Meet Ng Hau Wei, Gamuda Engineering’s Executive Director. Read His Journey and Tips on How He Secured a Full Scholarship from Gamuda and Work with Them for 20 Years!

I’m Ng Hau Wei and I will be turning 42 this year. I have been working with Gamuda for a whopping 20 years now and it gives me great pride to say that I am now an Executive Director at Gamuda Engineering.

I graduated from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. I was over the moon when I was awarded the Gamuda Scholarship back in 1998. As much as the scholarship helped me financially, it was never about the financial assistance I would be receiving but rather, to assess my self-worth. It served as a platform to validate my qualities and a benchmark to see if I had the key attributes to be a successful leader.

Throughout my time as a scholar, I was extremely fortunate to have worked on a multitude of ground-breaking projects that propelled me to greater heights. I got the chance to work with highly skilled engineers and learn everything I could from them. There are a vast number of opportunities to learn and grow, but at the end of the day, it is all about personal ownership when it comes to leading and building a career in Gamuda.

Transition in Career Growth

My career started in 2001 as a Mechanical Engineer for the Sungai Selangor Water Supply Scheme in 2003, I was involved in the SMART Tunnel project and was promoted to Senior Engineer before I ended my placement there in 2008.

 Winning the Autonomous TBM Operating System Award in London

SMART Tunnel Project

One of Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Kajang Line tunnel breakthrough

SMART Tunnel night view

My first managerial position was for the Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP), in which I oversee the project implementation of the N6 package/route. As a young leader, I had to withstand the test of times, managing people and commercial matters.

Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP)

The reason behind my rapid growth in Gamuda – to have climbed the corporate ladder, to have and still hold a leadership position – is because of Gamuda’s continuous involvement in several tunnelling projects. Because of that, many other scholars and I were given the opportunity to learn both technical and leadership skills throughout our involvement in these projects.

Awarded the 44th International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA) Builder’s Award under the civil engineering construction for Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) MRT line

Apart from that, it’s the people who have taught and guided me to success. I have had the chance to learn from the mentors and expatriates of Gamuda, with each possessing different strengths. Owing it to them, I am proficient in what I do now.

Ever improving scholarship

As an agile company like Gamuda, the company keeps on thriving and evolving, which was very apparent throughout my years with them. There were also vast improvements in Gamuda Scholarship in terms of the selection process and what it offered to scholars.

As Gamuda expanded over the years, so did the opportunities for scholars. Scholars can establish successful career opportunities through the Gamuda internship programme and the commencement of employment as they complete their course of study.

It was an honour for me to be a part of the Scholarship Working Group (SWG) Committee. I was empowered to view the scholarship agenda as a whole process, beginning with enhancing the selection procedure, widening the development and engagement opportunities, and ensuring the scholars’ welfare are all well-taken care. The committee works as an additional support group with the mission of guiding and assisting in the all-rounded development of scholars.

The selection process has evolved into being more robust now and with the pandemic at hand, Gamuda has embarked on a full virtual assessment centre in which prominent external leaders are invited to be part of the panellists to broaden the perspective in selecting high-quality candidates.

Subsequently, the Scholars’ Engagement & Development Programme (SEDP) was launched in 2018 to help scholars in the transitioning period from a student to a Gamuda employee.

The list of sponsored courses has also expanded over the years, beginning with only a handful of courses which were Engineering, Quantity Surveying and Architecture, before forging ahead with Accounting, Psychology, Geology, Township & Urban Planning in the early-mid-2000s.

Most recently, Gamuda has included Software Engineering, Computer Science, Environmental Science & Sustainability, Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, Biodiversity Management & Occupational Safety & Health in this year’s list of added courses.

Scholars of Gamuda will obtain a holistic exposure through a rotation of programmes for a better understanding of Gamuda’s entire business while acquiring on the job learning experience, coaching experience and structured formal training.

Just like other scholarships out there, the criteria of being eligible for the Gamuda scholarship is rather general, except for the underlying requirement to serve Gamuda Group for a specified term upon graduation.

Working life is never what you ought it be, having Gamuda guide you through it will help facilitate your career path and give you that kickstart everyone seeks after graduating.

To those out there who are interested in applying for a scholarship, it is important to get to know about the company that you are applying for. Think about the values that you can potentially contribute to the organisation. It is not always about receiving but also giving. You will need to stand out among the rest. Most companies are looking for potential leaders and remember to show your potential with humility, not arrogance.

Gamuda Scholarship is now open for application until 4 June 2021. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, a Scholars’ Engagement & Development Programme, internship, and job placement opportunities within the Gamuda Group of Companies. Gamuda also offers overseas scholarships. If you are eligible to apply, do not miss your chance to glow and this opportunity comes once in a lifetime. To check Gamuda Scholarships details, you can CLICK HERE. Good luck and all the best!