KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Licensed Land Surveyors (Amendment) Bill 2024 via majority voice vote.
The bill was tabled for its second and third reading today by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
During his winding-up speech, Nik Nazmi said the bill aimed to strengthen the existing Licensed Land Surveyors Act 1958 (Act 458), in line with the nation's current development.
"The passing of the amendment also marks a historical moment as this Act was never amended (since its enactment) despite the geomatics-surveying field experiencing rapid technological advancement, and new terms related to this field have been introduced and widely used universally," he said.
There were amendments to 15 sections of the Act, including a new insertion to provide for the application of the Act to the Federal Territory of Labuan.
The Act was only applicable to the Federal Territory of Labuan by way of an extension known as the Federal Territory of Labuan (Extension and Modification of Licensed Land Surveyors Act) Order 2009, which came into effect on Jan 1, 2010.
Simultaneously, the amendments addressed four primary areas, including meeting current demands and the advancement of licensed land surveyors (LLS) professionally, broadening the scope of work for LLS and the authority of the Land Surveyors Board (LSB) within the geomatics-surveying field alongside land surveying, as well as escalating the penalties for professional misconduct by LLS and criminal violations by non-LLS individuals, among other aspects.
In addition, Nik Nazmi mentioned that under the amendments, land surveyors were authorised to carry out a range of tasks within the geomatics surveying field, employing the "survey accurate technique" as per measurements acknowledged by the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia.
"This will ensure that the standards and quality of work produced by LLS in this country are at the highest level.
"Hence, the ministry is also confident that the amendment will have a positive impact through the enhancement of professionalism and career advancement for LLS, improving protection of the rights and interests of users of LLS services, and ensuring that legislation related to the field of geomatics-surveying in this country is in line with current trends and technological advancements at the global level."
