Friday June 4, 2010

Self-taught cartoonist pens humorous book on engineers

By LIM CHIA YING
chiaying@thestar.com.my

For most people, engineering is about serious technical stuff as its terms and calculations are too complex for a layman.

However, engineer Shaik Abdul Wahed Datuk Rahim, hopes to make a difference with his recently published cartoon book.

Shaik Abdul Wahed’s cartoon book pokes fun at engineers.

Laugh away: Mohd Ali (second from left) penning his signature to mark the launch of ‘The Engineer’ as Shaik Wahed (left) and Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin look on.

A self-taught cartoonist, Shaik Abdul Wahed is probably one rare engineer with wit and the ability to see the funny side of an issue.

The Engineer is an anthology of drawings compiled from Shaik Abdul Wahed ’s 30 years of engineering experience with thoughts and views from a different perspective.

The book with simple text and illustrations was launched at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur ballroom by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

Shaik Abdul Wahed also authored another book called Slopes Made Simple to provide people with a better understanding of the nature of slopes, how to be safe, how distresses occur and maintenance of slopes.

“Distresses are bound to occur when there is inadequate supervision coupled with the lack of understanding on slope-related issues, maintenance wise,” he said during his speech.

“Having been a contractor and seeings things now as a consulting engineer while still continuing as an experimental engineer has given an added bonus to my perspective,” said Shaik Abdul Wahed.

Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) president Dr Abdul Majid Datuk Abu Kassim, in his welcoming address, said the cartoon book was refreshing as it would enable any layman to see the lighter side of what was regarded a drab and dry profession.

As for the book on slopes, Abdul Majid said it was a helpful reference for both the public and engineers.

“The Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy and the collapse of the Jaya Supermarket during demolition work do not speak well of the quality of engineers we have these days,” he said on a more serious note.

Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Seri Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin introduced the Slopes Made Simple which he described as a gift to society, conveying to ordinary people what maintenance of slopes was.

Mohd Ali Rustam said the books would be good reference material for engineers at local authorities and councils,” he added.

The first of the cartoons in the book were published as calendars for Ground Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd, a site investigation contracting company.

Some had been published in the Institution of Engineers’ bulletin from 1976 in a column called Shaiky’s View.

Shaik Abdul Wahed is today the principal of Jurutera Perunding GEA (M) Sdn Bhd, a consultancy organisation.

The Slopes Made Simple book is available at selected MPH bookstores at RM55 each, while The Engineer can only be ordered via www.gea.com.my at RM125 a copy.