Accolade for Sarawak Steamship Company

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KUCHING: The Sarawak Steamship Company Bhd was recently conferred the Malaysia Book of Records Outstanding Business Award for 100 years of Excellence.

The company was the sole recipient from the corporate sector in East Malaysia.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presented the award to The Sarawak Steamship Co Bhd managing director Chai Foh Chin during the ‘MBR Night of Achievers’ at the One World Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on April 30.

About 1,500 dignitaries and achievers were present at the glittering event.

The Sarawak Steamship Co Bhd said in a statement that it was formed in 1875 to solve shipping problem in Sarawak.

In 1919, the company was the first to start the travel business in the state.

It was jointly owned by a group of prominent businessmen and the Sarawak Government until July 1931, when recession hit Sarawak. The episode forced the government to sell 72 per cent of the company’s equity to The Straits Steamship Group in Singapore.

In 1995, Le Fame Group Sdn Bhd acquired Straits Steamship Group’s shares in the company to be in line with the Malaysia government’s policy at the time.

Today, the company is actively involved in travel, tour and air cargo services.