CMSCI engages with villagers near its cement plant
KUCHING: CMS Cement Industries ( CMSCI) has openly sought to engage the Mambong folk who live near the company’s Integrated Cement Plant since 2014, and will continue to hold annual dialogue session with them.
Speaking at the annual dialogue session recently, its group chief executive officer (Operations) Goh Chii Bing said among the concerns voiced in the past were the dust ( level) that coat their houses, cars and even laundry, and the speeds at which some of the lorries were travelling in the area.
Driven by a desire to help address some of those issues, CMSCI started the first dialogue session in 2014 to explain to the headmen and JKKK members that while their operations did create dust, its level was being monitored, which is in compliance with relevant environmental regulations.
In fact, CMSCI has implemented an online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) with sensors installed at chimneys identified by the Department of Environment ( DoE). These sensors are linked to the control room at the plant and to the DoE server.
This means that if dust exceeds the permissible level, not only will
CMSCI sees the opportunity to be more than just another company operating in the vicinity of villages. Goh Chii Bing, CMS Cement Industries (CMSCI) group chief executive officer (Operations)
an alarm be triggered in CMSCI, the DoE would also be alerted. As for the speeding vehicles, CMSCI was able to show them that such vehicles were not related to the company’s operations.
“CMSCI sees the opportunity to be more than just another company operating in the vicinity of villages. We have a chance to become a real partner to the development of the community, creating positive and lasting change,” said Goh in a press statement.
In the years that followed, CMSCI not only became a leading employer in the community with some 60 per cent of the workforce comprising residents within a 20km radius, but have initiated several programmes that see longterm betterment and growth for the communities.
During the latest dialogue session, the headmen and JKKK members thanked CMSCI for its efforts in creating an English Reading Programme at St Augustine’s School, which is a collaboration with Tunku PutraHELP School for Primary 4- 6, a programme that has already seen very positive results.
The villagers expressed the hope that the programme could be expanded to incorporate mathematics. However, they are aware that an expansion would require Ministry of Education’s approval. They also thanked the company for providing 200 chairs for churches in the area.
One villager said: “We appreciate the efforts and commitments of CMS to support and engage the community. This engagement programme is a step in the right direction which other organisations should emulate.”
Another resident said: “I am impressed because I originally felt that CMS was just politically driven. I can see now that CMS is doing a lot, akin to ‘Pusat Khidmat Mambong’.”
This 5th annual dialogue was also attended by Temenggong Austin Dimin Niyon of ( Bidayuh) Kuching Division, headmen and JKKK members from various villages in the area and CMSCI management team.