ACCCIS, SHEDA and SMBF joint dialogue with CMS Cement Industry Sdn. Bhd.

 

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak (ACCCIS), Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHEDA) and Sarawak Master Builders Federation (SMBF) jointly held a dialogue on December 15, 2022 with the representatives from CMS Cement Industry Sdn. Bhd. in the midst of experiencing the shortage of cement supply in Southern Sarawak, in particular Kuching recently. The dialogue cum luncheon was hosted by Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) Michael Tiang Ming Tee.

 

The attendees had a frank and cordial discussion on the problems and issues encountered by the construction and properties development sectors due to the recent shortage of supply of cement followed on with an informative update on the latest development on the supply of cement from the Head of Commercial of CMS Cement Industry Sdn. Bhd., Mr.  J. T. Choong.

 

“I am delighted to host the luncheon this afternoon with the representatives from 3 main business organizations, namely ACCCIS, SHEDA and SMBF to discuss the pressing concerns of the shortage of the supply of cement with the representatives from CMS Cement Industry Sdn. Bhd.  It is a good opportunity for me to listen and gather feedbacks from the stakeholders directly and have a better understanding on what has been happening on the ground.” said Tiang

 

Tiang noted that the ensuing problems faced by a lot of contractors as the projects undertaken were halted and delayed due to the shortage of cement supply and that in some cases carried serious implications on the imposition of penalty by their respective employers, and the shortages of the cement supply and the stones of late have hampered the progress of the housing development projects and in consequence thereof, some developers are having severe cash-flow problems.” The deputy minister has also pledged to look into the problems with the hope that the supply chain of these major building materials would return to normalcy soon.

 

Other issues like the excessive queuing time incurred for accepting the delivery of the cement at the depot of the supplier and the looming revision of the pricing of cement by the wholesaler were also among the issues discussed during the dialogue session.

 

Also present in the dialogue were the Secretary-General of ACCCIS Dato Jonathan Chai, the President of SHEDA Mr. Augustine Wong, SHEDA’s Secretary-General Ms. Angie Kueh, the Chairman of SMBF Mr. James Ha, SMBF’s Secretary-General Mr. Tan Chen Sin, other committee members of ACCCIS Mr. Rodger Chan, Mr. Lai Chau Liong, other members of SHEDA Mr. Johnny Ding, Mr. Ong and committee members from KCGCCI Mr. Dennis Chin, Mr. Fam Khing Foh, and Mr. Vincent Chai, together with other representatives from CMS Cement Industry Sdn. Bhd. Mr. Sofrizan Osman and Mr. Sahil Dev.