Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong's proposal to shift construction methods completely to prefabricated model are impractical, Gerakan Youth deputy chief Andy Yong said today.

Yong, who is a construction industry lawyer, said developers found building with precast concrete problematic and not all buildings could be constructed using such methods.

“Liew must get down to earth and be practical and not only intellectual. He could lower himself and learn from the industry players instead of being a paper tiger,” Yong said.

Yong said using prefabricated concrete was costly due to factory, storage, and transportation requirements.

He added that prefabricated concrete was also prone to leaks, making it unsuitable for bathrooms.

"As Liew correctly stated, the government has been pushing the Industrialised Building System (IBS) system but due to the high cost, many are reluctant to use the system," Yong said.

He was responding to a comment piece by Liew published by Malaysiakini today today which called on construction firms to adopt the IBS system towards achieving higher productivity.

Coupled with the need with higher skilled workers and higher wages, the DAP lawmaker said this would encourage locals to join the construction industry thus negating the need to import foreign labour to build.

The government plans to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers to work 3D (dirty, difficult and dangerous) jobs which Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysians were not interested in.