Sunday, 9 August 2026

UBBL & Street, Drainage & Building Act (SDA)

For Malaysian building regulation, these topics are closely connected: Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133) provides the statutory framework, while the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (UBBL) provides the detailed building-control requirements. Section 70 of Act 133 is particularly important because it establishes the legal basis for building-plan approval and the CCC system. (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam)

1. Borang G and Borang F

A. What is Borang G?

Borang G is the 21-stage certification system used as part of the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) process.

Each Form G certifies that a particular stage or component of construction has been properly completed and complies with the approved plans and applicable requirements. Examples include:

  • site preparation

  • setting out

  • foundation

  • structural framework

  • electrical installation

  • sanitary installation

  • fire-fighting requirements

  • drainage

  • roads and external works

  • completion of building works

The Form G system is important because the CCC is not simply based on a final inspection. Instead, compliance is demonstrated progressively through the required stage certifications. (IPM)

B. Why is Form G important?

Think of it this way:

Form G = evidence of compliance at individual construction stages

Form F = final CCC

Therefore:

G Forms → verification/certification of individual stages → PSP satisfied → Form F/CCC

The PSP must ensure that the required certifications are properly completed before issuing the CCC.

C. What is Borang F?

Borang F is the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).

It confirms that the building:

  1. has been completed;

  2. complies with the approved building plans;

  3. complies with the relevant provisions of Act 133 and UBBL;

  4. satisfies the technical conditions imposed by the local authority; and

  5. is safe and fit for occupation.

Importantly, under Section 70(20) of Act 133, the CCC can only be issued by the Principal Submitting Person (PSP). (National House Buyers Association)

Simplified process

Approved Building Plans
        ↓
Construction starts
        ↓
Required Form G stages completed
        ↓
Relevant qualified persons certify their work
        ↓
PSP checks overall compliance
        ↓
All technical conditions satisfied
        ↓
Borang F / CCC issued by PSP
        ↓
Building may be occupied

2. Section 70 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974

Section 70 is one of the most important provisions for building control in Malaysia.

Section 70(1)

The fundamental rule is:

No person shall erect a building without prior written permission from the local authority.

In other words:

Do not construct first and seek approval later.

Building approval must be obtained from the relevant Local Authority (PBT) before construction. (mylaw.my)

Section 70(2)

A person intending to erect a building must have the required plans and specifications submitted by the:

  • Principal Submitting Person (PSP); or

  • Submitting Person (SP)

to the local authority and, where applicable, relevant statutory authorities. (mylaw.my)

For example, depending on the project, submissions may involve technical agencies such as:

  • TNB

  • water authority

  • sewerage authority

  • fire authority

  • other relevant statutory bodies.

Section 70(9) — Notice to commence work

Before construction begins, the required Borang B notification must be submitted.

A commonly tested requirement is that notice is given before commencement of building work, with the statutory timing requirements applying to the approved plans and commencement of work. JKR's CCC guidance identifies the requirements as including the 12-month period from approval of plans and four days' notice before commencement. (EPSMG)

Section 70(18)

If the local authority does not approve, reject, or issue written requisitions concerning the plans within the statutory three-calendar-month period, the PSP/SP may apply to the State Authority under the circumstances provided by the Act. (National House Buyers Association)

Section 70(19)

Plans, specifications, calculations, particulars, documents and reports required under Section 70 must be:

  • prepared/certified by the PSP or SP; and

  • signed by the owner or authorised agent and the PSP/SP.

(National House Buyers Association)

Section 70(20) — CCC

This is extremely important:

Only the PSP may issue the CCC.

Therefore, an ordinary contractor, owner, clerk of works or individual Form G signatory cannot independently issue Borang F. (National House Buyers Association)

Section 70(21) — PSP's responsibility

Before issuing CCC, the PSP must ensure:

(a) the building is supervised so that it conforms to approved plans and legal requirements;

(b) the building has been properly constructed and completed in accordance with the approved plans, Act 133, UBBL and technical conditions imposed by the local authority; and

(c) the building is safe and fit for occupation. (National House Buyers Association)

This is why the PSP has a very significant professional responsibility.

3. Submitting Person (SP) vs Principal Submitting Person (PSP)

This distinction is very important for examinations.

ItemSubmitting Person (SP)Principal Submitting Person (PSP)
Main functionSubmits particular plans/documentsTakes overall responsibility for building submission
Building plan submissionCan submit relevant plansPrincipal person responsible for building-plan submission
Technical disciplineUsually discipline-specificCoordinates overall building compliance
Form GMay be involved in certification of relevant workEnsures required certifications are obtained
CCC / Form FCannot issue CCCCan issue CCC
Overall responsibilityLimited to relevant scopeOverall responsibility for CCC
Legal basisAct 133 / UBBLAct 133 / UBBL

Act 133 defines the PSP as a qualified person who submits building plans to the local authority, including a qualified person who takes over the duties and responsibilities of the original PSP. The SP is a qualified person who submits plans other than building plans to the local authority or relevant statutory authority. (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam)

Easy way to remember

PSP = Principal + overall building responsibility + CCC

SP = Specialist submission responsibility

4. Who can be a Submitting Person?

This area needs some care because "qualified person" under Act 133 is not the same thing as saying that every registered construction professional can automatically sign every Form G.

Act 133 defines a qualified person generally as a:

  • Professional Architect;

  • Professional Engineer; or

  • registered building draughtsman,

registered under the relevant written law. (AnyFlip)

For modern practice, the relevant professional registration/practising requirements also matter.

PEPC

For engineers, the important concept is:

Professional Engineer + Practising Certificate = PEPC

A PEPC can undertake the professional functions permitted under the relevant legislation and UBBL, including acting as PSP/SP where the applicable requirements are satisfied.

Similarly, qualified architects and other persons recognised under the applicable legislation may perform the relevant roles.

5. What about Registered Wiremen and other personnel signing Form G?

This is where people sometimes confuse "PSP/SP" with "Form G certifier."

A person who is authorised to sign a particular Form G does not automatically become the PSP.

For example, electrical works may involve appropriately qualified electrical personnel. Their certification is relevant to the particular electrical Form G, but the PSP remains responsible for the overall CCC process.

So:

Form G signatory ≠ automatically PSP

The PSP must ensure that the person signing the relevant Form G has the appropriate qualifications/authority for that particular work.

This is particularly important following amendments and professional-board requirements concerning Form G endorsements. For example, Board of Engineers Malaysia guidance has addressed verification of the credentials of persons signing Form G and requirements applicable to professional engineers acting as PSP/SP. (Scribd)

Therefore, I would not write in an exam that:

"Any Registered Wireman can become a PSP."

That would be incorrect.

A safer statement is:

Certain competent/registered technical personnel may be authorised to certify specific Form G stages within their area of competence, subject to the applicable UBBL, statutory and professional requirements. This does not give them the general authority to issue the CCC, which remains the responsibility of the PSP.

6. Relationship between Form G, PSP and Form F

The whole system can be understood as a chain of responsibility:

                 LOCAL AUTHORITY
                       │
                Approves building plans
                       │
                       ▼
             PSP / Submitting Persons
                       │
                       ▼
                  CONSTRUCTION
                       │
        ┌──────────────┼──────────────┐
        ▼              ▼              ▼
   Structure       Electrical      Plumbing/
     Form G          Form G         Drainage
                                      Form G
        │              │              │
        └──────────────┼──────────────┘
                       ▼
              PSP verifies compliance
                       │
                       ▼
              ALL CONDITIONS SATISFIED
                       │
                       ▼
                 BORANG F / CCC
                       │
                       ▼
               SAFE & FIT FOR USE

The important principle is that the PSP does not simply "sign a piece of paper." Section 70(21) places substantive duties on the PSP concerning supervision, compliance with approved plans, technical conditions, and safety/fitness for occupation. (National House Buyers Association)

7. Exam-focused summary

If this comes out as a 10–15 mark question, remember these points:

Borang G

  • 21-stage certification system.

  • Certifies completion/compliance of specific construction stages.

  • Signed by the appropriate qualified/authorised person for the relevant work.

  • Forms part of the evidence required for CCC.

  • PSP must ensure the required certifications are properly obtained.

Borang F

  • Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).

  • Final certification of the completed building.

  • Issued only by PSP.

  • Confirms compliance and that the building is safe and fit for occupation.

Section 70 SDA

  • 70(1): prior written permission required before erecting a building.

  • 70(2): plans/specifications submitted by PSP/SP.

  • 70(9): notice to commence work.

  • 70(18): provision relating to local authority's three-month response period.

  • 70(19): required documents must be prepared/certified and signed as prescribed.

  • 70(20): only PSP issues CCC.

  • 70(21): PSP's duties before CCC—supervision, compliance and safety/fitness.

  • 70(27): offences relating to CCC/non-compliance. (EPSMG)

PSP

Principal person → overall responsibility → supervises/compliance → issues CCC.

SP

Qualified person → specialist/particular plan submission → limited to relevant scope.

Form G signatories

Specific technical certification → must have the appropriate authority/qualification → does not automatically make the person PSP.

Key distinction to memorise:

G Forms prove that the individual stages comply; Form F/CCC confirms the building as a whole is completed, compliant, safe and fit for occupation.

For statutory wording, the current Act 133 should always take precedence over lecture notes or older UBBL summaries, because amendments can change the applicable requirements. (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam)

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