Firm
established is Waters and Watson in 1934. Eric Watson came to Singapore in 1932 and

worked with Merssr, Fodgen Ang Brisbane, a civil engineering firm in Malaysia and also a
contractors that have built roadworks to Cameron Highland and Hotel Cameron Highland.
In 1934, Eric Watson become Mr Water partner and have established first Quantity

Surveying firm until war in 11th. January 1942. After war ended, the Quantity Surveying
Profession expands in Construction Industry in Malaysia.
Malaysian governments at that time have established Quantity Surveying Unit in

Public Works Department where at that time the unit was under Architect Department and
act as a Contract Officer. Mr Day was the first Quantity Surveyor served in Public Works

Department.
Later, Langdon Avery and Siah Quantity Surveying Firm established and Mr Siah is a
working partner. He was Singapore citizens and was first Quantity Surveyor in South-East

Asia. It is known that Mr Lawrence Chin were the first Quantity Surveyor Malaysian citizen
and Datuk Hj. Mohd Isahak is first the Bumiputra enter private sector and further set up first

Quantity Surveying Form by name the ‘Pakatan Internasional'.
Further in year 1972, during construction activity expanded rapidly in Malaysia,
Quantity Surveying firms has existed rapidly in order to meet that development.
Until today many Quantity surveying firms was established. Institutions which

produces Quantity Surveyor even in Malaysia have evolved and increased such as Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Politeknik-Politeknik Malaysia, Tunku Abdul

Rahman College and so on

4