Sunday, 30 November 2008, Kuching -- CMS Cement Sdn Bhd, Sarawak’s sole cement manufacturer, celebrated its 30th anniversary of production this evening with the recognition of being “Sarawak’s Partner of Progress”.

According to the Chief Minister of Sarawak, CMS Cement had played an instrumental role in Sarawak’s infrastructure development since 1978. CMS Cement is a core business of the evolving group of Cahya Mata Sarawak.

“As Sarawak’s largest private sector development group, CMS has helped the State undergo rapid transformation over the last 30 years from an under-developed State to one whose development and living standards are comparable to the best in Malaysia,” said Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud in his keynote address as Guest-of-honour at a grand dinner celebration.

The Chief Minister remarked that CMS’ dynamic businesses had set an example for other Sarawakian companies to take the lead in spreading the wealth of the State amongst its own people, instead of waiting for big players from elsewhere to develop the State’s potential and resources.

Some 600 guests attended CMS Cement’s 30th anniversary gala dinner held in Kuching. Guests included State Cabinet members, politicians, industry leaders, construction materials dealers and representatives of cement bodies. Former CMS Cement company directors and long-serving employees were also in attendance.

The event served as a platform for CMS Cement to launch its new product, CEMPLAST masonry cement, and a new tagline for its Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), “Teguh & Tahan”.

In his speech, CMS Group Managing Director, Dato’ Richard Curtis said that CMS Cement has always been committed to building Sarawak in the most reliable and responsible manner possible.

“30 years in production has been about 30 years of cementing relationships with our stakeholders – customers of CMS Cement in urban town centers and in kampungs, with hundreds of our staff, with shareholders and the community around us,” he said.