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SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017
13
Dear Stakeholders,
I am delighted to present the third standalone
Sustainability Report of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad
(CMS or the Group) which encapsulates CMS’
sustainability journey for the financial year ended
31 December 2017 (FY 2017). For the year in review,
CMS once again made good progress in its pursuit of
responsible business and sustainable growth, turning
in commendable performances on the Economic,
Environmental and Social (EES) fronts.
Several positive developments took place in FY 2017,
one of which was the Group’s success in remaining a
constituent of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia (F4GBM)
Index. I ampleased to report that that on 13 January 2018,
CMS received news that we had maintained our status as
a constituent of the F4GBM Index for the second year
running. The F4GBM Index is a globally recognised index
launched by the FTSE Group and owned by the London
Stock Exchange. It measures and recognises companies
across the world who are demonstrating strong
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.
In Malaysia, F4GBM index constituents are selected from
the Top 200 Malaysian stocks on Bursa Malaysia and
screened in accordance with transparent ESG criteria.
CMS’ inclusion in the index for the second consecutive
year attests to the fact that we continue to gain good
ground as we implement tangible corporate social
responsibility practices and entrench ourselves as a
progressive and ethical company. With this international
recognition, we now show up on the radar of financial
institutions who have set down strict ESG criteria
for their investments. This achievement is also doing
much to reduce our perceived non-financial risk profile
by positioning us as a company that is upholding a
sustainability-based (and thus safer) business model
which will ultimately draw more investors in. This repeat
performance is a result of the worthy efforts put in by the
entire Group including our Board of Directors (Board),
Senior Management team and employees and I sincerely
thank them for their fine work.
OUR ROLE IN CONNECTING COMMUNITIES AND
DELIVERING VALUE
This year, the cover of our Sustainability Report portrays
the newly-built Darul Hana Bridge which CMS had a hand
in constructing. Launched by Sarawak’s Head of State,
His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, on
11 November 2017, this iconic bridge connects Kuching
City North with Kuching City South. Our cover also
carries the theme ‘Connecting Communities. Delivering
Value’ which is not only a reflection of the role that the
bridge is playing in linking and integrating communities,
it also serves as an expression of how CMS is doing its
bit to connect communities and deliver tangible value.
As a leading proponent of the Sarawak’s growth story,
CMS continues to identify strategies that will help build
and strengthen linkages between markets, businesses
and communities, as well as create real value for diverse
stakeholders.
Aside from the Darul Hana Bridge, another one of the
linkages that CMS has had a hand in forging is the Miri-
Marudi Road Rehabilitation Project by Group subsidiary,
CMS Roads Sdn Bhd. Connecting towns and people, the
project is not only on track but progressing well ahead of
its original 30-month schedule. The project also directly
addresses one of Sarawak’s biggest challenges which is to
reduce the development gap between the rural and urban
areas, not only in terms of infrastructure, but also by way
of improving access to markets and lifting the level of
income in the State’s rural communities.
Other examples of our building linkages and delivering
value include the construction of the Datuk Temenggong
Abang Kipali bin Abang Akip Interchange, via a shallow
underpass, to ease traffic congestion and connect
communities; the construction and fiberisation of
telecommunication towers, as well as the rollout of
broadband infrastructure throughout Sarawak to link
and elevate the livelihood of rural communities; and the
celebration of the 20
th
anniversary of Bandar Samariang,
the township and community which we have built and
developed, as well as created tangible value for.
CMS has had a hand
in forging
the Miri-
Marudi Road
Rehabilitation
Project
which is helping reduce
the gap between rural
and urban areas.
CMS continues
to maintain
its status as
a constituent
of the
F4GBM Index
for the
second year running.
CMS continues to identify strategies
that will help build and strengthen linkages
between markets, businesses and communities,
as well as create real value for diverse stakeholders.
Message from Our Group Managing Director