Addressing participants at The Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (ISM)'s first international conference on building control, she said Malaysians have to first change their attitude towards maintenance. The second step would be to encourage resident associations to maintain their buildings.

Azizah expressed concern that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government continued to receive complaints on unsatisfactory facilities or accessibility built for the disabled. This was despite the amendment to the Uniform Building By-laws, making it mandatory for developers to incorporate building requirements for the disabled.

The ministry had issued guidelines on building requirements for disabled persons to all stakeholders of the building industry. Stakeholders, she added, should not lose sight of the needs of the disabled in their quest of development, especially in a booming property market.

"The world is shifting towards a universal design which has accessibility within buildings and facilities designed for the convenience of all."

On the additional cost incurred in incorporating building requirements for the disabled, Azizah said this would be minimal if the changes were incorporated from the planning and design stage.

Earlier, in his welcoming address ISM president John Loh had asked the deputy minister to give a "gentle nudge in the right direction" on the enactment of a Building Surveyors Act. He said there were over 1,000 building surveyors in the country and that the matter had been brought to the attention of Minister of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, at ISM Congress last year.

Loh believed that the planning of buildings should be done in a holistic manner and according to approved models. Building controls are necessary for the nation's growth, he added.

ISM Building Surveyors chairman 2004/05 Associate Prof Ahmad Ramly (left) said since the Registration of the Surveyors Act 1967 was superseded in the 1970s, ISM has been pushing for a Building Surveyors Act with the relevant authorities for about 10 years now.

"We need the Act for the professionals to practice in Malaysia," he added.

Meanwhile, quantity surveyors in the country are governed by the Registration of Quantity Surveyors Act 1967, Act 487 (revised 1992) which comes under the Works Ministry while the land surveyors have their Licensed Land Surveyors Act 1958 (revised 1991).