Kota Kinabalu (Jan 26) -The Sabah Plumber Association (SPA) recently made a courtesy visit to the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Sabah Branch in Kota Kinabalu, aimed at enhancing professional collaboration and extending an invitation to IEM members to take part in the Plumbing Asia 2026 Conference & Expo. The regional event is scheduled to take place on 25 and 26 April 2026 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).
The SPA delegation was led by its President, Dr Carmen Wong Wui Meng, alongside Vice President Teo Seng Peng and other association representatives. They were received by IEM Sabah Branch Chairman Datuk Ir. Ts. Mohd Yaakob Jaafar, Vice Chairman II Ir. Paul Yap, and members of the branch’s executive committee.
During the meeting, SPA outlined the direction of the upcoming conference, including programme highlights, potential speakers and the exhibition setup. The expo is expected to feature between 80 and 100 booths, with participation from both local and international exhibitors.
Plumbing Asia 2026 is being positioned as a platform centred on technology and practical solutions, with an emphasis on knowledge exchange and industry innovation. Key focus areas include smart city and sponge city concepts, reducing non-revenue water, advanced leak detection methods, and industrial wastewater management.
Sabah was presented as a strategic location for the event due to ongoing upgrades in water supply and sewerage infrastructure, its role as a gateway to the ASEAN region, strong institutional support, and its ability to draw trade visitors such as government agencies, contractors, consultants and manufacturers. The event also aligns with sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles under the theme “Smart Water, Strong Nation, Sustainable Asian Future.”
IEM Sabah expressed support for the initiative and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing engineering professionalism and capacity building in the state. The branch indicated its role as a knowledge partner and event supporter, contributing to programme development, facilitating suitable technical speakers and assisting with continuing professional development (CPD) structuring.
For Sabahans, the conference is expected to bring wider industry exposure, knowledge transfer and networking opportunities, while highlighting the state’s growing market potential and strengthening links with regional and international industry players.