History

Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB), which when translated to the Malay language means "the light of Sarawak's eye", grew from a humble beginning as a single product manufacturer of Portland cement in 1974, to become a major driving force in the state of Sarawak's economic development through its operations in finance and infrastructure. 

The Group's founder company, Cement Manufacturers Sarawak Sdn Bhd, was the first company in East Malaysia to manufacture Portland cement, and prides itself as being the first Sarawak-based company to be listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad  in 1989. 

In 1994, Cement Manufacturers Sarawak Berhad's business undertook expansion, diversification and acquisition. Within a few short years, the Group became Sarawak's largest player in financial services and infrastructure development. Subsequently, the company’s name was changed to Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB) in 1996. 

Today, CMSB's business operations are focused in 7 strategic business units (SBUs) :
Banking, Securities & Derivatives, Cement & Construction Materials, Steel, Construction & Road Maintenance, Property Development, and Services.

Looking back...

• The Group began as Cement Manufacturers Sarawak Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture between the State Economic Development Corporations of Sabah and Sarawak, producing Ordinary Portland Cement.
   

• Bank Utama (M) Berhad, Sarawak's first bumiputra-owned bank, was incorporated.
   

• Cement Manufacturers Sarawak became Sarawak's first company to be listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.
   

• Sarawak Securities commenced operations as Sarawak's first licensed stockbroker.     
   

• Cement Manufacturers Sarawak saw new shareholders and a reconstituted Board of Directors came on board. Business expansion and acquisition took place, resulting in a re-alignment of operations into 2 core businesses - infrastructure development and financial services.
   

• PPES Works completed Sarawak’s first fly-over, the Satok Fly-over in Kuching, valued at RM22.7 million.

• Utama SSSB (later renamed CMS Trust Management Bhd) began operations as East Malaysia's first commercial unit trust management company.

• Steel Industry Sarawak Bhd (later renamed CMS Steel Bhd) was the first company in the Group to be certified with ISO 9001:2000
   

• Cement Manufacturers Sarawak Berhad changed its name to Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad.

• CMS Trust Management’s maiden fund, CMS Premier Fund, was launched in Kuching.

• CMS Cement's Kuching plant laboratory received the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

• Pavement Technology was the first company in Sarawak to introduce cement stabilization to rehabilitate and reconstruct roads involving recycling of existing pavements.
   

• Utama Banking Group Berhad made its debut on Bursa Malaysia Main Board.

• The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia launched Bandar Samariang township development project.

• Tunku Putra International School, Sarawak's first international school, was officially declared opened.

• PPES Trading and Setri attained the ISO 9002:1994 certification.
   

• PPES Works was awarded the ISO 9001:2000 certification.

• The RM150 million Sarawak River Regulation Scheme project, constructed by PPES Works, was officially declared open by the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

• Sarawak Securities acquired Utama Securities Sdn Bhd, Sarawak's second stock-broking house and the first in Miri, to serve clients in the northern region of Sarawak and Brunei.

• CMS Cement's Kuching plant attained the ISO 9002:1994 certification.

• CMS Modular Housing was Sarawak's first to introduce modular construction technology into the State.

• Sebuyau Kuari attained the ISO 9002:1994 certification.
   

• CMS Cement's Bintulu plant was officially opened by Sarawak’s Chief Minister.

• CMS Steel’s state-of-the-art rolling mill was officially declared open at Sejingkat, Kuching.

• Projek Bandar Samariang was awarded a contract by Sarawak Housing Development Commission to construct 2,500 units of ‘rumah rakyat’, to reduce the State’s massive back-log of low-cost housing applications.

• The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia declared open the RM78 million Kuching Outer Ring Road, constructed by PPES Works.

• CMS Premier Fund attained 5-Star ranking by Micropal as one of the top 10% performing funds in its category.

• CMS Premier Fund declared 2 income distributions within one financial year.

• CMSB and Bank Utama’s respective Annual Reports 1998 swept the top awards at the inaugural Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry Annual Corporate Report Awards.

• CMSB's Annual Report 1998 was a Finalist at the National Annual Corporate Report Awards, chosen from over 700 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.
   

• CMS Premier Fund was named Top Performing Fund for the 1-Year period in the Growth Fund Category at The Edge-Lipper Malaysian Unit Trust Fund Awards.

• CMS Transportation received the 3rd International Transport Award (New Millennium Award) from The Editorial Office in Madrid, Spain.

• The Minister of Finance, Malaysia launched the RM125 million Pusa / Beladin / Maludam / Triso road constructed by PPES Works.

• PPES Works completed the RM80 million, 2.2m diameter, water pipeline project for the transfer raw water over a 1.2 km distance from Sg. Bakong to Sg. Liku in Miri, Sarawak.
   

• PPES Works completed construction of the 75.8 km Tubau-Bakun road for RM176.16 million.

• PPES Works was awarded a RM581.17 million project to construct the 178 km coastal road linking Miri to Bintulu. This project brings PPES Works' order book to RM1.12 billion at the end of 2001.

• CMS Cement’s Kuching plant attained the ISO 14001:1997 certification for environmental management.

• CMS Trust Management launched its second fund, the CMS Balanced Fund.

• CMS Premier Fund was named Top Performing Fund for the 3 and 5-Year periods in the Equity Growth Category at The Edge-Lipper Malaysian Unit Trust Fund Awards.

• Bank Utama successfully managed and arranged the largest bond issue in the country - Al-Istisna bonds valued at RM1.5 billion.

• Bank Utama was the first bank in the country to offer the Electronic Bills Presentment & Payment (EBPP) service.

• Sarawak Securities completed the merger with K&N Kenanga Holdings Berhad. CMSB, through CMS Capital, becomes the single largest shareholder in one of the largest retail-based stock-broking companies in Malaysia.

• CMSB's Annual Report 2000 won Overall Excellence Award for the third consecutive year at the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce & Industry Annual Corporate Report Awards. Bank Utama’s Annual Report 2000 wins the top award in the non-listed companies category.

• CMSB's Annual Report 2000 was named Finalist at the National Annual Corporate Report Awards.
   

• As a caring corporate citizen, PPES Works and CMS Modular built new longhouse for Simunjan landslide victims. Cost of the longhouse, estimated at RM200,000, was borne by CMS Group.

• PPES Works completed the Miri By-Pass road, the Kuala Lawas-Merapok road, and UNIMAS infrastructure works.

• Merger talks were sealed in March when CMSB and UBG entered into an agreement with RHB and RHB Bank for the disposal of Bank Utama. The sale was completed in December.

• CMSB and UBG acquired 121,000,000 ordinary shares, representing 26.1% of the issued and paid-up share capital of RHB, together with 8,000,000 RHB warrants-C.

• UBG acquired MRCB’s 22.7% stake in RHB.

• CMS Premier Fund was named “Best Overall Performing Fund for a 5-year period” at The Edge-Lipper Awards for posting a return of 117.52% over a 5-year period as at 31 December 2002. The fund also won “Best Equity Growth Fund” in the 5-year category.

• CMS Trust Management launched 2 new funds – CMS Islamic Fund and CMS Bond Fund.

• Once again, CMS Group demonstrate it is a caring corporate citizen, when PPES Works takes just 5 weeks to construct 28 units of shops for Mukah fire victims.

• CMS Group acquired an MSC status, IT-related company. The company’s name is eventually changed to CMS Digital Sdn Bhd.

• CMSB and UBG Annual Reports 2001 were announced Runner-up in the Overall Excellence Award (for public-listed companies) at the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce & Industry Annual Corporate Report Awards. Bank Utama Annual Report 2001 wins the top award in the non-listed companies category.

 

2003

• RHB Bank and Bank Utama merge operations, offering customers a wider network of 200 branches nationwide, 470 ATMs and new products and services, such as internet banking.

• Sara Road Maintenance secures a 15-year contract to maintain all State roads in Sarawak. The contract is estimated to be valued at RM86 million per year.

• PPES Works secures a 15-year contract to maintain 650 km of Federal roads in Sarawak. The contract is estimated to be valued at RM25 million per year.

• PPES Works completes Phase 1 of Dalat Hospital and the Tanjung Manis Airport.

• CMS Cement Bintulu Grinding Plant attains the MS ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification.

• CMS Trust Management's CMS Premier Fund is again the No.1 Equity Growth Fund in the 5-year category at The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Unit Trust Fund Awards. CMS Premier Fund is also winner in the Equity Malaysia sector of the inaugural The Star/Standard & Poor's Investment Fund Awards.

• CMS Dresdner Asset Management wins the Best 1-year Realised Return Equity Fund Manager 2003 award from the Employees Provident Fund.

 

2004

• CMSB streamline its corporate structure to enhance efficiencies in operations, tax planning and further strengthen its business focus.

• CMSB enters into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Vietnam company to jointly bid for infrastructure projects in Vietnam.

• CMS Cement wins the gold award at the Malaysian Society for Occupational Health & Safety awards.

• PPES Works becomes Sarawak's first construction company to attain the QESH - Integrated Management System (IMS) certification, the gold standard for quality.

• PPES Works attains the ISO 14001:1996 Environmental Management System certification and the OHSAS 18001:1999 Occupational Health & Safety Management System certification.

• CMS Roads and CMS Pavement Tech attain the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification.

• CMS Trust Management launches its fifth fund, CMS Islamic Balanced Fund.

• CMS Trust Management's wins two awards at The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Unit Trust Fund Awards. CMS Premier Fund is again the No.1 Equity Growth Fund in the 5-year category at whilst CMS Balanced Fund won for the first time, the No.1 Mixed Asset Income Fund for a 3-year period.

• Utama Banking Group finalises the sale of its 85.1% equity interest in Utama Merchant Bank Berhad.