A Seven-Member Panel Include Eminent Architects And Young, Progressive Gold Medalists
KUCHING: Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) and Hock Seng Lee (HSL) today announced the AIR architectural competition’s panel of jurors.
They are seven professionals across Malaysia including the esteemed PAM Gold Medalist Dato Ar Hajeedar Abdul Majid, and Ar Tan Bee Eu, one of the youngest PAM multi-award winners.
Notable Green Building Index specialist Ar David Ong and two HSL directors, Tony Yu and Yu Ji, are also on the panel.
The AIR competition, which is the second PAM x HSL collaboration, was announced on Saturday (note-to-ed: June 8), with registrations open today (note-to-ed: June 10). The national competition is to find the best masterplan for a 13acre land between Kuching International Airport and established developments.
The panel will judge in two stages.
The first is an anonymous round in September in Kuala Lumpur, where jurors will select a shortlist. In October, the shortlisted architects will present to the panel at HSL Tower in Kuching.
In the competition brief, PAM x HSL stated the jury would evaluate entries based on Planning Concept and Ideas (with a score of 50%), Design Innovation (30%) and Sustainability (20%).
Results are expected towards year end, with prizes totalling RM245,000.
HSL intends to turn one of the winning entries into reality, just like the Langit high-rise competition in 2021, which will be built later this year.
The following are AIR’s jurors:
(Left to right)
Ar Adrianta Aziz, Malaysian Architects’ Institute (PAM) president and jury chair
Sitting PAM President and jury chair for this competition, Adrianta Aziz is a Partner at AR RAD Architects and ARN Consulting Sdn Bhd. He graduated from Oxford Brookes, UK, in Architecture and Urban Design in 1999 and has led projects for organisations like Perbadanan PutraJaya and Permodalan Nasional Berhad. A PSMB Certified Trainer, he has mentored over 300 young architects through programs like BeAr and LAP. He was PAM Education Committee Chairman (2020-2021) and ARCASIA representative, and actively conducts seminars and public talks. He also hosts "Project Laman Urban," a TV program on placemaking.
Dato Ar Hajeedar Abdul Majid, PAM Gold Medalist 2012
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Hajeedar Abdul Majid is an esteemed architect specialising in Urban Studies and Conservation, graduating from Portsmouth Polytechnic, UK, in 1972. Founder of Hajeedar and Associates, he has held significant roles, including PAM President, DBKL Advisory Board Member, and ICOMOS Malaysia President. Honoured with multiple awards, including a PAM Gold Medal in 2012, his projects span over 100 notable buildings. Active in professional practice, he engages in seminars, writing, and producing historic architectural posters.
Ar David Ong, PAM Sarawak Chapter past chairman
David, an honours graduate from the University of New South Wales, has over 20 years of architectural expertise in Sarawak. As Principal of David Ong Architect and Director at GDA Architects and Greenscapes, he specialises in planning, commercial, and residential projects. A former PAM-Sarawak Chapter Chairman and PAM Council Member, he is a pioneer in Green Building Design. He has led major sustainability projects like SP Setia HQ and Sunway Integrated Resort City, actively shaping Malaysia's green development agenda.
Ar Tan Bee Eu, multi PAM Gold award winner Renowned architect Bee Eu Tan, founder of BETA (BEu Tan Architect), is celebrated for her exceptional heritage restoration projects in Penang and beyond.Her accolades include multiple gold awards at PAM and REKA Awards for transformative works like the Kedah Digital Library. With a diverse portfolio spanning Maldives, Dubai, and Shanghai, she champions honest architecture and adaptive reuse, breathing new life into old buildings. Beyond her design prowess, she shares her vision through education at Universiti Sains Malaysia and organising Pechakucha Penang. Recognised as one of Tatler Asia’s Most Influential, Tan continues to shape the architectural landscape with her innovative approach.
Ar Chai Long Sen, Eminent Architect in Sarawak
As the founder of Jurubina Unireka, responsible for some of Sarawak’s most high-impact projects, Chai Long Sen leads a forward-thinking practice. Chai’s firm is a leading designer of Green Building Index certified buildings in Sarawak, including HSL Tower, Menara Sarawak Energy. Jurubina is also one of the master planners for La Promenade and Saradise — Sarawak’s premium addresses for residential and commercial developments.
One of Chai’s most recent high-profile completions is a beautiful and significantly large addition to Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak.
Mr Tony Yu, Hock Seng Lee Bhd Executive Director
Tony Yu, an executive director, oversees project execution and coordinates all site operations, encompassing land-based machinery, marine fleet operations, labour deployment, and quality control.Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing from Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, he boasts nearly 20 years of experience in the construction industry, spanning heavy machinery operation, mechanics, and marine engineering. Tony is also renowned for his passion for nature, evident through his successful landscaping subsidiary under the HSL Group, and his active support of the Sarawak Bonsai Association.
Mr Yu Ji, Hock Seng Lee Realty Director Yu Ji, a director at HSL, brings a unique background to the family business: Prior to joining, he honed his skills as a reporter, first with for The Borneo Post for five years, then with The Star for six. Committed to professionalism and design innovation, Yu plays a key role in HSL's new developments. Notably, he was on the panel of jurors for the Langit architecture competition in 2021, a pioneering event in East Malaysia with 112 international entries. This competition paved the way for Langit Citadines Kuching, a collaboration with Singapore's Ascott Group, inspired by one of the winning designs.