Our History

 

For more than 100 years, Public Works Department (PWD) Malaysia touched many aspects of the nation's life. We had provided infrastructure and conducive environment for living, working, playing, and praying. We built roads as a means of communications, and they have been the main catalyst in the socio-economic development of the country. We supplied safe water and had contributed in building a healthy and progressive nation. Architecture has been playing a major role in our nation building. some buildlings have been accepted as important landmarks in our country and has enriched the Malaysian architectural heritage. We are proud to have contributed significantly in these development.

How it all began...

Public Works Department (PWD) was born in 1872 with Major J.F.A McNair as the first head of the organization.

The events that lead to the formation of PWD began earlier than 1872 when the British East India Company - trading between England, India, and China - needed a safe station for refitting their ships. They found it in Penang. Penang was well positioned for their purpose. In 1786, they persuaded the Sultan of Kedah to give up the rights of the island to the company. They managed to get Penang in 1791 through a treaty. In 1825, through the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, Malacca reverted to the British in exchange for Bencoolen. Raffles, in 1819, entered into a treaty with Sultan Hussein and Temenggong Abdul Rahman giving the Bristish the rights to establish settlements in Singapore. These three territories (Penang, Malacca, and Singapore) formed the Straits Settlement in 1826.

See the gallery of historical photos on projects handled by us...

Another reason that brought the British to settle in the region was because of the tin-rich and fertile cultivation land in many of the Malay States. The so-called Pangkor Engagement (1874) paved the way for the British influence in Malay States. During this year, they managed to make inroad into Perak, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. They posted their Residents and Subordiante Officers to advice the Malay rulers. Later, Pahang also accepted this residential system of government. By 1896, the system was administered centrally with Kuala Lumpur as the seat of authority. The four states together with Kuala Lumpur was known as the Federated Malay States. To be continued....