The Malaysian construction industry: an analysis on the impact of Vision 2020

Malaysia's rapid economic development has brought the vision of a developed and industrialised country, as envisaged in Vision 2020 which was produced in 1991. Vision 2020 is Malaysia's long-term goal that outlines broad policy directions to propel Malaysia into the developed country status by the year 2020. This thesis investigates how the Malaysian construction industry responded to the country's rapid economic development, and whether the industry has the resources to fulfil the demands of Vision 2020. This requires an understanding of the past, present and future of the construction industry. The thesis focuses on three main areas: a) Malaysia's rapid economic development and the impact on the growth and changes in construction output; b) issues relating to the development of the industry's supply-side in meeting the expansion and changes in construction demand; c) the implications of Vision 2020 on future construction activities. Malaysia's high level of economic growth and the aspiration of becoming a developed and industrialised nation has created the environment for growth, and stimulated changes in and developed of construction output. The progress of the construction industry is plagued by issues relating to the shortages and inadequate development of human resources, although Malaysia does not face most of the common problems relating to the construction industry's resources encountered in other developing countries. The ability of the construction industry to fulfil the demands of Vision 2020 hinges on the availability of the required human resources. Within the context of the research, this thesis provides a basis for formulating strategies for the development of the construction industry towards fulfilling the demands of Vision 2020.