TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK FOR PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

This research aims to propose a framework for promoting sustainable construction in Malaysia. Issues that related with environmental destruction in Malaysia have been heard regularly due to negative impacts from human development especially construction activities. This growing concern makes the government and private sectors in Malaysia to be more proactive in minimising this problem without restraining the need for development. In this research, mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative research were adopted prior to developing a framework for promoting sustainable construction in Malaysia. A list of 11 impediments was preliminarily identified through extensive literature review. This was followed by questionnaire survey to collect the developers opinion on the relative importance of these factors. Using relative importance index (RII) analysis, the 11 impediments were listed according to their most importance factors. Further, the qualitative research was conducted in order to further confirm the most important impediments and the strategies to promote sustainable construction in Malaysia. Findings indicated four impediments: cost, government roles, lack of awareness, and insufficient green product supplier. The framework suggests that the government should play an important role to increase demand on sustainable project by providing supports in terms of cost and promulgate green product supplier to construction practitioner for more sustainable projects.