History of Malaysia Chapter

The conception of a Malaysia Chapter of ASHRAE goes back to 1984. In January of that year, Mr. Rod Oehlers, then Managing Director of Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd attended the ASHRAE Winter Meeting in Atlanta. There he met his old classmate from the Anglo Chinese School in Singapore, Mr. Loh Peng Sum, who himself had just recently established the Singapore Chapter, known then as "SAAM", the Singapore Association of ASHRAE Members. Peng Sum convinced Rod to do likewise for Malaysia. A year after Rod's return back to Kuala Lumpur in 1985, a steering Committee was set up and was well supported by ASHRAE's secretary, Mr. Frank Coda, who himself visited Kuala Lumpur to help organize the Chapter.

In 1986, the Malaysia Chapter of ASHRAE was finally established and an inaugural ball was held at the Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur which was attended by the ASHRAE President and his wife to commemorate the occasion, as well as the then Minister of Science & Environment of Malaysia, Amar Stephen Yong who delivered the keynote address. The Malaysia Chapter's first Board of Governors (BOG) comprising the President, Mr. Rod Oehlers, Vice President, En. Hasmi and other members including Ir. Rizal Sardon, Ir. Adrian Tan, Mr. Bernard Loh and Mr. Wong Kong Fah were officially installed at the ball by the ASHRAE President.

Soon after, the Malaysia Chapter and its members participated actively in Committees on the nation's Energy Management, Research Promotion and also the Uniform Building By-Laws. Later that year, the Malaysia Chapter, represented by Mr.Rod Oehlers and En.Hasmi, attended for the very first time, ASHRAE's Chapters Regional Conference (CRC) for Region 10 at San Diego, California.

The Malaysia Chapter's Presidency was well succeeded by capable leaders over the years and the Chapter has since grown in strength and continues to play an active role in the HVAC industry in Malaysia as well as in the Region. In 1997, we witnessed yet another historic event, the formation of ASHRAE Region XIII together with Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan Chapters. Since then, Region XIII has added on new Chapters from the Philippines and Thailand. Region XIII's first Chapters Regional Conference (CRC) was held in Singapore in 1998 followed by Hong Kong in 1999. In 2000, our Chapter successfully organized Region XIII's 3rd CRC and recently in 2006 the 9th CRC here in Malaysia.

This year marks Malaysia Chapter's 21 years of proud and distinct tradition.