Constructing Malaysia: From Third World to Tiger Economy

This book addresses the evolution of the construction industry in Malaysia from its independence in 1957 until the present day. It is a fascinating look at Malaysia’s story of achievements and setbacks told for the first time from an infrastructure development and construction perspective. Chapters cover topics such as the government’s economic development policies, the transition from foreign to local contractors, employment of migrant construction workers, the adoption of privatisation policies and the reliance on private financing for public infrastructure. Many features of modern construction principles such as privatisations, public-private financing, industrialised building systems, alliancing or partnership approach were rapidly adopted and are discussed in the book. Contemporary issues such as climate change, environmental sustainability, occupational health and safety, quality and technology are also discussed. The second part of the book provides six case studies of pertinent projects over the last sixty years to illustrate the transformation of the Malaysian construction industry and the challenges faced along the way. These include: • North-South Expressway (1981) • Penang Bridge (1982) • Petronas Twin Towers (1993) • East-Coast Rail Link (2016) • Merdeka 118 Tower (2024) This latest addition to the Routledge Research Collections for Construction in Developing Countries series is essential reading for students and scholars of the international construction sector, economic development, infrastructure, and the history of Asian economies.