 The company's first two ships were provided by Japan, given to the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) as compensation for its massacre of Chinese Malaysians during World War II.The company initially had capital of 10 million ringgit, with the Kuok brothers holding 20%, Tsao 15%, and the MCA and other Chinese-Malaysian groups holding 20 to 30%.Ismail Abdul Rahman served as the company's first chairman until Kuok took over in 1969, serving until the 1980s.