About ASHRAE Malaysia Chapter
The conception of ASHRAE Malaysia Chapter goes back to 1984. In January 1984, 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”, (Singapore Association of ASHRAE Members). Mr Loh 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 the Society’s secretary, Mr. Frank Coda, who himself visited Kuala Lumpur and helped guide the local members to organize a Chapter.
In 1986, the ASHRAE Malaysia Chapter 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) were 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 various committees on Energy Management, Research Promotion, the Uniform Building By-Laws and Malaysian Standards pertaining to HVAC. 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 X 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 continued 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, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as the newly-established Chapters from Japan (2015), South Korea (2015) and Macao (2016). Region XIII’s first Chapters Regional Conference (CRC) was held in Singapore in 1998 followed by Hong Kong in 1999. From 2000 onwards, our Chapter has successfully organized ASHRAE Regional and International conferences as follows: -
- 25 & 26 August 2000: 3rd Region XIII CRC held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
- 25 & 26 August 2006: 9th Region XIII CRC held at the Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel, Sunway, Selangor.
- 10 – 12 November 2010: ASHRAE IAQ 2010 Conference: Airborne Infection Control – Ventilation, IAQ & Energy held at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
- 10 & 11 August 2012: 15th Region XIII CRC held at the Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
Honorary Past Presidents:
| 1986 – 87 Ir. Rodney R.Oehlers | 2002 – 03 Ir. Den Low Han Guan |
| 1987 – 88 Ir. Rizal Sardon | 2003 – 04 Ir. Yeo Boon Kah |
| 1989 – 90 Ir. Koh Tat Poh | 2004 – 05 Ir. Ong Ching Loon |
| 1990 – 91 Ir. Dr.Ong Kok Seng | 2005 – 06 Mr. Hen Seak Chong |
| 1991 – 92 Ir. Prof.Dr.Ow Chee Sheng | 2006 – 07 Mr. Chea Suei Keong |
| 1992 – 93 Ir. Chan Cheong Hoo | 2007 – 08 Ir. Chen Thiam Leong |
| 1993 – 94 Ir. Steven Toh | 2008 – 09 Ms. Irin Kang Siew Foon |
| 1994 – 95 Dr. K.S.Kannan | 2009 – 10 Mr. Khew Swee Lian |
| 1995 – 96 Mr. Bernard Loh | 2010 – 11 Mr. Chan Jian Wen |
| 1996 – 97 Ir. Yim Hon Wa | 2011 – 12 Mr. Dennis Soon Chin Lim |
| 1997 – 98 Mr. Hing Fook Yong | 2012 – 13 Ms. Ainee Cha |
| 1998 – 99 Mr. Ng Kah Choong | 2013 – 14 Ir. Lam Kim Seong |
| 1999 – 00 Ir. Ng Yong Kong | 2014 – 15 Mr. Foo Say Jan |
| 2000 – 01 Dato’ Ir. Prof.Dr.Ow Chee Sheng | 2015 – 17 Mr. Andes Quek Lim Seng |
| 2001 – 02 Ir. Leong Siew Meng | 2018 – 19 Ir. Tan Chioo Bin |
