When most people think of cement, they imagine bags of grey powder, dusty job sites and buildings under construction. For YTL Cement Group, that is a dated perception. For over 70 years, it has been an integral part of Malaysia’s construction landscape, a homegrown company that has become a global powerhouse in building materials.

Today, the story of YTL Cement is not just about bricks, mortar and concrete. It is about going beyond what it initially set out to do — a journey of transformation and innovation, as well as a commitment to practising sustainability and building the community as a whole.

While many may see the construction industry as a straightforward business of providing building materials, YTL Cement has long recognised the need to evolve.

“Over the past seven decades, we have witnessed the evolution and transformation of the construction industry. Early on, we recognised that being a cement company meant more than just supplying building materials. There is a need to deliver end-to-end solutions that meet growing demands for efficiency, sustainability and innovation,” says its executive director Rachel Yeoh.

YTL Cement is no longer just providing cement or concrete, but delivering a holistic ecosystem of solutions. From aggregates, drymix and precast concrete to waste management, environmental services and low-carbon products, the group empowers clients to build faster, smarter and greener.

This integrated approach allows it to support clients through every phase of a project, from site assessments and planning to operational excellence and cutting-edge construction methods such as the Industrialised Building System (IBS) through its subsidiary Eastern Pretech, which offers customised precast concrete products.

Beyond materials, Geo Alam Environmental, another YTL Cement subsidiary, leads efforts in waste management and resource recovery, providing green solutions that align with clients’ ESG goals. Its ECO Product Range, which includes ECOCem™, ECOConcrete™, ECOSand™ and ECODrymix™, helps reduce embodied carbon while meeting green building standards across the region.

“We help our clients build better and smarter with faster timelines, lower carbon footprints and better- quality finishes among the many solutions that we offer. Backed by decades of technical expertise and our Construction Development Lab (CDL), we also provide advisory support, training and R&D partnerships to optimise both design and construction methods,” says Yeoh.

“Through BUILDS, our CSR arm, we invest in people and engage deeply with communities, as well as nurture industry talent and skills, ensuring that our growth makes a lasting and positive impact beyond our business.

“By integrating materials, technology, services and expertise, we offer an expansive approach which makes us a trusted partner in building a cleaner, smarter future together.”

She adds that these collaborations with industry partners have allowed the group to create sustainable and impactful solutions.

At YTL Cement, sustainability isn’t a buzzword used conveniently. It is a blueprint for how it operates every day. The group understands that long-term commitment is vital to ensuring that it is not just building for today but for generations to come.

From the Waste Heat Recovery System in its plants to the recently launched Repurposed Concrete Aggregate (RCA) facility — a national first in partnership with the Construction Research Institute of Malaysia — YTL Cement is actively advancing the circular economy and reducing construction waste at scale.

The use of RCA offers a practical solution for managing and repurposing construction waste, conserving natural resources and reducing environmental impact. It also decreases reliance on virgin materials from distant quarries, supporting a more sustainable and circular construction process. The RCA Facility is closer to urban construction sites, reducing the need for long-distance transport, thus lowering the associated carbon emissions.

“Our RCA facility gives returned concrete a second life, reducing our reliance on new raw materials while addressing construction waste. It’s a practical, powerful step forward for the industry,” says Yeoh.

Operational since June 2025, the facility repurposes freshly returned concrete, which accounts for an estimated 5% of Malaysia’s annual 30 million cubic metres of concrete production into valuable reusable aggregates.

In parallel, the CDL Academy nurtures local talent and capabilities, while a subsidiary of YTL Cement — Green Enable Technologies (GET), a G7 Construction Industry Development Board licence holder and registered solar PV investor (RPVI) with the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia — supports clients with renewable energy and green technology solutions.

“Alongside our continued investments in digitalisation and R&D, these initiatives reflect our commitment to pushing boundaries, setting new standards and shaping a smarter, more sustainable built environment,” says Yeoh.

Yeoh says sustainability is a collective effort and the company believes in building ecosystems of collaboration that reflect its mission of building together.

“We also host The Edge Malaysia Sustainable Construction Symposium, which for three consecutive years has brought together industry leaders to share best practices in sustainability. Additionally, in support of the industry’s transition, we also pursue public-private partnerships, such as the recent memorandum of understanding between our subsidiary Geo Alam, Sinoma International Environment Engineering Co Ltd (SIEE) and CBMI Construction Co Ltd to advance waste management solutions by combining global expertise with local know-how. Such collaborations amplify our impact and ensure that sustainability becomes a shared goal across the industry,” she emphasises.

Even in corporate social responsibility, YTL Cement is breaking the mould. Its Penyu Shell-Ter Project, launched to mark YTL Group’s 70th anniversary, brought together 51 Malaysian artists to reimagine turtle sculptures cast in low-carbon ECOCem™.

Beyond a powerful public art initiative, the project is raising funds for the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) and Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia (PULIHARA), demonstrating the company’s commitment to not only building infrastructure but also awareness, opportunity and communities.

Culminating in a charity auction, 100% of the proceeds will go to TCS and PULIHARA to directly fund turtle conservation. In addition, YTL Cement is donating RM5,000 on behalf of each artist to a non-governmental organisation of their choice, extending the project’s impact on community causes nationwide.

With the endorsement of the National Art Gallery and support from YTL Hotels, the project exemplified what it means to build with heart and purpose.

From the iconic Merdeka 118 Tower in Malaysia to the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2 in Singapore, the Fico 11 Bridge in Vietnam and sustainable housing modules in Finland, YTL Cement is shaping skylines across the globe.

Each project showcases not just construction excellence, but the company’s deep commitment to creating an overall positive impact on the environment while utilising technological advancement to their advantage.

“It’s no longer just about what we build. It’s about how we build and why we build it that way. At YTL Cement, ‘Building Together’ is about shaping the kind of future that we want to have — one that is sustainable, inclusive and resilient,” says Yeoh.

“Our journey over the past 70 years has taught us that growth and responsibility are integral to each other. With our scale and reach, we want to deliver solutions with integrity and quality, and set new benchmarks for the industry.”

She hopes to continue leading with purpose and ensure that its work leaves a lasting positive impact on generations to come.

“As Malaysia’s oldest and largest home-grown cement company, we recognise the opportunity and responsibility to lead change and to build more sustainably for benefits beyond business,” says Yeoh.

She acknowledges that this is only possible by empowering YTL Cement’s teams and investing in local talent, strengthening partnerships with stakeholders and continuously challenging the status quo with innovative solutions.

“Being mindful of the 70th anniversary of our group, we are contemplating legacy and impact. It is our aspiration to continue working on projects that align with our values and pushing boundaries, whether that is in sustainable building, creative collaborations, community impact or beyond,” she says.

“Building a greener, better future requires collective effort and commitment. We look forward to continuing to do so in the years to come.”