Our History

HSS – The Story

The 1980s

In 1984, Kuna Sittampalam and the late Shantha Kumar were drawn together by an audacious dream of building a consulting firm that will transform the engineering landscape of Malaysia. This was a rather far-fetched dream as the two partners had no experience in running a consulting engineering practice, no network of business connections and no capital.

However, they were young, enthusiastic and very ambitious and nothing would deter their dream. Putting their fears aside, and armed with a highly competitive spirit and a determination to be the best, they started HSS. It was the trust, faith and support of their friends, clients and fellow entrepreneurs that helped them throughout this journey.

Right at the onset, when it was just an idea, it was Tuan Haji Hashbudin Bin Hashim, a former employer of Kuna and Shantha, who gave them time off whenever needed, to pursue their business idea. In appreciation, Hashbudin became, H of HSS Consult Sdn Bhd while SS stood for Shantha Kumar and Sittampalam.

After struggling for a year, the young entrepreneurs got their first project offer. Without an office to meet the client, it was a friend, Dato’ Sri Yap Chong Lee who let the budding entrepreneurs convert a small space in his workplace, into a temporary HSS office. A few other close friends came together and helped put HSS signboards and ‘worked’ as staff. And that became HSS’s first project!