As the President of the Malaysian Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Association (MACRA), I am honored to lead this esteemed organization during a trans-formative period for the HVAC&R industry. Over the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest minds in our field, and together, we have steered MACRA towards international recognition, establishing it as a leading voice in ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region.

Taking the helm during the global Covid-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges, not just for me, but for our entire industry. However, our resilience has always been our greatest strength. The pandemic underscrored the critical role of HVAC&R systems, elevating air conditioning from a perceived luxury to an essential component of modern life. As we face the climate crisis, the importance of our work has never been clearer. We are not just providing comfort; we are saving lives. Studies have shown that air conditioning prevents approximately 18,000 heat-related premature deaths annually in the U.S. alone, and this impact is even more significant in the tropics.

From the start of my involvement with MACRA, driven by a unified purpose and collective trust of the Executive Council, MACRA has embarked on several key initiatives designed to propel our industry forward:

1. Standardization and Regulation: We are champoining the harmonization of HVAC&R standards across ASEAN countries, ensuring that our industry is equipped to meet the challenges of a rapidly globalizing world. This effort includes collaboration with industry giants from China, Japan, Korea, and other key stakeholders to develop standards that reflect our unique regional needs.
2. Skills Development: Recognizing the critical shortage of skilled labor in our industry, MACRA has prioritized vocational training and certification programs. We are committed to reinventing Malaysia's TVET system from Train and Place to its opposite, Place, then Train but ultimately towards a better philosophy such as Plan, Match and Train, ensuring that our workforce is not only skilled but also job-ready and good fit between people and workplaces.
3. Innovation and Awareness: The "Skill in the Air" project, is a groundbreaking reality show still in the drawing board stage, but is designed to bring the HVAC&R industry into the public spotlight. This initiative will not only promote the industry but also educate the public about the vital role HVAC&R plays in daily life, encouraging the next generation to consider careers in this dynamic field.

MACRA's global outreach efforts have culminated in a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with leading HVAC&R associations in the ASEAN Countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Singapore as well as east Asia Pacific Countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and beyond. These partnerships are not just about collboration; they are about driving the industry forward through shared knowledge, joint technical courses, and innovative research. Together, we are tackling the most pressing issues of our time, from energy consumption to the integration of smart building technologies.

As we move forward, MACRA will continue to serve as a regional platform for collaboration, bringing together diverse voices to shape the future of the HVAC&R industry. We are committed to leveraging our collective strengths to address global challenges and to ensure that our industry remains at the forefront of technological innovation and environmental stewardship.

Your membership in MACRA connects you to a network of professionals who are dedicated to making a difference. Together, we will continue to pave the way for a more sustainable and connected world.

Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our shared vision.

Peter Tan Chin Wah
President
Malaysian Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Association (MACRA)