15 APRIL 2000 : IEM 41ST ANNUAL DINNER (AI OVERVIEW)

The images are a wonderful collection documenting the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) 41st Annual Dinner held at the Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur on April 15, 2000.

What the Photos Show

The photos offer a glimpse into the event and the hotel's ambiance at the turn of the millennium:

Group Photos: Images show attendees, including the man who appears in multiple photos, dressed in formal attire for the annual dinner. One picture clearly features the backdrop for the event: "IEM 41ST ANNUAL DINNER 15 APRIL 2000."

Dining Scene: Several photos capture guests seated at large round tables with red tablecloths, sharing a meal (likely a Chinese banquet setting, based on the dishes and use of chopsticks).

Individual Portraits: There are portraits of a man and a woman, both individually and together, both seated and standing, capturing the fashion and interior decor of the hotel at the time.

Hotel Exterior: Two images show the exterior and entrance of the Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur, including its recognizable circular golden structure and grand drive-up area. The hotel was built in 1996, making it relatively new at the time of the event in 2000.

The Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur continues to be a prominent fixture in the city, having undergone renovations since 2000.

7/12/2025: 9.25 P.M

29-31 MAY 2000 : GEOSYNTHETIC ASIS 2000

The Geosynthetic Asia 2000 Conference was indeed organized by The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM).

• Event: Geosynthetic Asia 2000 Conference
• Organiser: The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)
• Date: 29–31 May 2000
• Venue: Palace of the Golden Horses, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The conference was part of the series of Asian Regional Conferences on Geosynthetics. One of the papers presented at the event was titled "Failure of A Reinforced Soil Wall on Piles" by Gue, S. S. & Chen, C. S., confirming the event's occurrence and the involvement of local geotechnical engineers.

What are Geosynthetics?

Geosynthetics are synthetic products, usually made from petroleum-based polymers, used to stabilize terrain in civil engineering applications, particularly in geotechnical, transportation, environmental, and private development projects.

They perform one or more of five main functions:

• Separation: Preventing the intermixing of adjacent dissimilar materials (e.g., separating road aggregate from fine subgrade soil).
• Reinforcement: Improving the mechanical properties of soil or aggregate (e.g., in reinforced soil walls).
• Filtration: Allowing liquid flow while retaining soil particles across the plane of the geosynthetic (e.g., behind a retaining wall).
• Drainage: Providing a pathway for liquid or gas flow within the plane of the geosynthetic (e.g., to drain water away from a slope).
• Containment/Barrier: Acting as a relatively impermeable barrier to fluid or gas (e.g., landfill liners).

PALACE OF THE GOLDEN HORSES

The Palace of the Golden Horses is a majestic 5-star hotel often referred to as "Asia's Most Extraordinary Hotel."

The hotel is located in Mines Wellness City in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, about 15 minutes south of the Kuala Lumpur City Center.

The hotel is situated on a 150-acre man-made lake, which was formerly the site of the Hong Fatt Mine, once the largest opencast tin mine in the world. The area was transformed into Mines Resort City (now Mines Wellness City) for tourism and recreation.

The Palace of the Golden Horses is renowned for hosting numerous high-profile international political and corporate events (MICE), including summits for APEC, G15, NAM, OIC, and ASEAN.

7/12/2025: 9.07 a.m

12 MARCH 2000 : IEM BRAINSTORMING SESSION

The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, which is a professional learned society established to promote and advance the science and profession of engineering.

IEM Brainstorming Session was held on 12 March 2000 at the Hotel Mahkota Century, Bandar Hilir, Melaka.

A brainstorming session is a collaborative meeting technique where a group of people comes together to generate a large quantity of creative ideas and solutions for a specific problem or topic in a non-judgmental environment. The primary goal is to foster open thinking and encourage participants to think outside the box without fear of criticism.

CENTURY MAHKOTA HOTEL, MELAKA

It was a prominent resort-style hotel and apartment complex in the city center, known for its extensive facilities. The hotel was a major attraction in Melaka,offered a variety of amenities including Extensive Pool Areas, Family Leisure Facilities, with location on the waterfront, right next to Mahkota Parade, which was a major shopping and entertainment complex.

7/12/2025 : 8.54 P.M

26 MARCH 2000 : IEM JOG A ROUND

That's a wonderful piece of event history!

The IEM is the premier professional body for engineers in Malaysia. The jog-a-round event was likely one of the many community and networking activities they organize for their members.

The image documents the IEM Jog-A-Round event held at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur (KL), on March 26, 2000.

IEM stands for the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, and this photograph captures a moment from one of their community or member-focused events, likely a family fun-run or jog/walk around the lake park. It shows a group of participants, including adults and children, perhaps gathered for a warm-up or cool-down.

It's a great snapshot that blends the social history of the engineering community in Malaysia with the history of the iconic Taman Tasik Titiwangsa park.

TAMAN TASIK TITIWANGSA

Taman Tasik Titiwangsa is one of Kuala Lumpur's most iconic and well-loved urban parks, serving as a "green lung" for the city. Located North east fringe of Kuala Lumpur city center. It was declared opened on February 1,1980.

Titiwangsa is the name of the main mountain range (Banjaran Titiwangsa) that forms the backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, and the name was chosen to reflect the greenery and natural scenery.

The Park in 2000 (and Today):

• It boasts a vast area, centered around a large lake (approx. 57 hectares).
• It offers stunning, iconic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, including the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower in the background—a view often captured from the park.
• Main Activities: Jogging, walking, cycling, boating (kayak/pedal boats) on the lake, and enjoying the numerous playgrounds and picnic spots.

The IEM chose an excellent, beautiful spot for their community run back in 2000!

7/12/2025: 2.32 a.m

24 MARCH 2000 : ASEAN ENGINEERS CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION.

The ASEAN Engineers Certificate Presentation held at the Holiday Villa, Subang on March 24, 2000, was likely an event recognizing the first or early batch of professional engineers admitted to the ASEAN Engineers Register (AER).

Here is some context about the ASEAN Engineers Register (AER) around that time:

Formation of AER: The idea for the AER was first proposed in November 1996, and the first working paper on the guidelines was tabled in November 1998. The initial text of the Register was prepared and finalized in January 1999.

Purpose: The AER was established by the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) as a key initiative to spearhead and facilitate the mobility of engineers within the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). This was intended to prepare for the liberalization of professional services under the World Trade Organization (WTO) initiative.

Implementation: The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) was appointed the Secretariat responsible for the AER's implementation and maintenance, a role confirmed at the 18th AFEO Board meeting in November 2000.

The 2000 Presentation: Given that the AER was finalized in 1999 and the presentation took place in March 2000, this ceremony would have been one of the first few public events to award certificates to engineers who met the minimum requirements for admission, such as:

Possessing an engineering degree recognized by their home country.

• Being a full-time member of their home engineering organization and licensed to practice.
• Having a minimum of seven (7) years of postgraduate professional working experience.
• Having spent at least two (2) years in responsible charge of significant engineering work.

This certificate would signify their registration as an ASEAN Engineer, promoting recognition of their qualifications across the ASEAN region.

HOLIDAY VILLA SUBANG

The Holiday Villa Hotel & Conference Centre Subang was an iconic and established landmark in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, known as a premier business resort. It was opened in 1988, situated on a large area of beaufifully landscaped land overlooking pristine lake. 

However, the hotel ceased operation on 1 October 2021 after 33 years in business. 

7/12/2025: 2.07 a.m