From civil service to CEO, Er. Mohd Kahliab Zainal Abidin has shaped one of Singapore’s most trusted inspection firm, with a legacy grounded in safety, precision, and integrity. Over the past two decades, he has not only elevated industry standards but personally inspected a substantial number of lifts & escalators, lifting equipment and pressure systems, making him a pivotal figure in Singapore’s built environment.
A Legacy Founded on Trust
In an industry where shortcuts can cost lives, trust is everything. For Er. Mohd Kahliab, trust wasn’t just a value — it became the blueprint for building Emaan Inspection, a company now synonymous with engineering excellence in Singapore’s inspection sector.
His journey began in 1992, when he joined the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) as a junior engineer. Assigned to the Industrial Safety Department, he was responsible for overseeing pressure vessels inspection, conducting safety training and performing safety inspection of factories. At the time, inspections were entirely government-led. However, by the late 1990s, it became clear that demand far exceeded capacity.
“There were only about 30 of us at that time who were MOM-approved inspectors, inspecting over 200,000 equipment annually,” Mohd Kahliab recalls. As Singapore’s industrial landscape grew, the government made a strategic decision to focus on regulatory oversight and policy, outsourcing inspection work to qualified private sector professionals.
This shift was a turning point. Equipped with nearly a decade of field experience and a deep understanding of regulatory compliance, Mohd Kahliab recognised the opportunity to step in, not as a competitor to the system he had served, but as a partner in elevating its standards.
“It wasn’t about taking a risk,” he reflects. “It was about stepping into a space where trust and competence were needed most.”
The First Client, the First Lesson
With just a laptop, a torchlight, and his name listed on MOM’s public register of authorised inspectors, Mohd Kahliab launched Emaan Inspection in 2001. Within a week, he secured his first job — a $200 assignment for ATCO Marine Testing, inspecting lifting gear in the marine sector.
“That first job taught me everything,” he says. “In inspection, you can’t delegate the core work. There’s no proxy. You’re either trusted, or you’re not.”
Working solo in the early years, he handled every inspection himself, from site assessments to report submissions. As demand grew, so did Emaan’s scope. From pressure vessels and lifting equipment, the firm expanded into tower cranes, lifts, escalators, petroleum systems, and gas piping, highly specialised areas with rigorous regulatory requirements.
Today, Mohd Kahliab is one of the few engineers in Singapore certified to inspect tower cranes, reinforcing the firm’s reputation as a go-to authority for high-risk installations.
Building a Values-Driven Team
Nearly a decade after its founding, Emaan evolved into a Private Limited Company, bringing in trusted partners such as Mr. Azmi Abdul Rahim, as Chief Operations Director, and later, Er. Ghazali Embi an experienced professional engineer and specialist in examining pressure vessels, lifts and escalators. Alongside them, a carefully selected team of engineers helped deepen Emaan’s technical capabilities, not through aggressive expansion, but through a deliberate focus on depth, rigour, and shared values.
Continuous training, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing remain core to Emaan’s internal culture. For Mohd Kahliab, competence is not enough. What matters equally is conduct.
“Inspection is not just about knowledge; it’s about conduct,” he affirms. “Every team member must understand not only how to inspect but why it matters.”
Mohd Kahliab stays closely involved in industry developments, ensuring his team remains up to date with regulatory shifts, new technologies, and best practices. “We have a responsibility to lead by example,” he adds.
Delivering Growth Through Operational Excellence
While demand has never been an issue for Emaan, sustainable growth presented a different challenge. The inspection industry is notoriously demanding, with high barriers to entry, from specialist certifications to regulatory approvals. Developing capable engineers takes time, often a decade or more.
At the same time, the backend operations must run like clockwork. In Mohd Kahliab’s view, operational excellence is not just an internal concern but it’s what clients remember.
“It’s not about sales or marketing. It’s the backend that holds everything together. If reports are delayed or billing is inconsistent, client trust quickly erodes. Reputations aren’t built on promises; they’re built on delivery.”
Engineering Excellence Without Borders
Today, Emaan stands among a select group of firms in Singapore authorised to inspect complex, high-risk equipment. Its expertise spans statutory inspections and engineering consultancy for a wide range of systems — from lifts and escalators inspections to pressure system installations and lifting equipment.
In July 2025, Emaan marked another key milestone in its regional expansion with a specialised Building Maintenance Unit (BMU) inspection at J Trust Tower in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The partnership with Tractel Cambodia involved a comprehensive audit of the BMU system — a vital mechanism for façade inspection and maintenance works. Previously, Emaan was also involved in the inspections of tower cranes for Keppel Land in Vietnam, Jakarta and the Philippines.
This cross-border project highlights Emaan’s ability to deliver independent, high-precision assessments while navigating complex regulatory environments. “We don’t just export services — we bring our values, independence, and professional standards wherever we go,” affirms Mohd Kahliab. The Phnom Penh, Vietnam, Jakarta and Philippines inspections are some of the regional initiatives that reflect Emaan’s growing footprint in Southeast Asia.
With regional demand for safety and compliance expertise on the rise, Emaan is laying the groundwork for deeper impact. Plans are underway to establish international training and consultancy partnerships, particularly in Cambodia and the Middle East — focused on knowledge transfer, regulatory capacity building, and local talent development.
A Legacy Built on Passion
At 60, Mohd Kahliab shows no signs of slowing down. Despite the demands of running a regulated, high-stakes business, he remains deeply committed to the work.
“I love what I do,” he says with a smile. “Every inspection matters. Every report counts. That purpose keeps me going.”
When asked what advice he would give young engineers looking to build their own consultancies, Mohd Kahliab’s words are simple but powerful:
“Don’t worry about the competition. Focus on your role, do the job with excellence, and let your work speak for itself. In this industry, credibility is your currency.”
From Engineer to Industry Builder
Mohd Kahliab’s journey is more than a story of entrepreneurship. It is a case study in how technical mastery, ethical leadership, and unwavering professionalism can transform a sector and set the benchmark for others to follow.
In a world driven by speed and volume, Mohd Kahliab’s path reminds us that lasting success is engineered with care, calibrated for excellence, and measured by the trust you earn — one inspection at a time.
Learn more about Emaan Inspection’s services at www.emaan.com.sg
🎯 “This or That” with Er Mohd Kahliab
We know him as the serious engineer with an entrepreneurial edge… but what happens when we throw him into a quick-fire round of choices? From kopi to cappuccino, site inspections to strategy meetings, and even late-night emails vs. early morning walks — his answers reveal the quirks, habits, and heart behind the hustle. Let’s see which side he picks!
Safety boots or Slides on Friday? 👉 Sandals every day
Site inspection or Strategy meeting? 👉 Site inspection
Kopi O kosong or Latte with foam? 👉 Cappuccino
Precision or Passion? 👉 Passion
Tools in hand or Pen on paper? 👉 Pen and paper
Late night emails or Early morning walks? 👉 Late night emails
Malaysia project or Local BTO inspection? 👉 Local BTO
Fast growth or Steady legacy? 👉 Steady legacy
Speaking on stage or Quietly mentoring? 👉 Quiet mentoring
Engineer mindset or Entrepreneur hustle? 👉 Entrepreneur hustle
One thing’s clear: whether it’s sandals, cappuccino, or steady legacy — his choices show a leader who mixes heart with hustle, and passion with purpose.
