Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Leaving Petronas Gives Dr M More Leeway


A Kadir Jasin

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TOLD by his doctors “to slow down”, (Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped down as adviser to Petronas effective Dec 1.

Why Petronas? Isn’t he not also the adviser to Proton?  Petronas is way larger and more glamorous than Proton.

"I have been with Petronas for 10 years, I feel that Petronas has performed well and made a huge profit.

"I hope Petronas will continue to play its role in nurturing young entrepreneurs," The Star quoted him saying.

That bit about continuing to nurture young entrepreneurs is loaded because he was recently embroiled in a tussle of sorts with Petronas management over allegations that the national oil company was not doing enough to help Bumiputera businessmen.

I will take the doctors’ advice at face value. They treated him and should know better.

But what I know is, he does not have to climb 88 floors to get to his office at Petronas and the job was not 9 to 5, seven days a week. He can even advise without being there.

But he often said that he was a Malaysian adviser. Unlike a British adviser during the colonial days, being a Malaysian adviser he has no power and his advice was not always accepted.

My own diagnosis of the malady that led to his resignation as Petronas adviser is this. He is better off letting go of the Petronas job than hanging on to it and risk suffering the heartache of being spurned by The Power that now controls the national oil company.

Everybody knows that the single most influential person in Petronas board member Omar Ong and everybody knows that Dr Mahathir objected to his appointment.

Breaking away from the government may be good for Dr Mahathir. He can now say and write things about the government without having to look over his shoulders. He is not beholden to the government anymore.

Although he was quoted as saying that he was leaving the national oil corporation “to concentrate on his health”, we all know that his good health and clarity of thought (at 88) are the products of the many good battles that he fought. So leaving Petronas might very well accord him more time and energy to fight other battles.

He might have already fired the first salvo at the government when he said there was corruption during his time as Prime Minister, but it is worse now.

Wallahuaklam. 

13 comments:

doncin cai said...

...
memang beliau tak gemar mustapa ong.. tapi apa nak di kata....najib ni memang "begik", "biut", "bega".. cakap2 orang tua, langsung tak nak dengo...

Kampong man said...

Salam Dato,

1.Tun Dr Mahathir , 88,resignation as Petronas adviser will spark off speculation of some sort by many depending on how one views it.Tun failing health and age factor have been cited as the main reasons for his decision.It is base too on his doctors advise that he has to slow down.

2, I read Dato diognosis of the malady but Dr Mahathir said this "There are numerous opportunities for Bumiputeras (in Petronas)...a lot are given to Mokhzani bin Mahathir," he said sarcatically.This may be a one small reason for his decision to finally quit the advisory post for some adverse coments by some others who do not really know Mahathir as though Sapura Kencana owned by his son Mokhzani secured many Petronas projects by virtues of Tun being up there.It was on merit of course.Sapura Kencana has always been a global O&G player and Tun could have given many projects to this previously two seperate entities while his 22 year premiership.He did not.I will not speculate of any other reasons .The immediate cause remains due to Tun health and age factor and I am sure I cannot be far wrong.It will become a talking point and one hot issue prior UMNO gathering coming December.I still can recall the time Tun decide to step down after his long speech in Perhimpunan Agong UMNO one time.He has done enough
for Malaysia and he is a world leader,period.

3.Back to Petronas.Rumours are around that the present and outgoing President TS Shamsul has not done enough for Bumiputra in that O&G sectors.Judging by the numbers of many Bumi companies closing shop due many projects are given to big companies like Dialog and companies that has BIG financial strength small companies are left in the lurch (TerkapaI kapai) almost helpless due to stiff competition for an already crowded market now.

3.How do you expect Malaysians like Omar Ong to be fighting mad for Bumiputra cause.You may wish to discover who Omar Ong is by just google "The Unspinners Omar Ong" and discover for yourself the kind of choice for Najib Con-sultan.Even the changing of guard in the current top management are filled with people from Shell .All thanks to Idris Jala.Apa tak ada orang melayu pandai lagi ke dalam O&G.What kind of experience that Omar Ong in O&G to justify his position as board member in Petronas?.Me and my AANC partner have not less than a combined 80 years O&G experience and can give those con-sultan lessons in Exploration and Production from the reservoir to production if required.It is this armchair young con-sultan who tell us what to do and set Petronas direction because they are OXBRIDGE and because they are politically connected .Utter rubbish.Experience donkeys like us who are hands on with O&G blood in many of us are not good enough I guess.Najib has to review and seriously look into Petronas top management mix and decide the best candidate for the new President if he cares to 'memperkasakan' ekonomi Bumiputra dan agenda yang dilaungkan selama ini.

4.Saya amat menghargai jasa Tun yang dikasihi dan dihormati serta mendoakan semoga Allah memberi Tun kesihatan yang baik dan umur yang panjang Tun, in shaa Allah.Salam hormat.

Terima kasih Dato.

OKJ said...

Salam Dato’ A Kadir Jasin

Saya ingin mengucapkan berbanyak terima kasih kepada Tun Dr Mahathir di atas sumbangannya kepada Negara selama 22 tahun dan sumbangannya sebagai penasihat Petronas selama 10 tahun. Diharap Tun sentiasa sihat dan diberkati Allah. Prinsip Tun yg berundur tepat pada masanya patut dijadikan ikutan kepada Anwar Ibrahim, Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang dan Hj Hadi.

Insyaallah, kerajaan UMNO BN dibawah pimpinan YAB Dato’ Seri Najib akan meneruskan kesinambungan kegemilangan UMNO dan org Melayu di Negara kita. Jika seorang “Mahathir” pun dah menyebabkan ketar lutut pembangkang utk dihadapi, UMNO akan menghasilkan 100 org “Mahathir” lagi melalui projek kanak-kanak pintar PERMATA di bawah naungan Datin Seri Rosmah. Sekian TQ.

joe black said...

Dato'

Lebih menarik dari pengunduran Dr M dari menjadi Penasihat Petronas adalah teka teki tentang siapa yang akan menjadi penggantinya.

Mengikuti tradisi yang lepas, Bekas PM Malaysia yang biasa menyandang tugas tersebut, maka Pak Lah lah yang patut mengganti Dr M sebagai penasihat Petronas. Jika ini berlaku ada kemungkinan tercetusnya fireworks dari penyokong Dr M atau Dr M sendiri kerana adamasaalah personal diantara kedua dua bekas PM. Najib mungkin tak ambil kisah sedangkan lantik penyandang di GLC dan sebagainya, dia lantak sahaja.

Jika dilihat dari segi tugas, penasihat Petronas sepatutnya di pilih dari seseorang yang punya banyak pengalaman dalam bidang Oil & Gas. Bekas Bekas PM bolih dianggap tidak sesuai untuk tugas ini. Jika DS Najib betul ingin menaikkan taraf kemahiran Petronas maka disinilah patut dimulakan perubahan yang lebih berkesan.

Anonymous said...

I know why? Got squashed by Big mama Viva la Big mama.

Unknown said...

Aslkum Dakj

Kalaulah dulu Mahathir tak pencen PM taklah Dollah naik jadi PM.

Kalaulah Dollah ada fighting spirit taklah Najib jadi PM.

Dollah silap besar sebab buat baik srparuh jalan. Dah tolong bebas Anwar , Dollah tak satukan Melayu dengan runding agar Anwar masuk UMNO balik.

Sekarang apa dah jadi?

Sebagai PM waktu itu Dollah takkan tak kenal Najib siapa.

Sehebat mana pun, Mahathir, beliau sebagai Melsyu, mudah lupa.

Tak mungkin dia ada kekuatan nak lawan Najib pulak.

Tapi kasihan. Rakyatlah tersiksa.

Ghab said...

Thank you Bro Kampong Man, you have said it all about our beloved Tun. I share your presumption. Only those who are not in the right minds or without empirical ingenuity who will say the otherwise. 

What is seemed obvious when Dato' Wee, the Shell personal of rejection, was appointed due recycled to be the VP for Patronas upstream division. He gradually brought in more rejected Shell personnels under his team of management division. I sense Omar Ong has placed fullest recommendation to the Prime Minister of Wee's entry thus has pushed Shamsul to the near way out. 

I think Tun is also unhappy with Shell 'culture' which has assimilated into Patronas to supersede in running of Patronas. The fact is, Najib is unaware of the 'commercial culture and goals of Patronas. Patronas is not only about operation of pulling levers, pushing buttons and revenue, it is also about cultural-commercialization of branding Patronas with Bumiputra minds to international cooperate management.

Unknown said...

Aslkum Dakj

Jarang2, kadang2 . Kali ni Din Melaka 100% setuju dgn pandangan kg man mengenai bukan Melayu/ Islam dah kuasai Petronas.

Maklum Najib sibuk nak hapus pengaruh PKR dgn operasi lompat katak.

Dan sibuk nak jawap soalan kenapa kak mah pun boleh guna pesawat rakyat.

Dulu Mahathir buka MRSM pd bukan Melayu. Lepas tu buka pulak kuota masuk U ikut peratusan kaum.

Tapi masih tak sehebat kerosakan oleh Najib.

Bagaimana pun ada org kata" saya tetap sokong UMNO kerana pembangkang lagi teruk"

Cubalah berubah sikit. Berapa ramsi Melayu berjaya dalam hidup secsra tulin. Tak mintak sedekah pd ketua2 UMNO.

Jangan marah

Anonymous said...

Din Melaka,
Mahathir melayu? Or Mudah lupa? Just wonder what did Mahathir write down as his race in Univesity Malaya Singapore? Should we check the NUS registrar?

Urang Awak said...

Salam Dato,
Agak begitu lama saya tidak memberi sebarang komen kepada article2 Dato sejak kebelakangan ini melainkan hanya membaca dan meneliti setiap comments yang disiarkan terutamanya daripada OKJ, Din Melaka, Orang Kampung & lain2. Perasaan bosan & kecewa adalah salah satu punca mengapa saya menjauhkan diri tanpa menurunkan sebarang komen walaupun isu yang Dato utarakan kadangkalanya amat menarik sekali.

Tajuk pada kali ini amat menyentuh naluri saya dan saya merasa terpanggil untuk memberi sedikit ulasan walaupun saya menjangkakan akan mendapat tentangan dari pembaca2 yang masih punyai sifat2 totok.

Kita jangan sekali2 menyalahkan sesiapa didalam isu kemiskinan yang berterusan terutamanya golongan majority Melayu dinegara yang kita cintai ini. Masaalah ekonomi umat Melayu tidak akan selesai sampai bila bila dan sebenarnya kita semua harus berasa bersalah dan bertanggung jawab sepenuhnya diatas semua jenis kegagalan yang kita lalui termasuk Dato sendiri sebagai seorang bekas WARTAWAN, para2 penjawat awam yang lain, pihak penguatkuasaan, penggubal undang2, pemimpin2, penjaga keamanan, hakim2, tokoh2 agama dan rakyat mahrin seperti saya amnya.

Kita semuanya telah leka dan lalai dibuai mimpi2 indah, pangkat, kedudukan, sogokan serta imbuhan buat sekian lama dan masing2 mengharapkan dan bergantung kepada keadaan yang akan merubah tanpa kita sendiri melakukan perubahan secara besungguh2. Kita tidak sayangkan bangsa sepertimana yang diamalkan oleh orang2 Jepun, Cina, India dan lain2.

Sifat2 yang kita telah diresapi buat sekian lama diantaranya adalah sifat2 tamak, hipokrit, dengki, merelakan penindasan demi untuk menjaga poket, kedudukan, pangkat dan status, mempunyai sifat2 riak dan suka menunjuk2 kemewahan, memiliki sifat2 suka menjatuhkan kedudukan orang lain demi untuk mendapat sebarang pujian serta imbuhan, memutarbelit serta memberi fakta yang songsang demi kepentingan individu, memfitnah untuk menjatuhkan seseorang, menutup kesalahan pembesar2 negara, memiliki sifat2 duniawi serta ingin menongkat langit walaupun umur sudah tinggal 1/4 kepada tarikh luput dan seterusnya apa yang saya ingin tekankan disini adalah apa yang kita perjuangkan adalah tidak ikhlas dan lebih menjurus kepada keuntungan kepada pihak2 tertentu sahaja. Didalam ertikata lain kita tidak menghayati perasaan ehsan didalam setiap pejuangan ( “Munafikunn-Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin”)

Apa makna kita solat 5 waktu dalam sehari demi untuk mengharapkan ehsan dan pertunjuk dari Tuhan sedangkan kita tidak eksan terhadap makhluknya dan sering melakukan kekejaman, penindasan, penginiayaan dan membuat kerosakan? Kita berdoa siang dan malam untuk mendapat kemurahan rezeki TETAPI kita terlalu kedekut, tamak dan punyai hati kering terhadap bangsa yang seagama. Sebagai contoh kita lihat apa yang terjadi di Kelantan & Trengganu dimana rakyatnya 80% adalah dari bangsa Melayu & Islam. Mengapa minyak tidak terdapat di Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, China, Jepun dan mengapa Allah sengaja memilih negara Brunei, Wilayah Aceh di Sumatra, Kelantan & Trengganu? Kenapa mereka harus menerima atau digelar “Wang Ehsan” sedangkan ianya adalah hasil dari tanah mereka sendiri?

Apa guna kita menuntut ilmu yang tinggi, bersolat, berzakat sedangkan disepanjang umur kita tidak pernah ehsan sesama makluknya? Tuhan itu “EHSAN” sifatnya malah setiap firmannya dimulai dengan bacaan “Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang”. Kita seharusnya menyalahkan diri sendiri kerana ini adalah negera kita dan kuasa memerintah adalah terletak ditangan kita. Kita masih mempunyai masa untuk membetulkan diri serta menjauhi dari sifat2 “MUNAFIKUNN” yang kita telah anuti buat sekian lama serta membelakangkan fahaman politik tanpa dendam atau balas dendam demi untuk Bangsa & Negara. Wallahualam

Kampong man said...

Sdra Urang Awak,

1.Banyak yang saya setuju dengan komen sdra dan saya memahaminya walaupun saya bukam saorang ustaz.

2.Izinkan saya membuat pembetulan sadikit tentang fakta saudara Sebenarnya minyak juga terdapat di negara yang tuan sebut. Thailand juga adalah pengeluar minyak (est imated at 46, 800 barrel/day), Vietnam (340K barrels/day), China (4.14 million barrels/day)) dan Malaysia ( about 640 barrels/day , at peak of about 860 bpd in year 2004).

3.Dari segi definasi sempadan Kelantan TIDAK berhak menerima royalti minyak kerana tidak ada pengeluaran minyak di 'Territorial water' Kelantan.Walau bagaimanapun terdapat kawasan bertindih JDA (Joint Devopment Area ) antara Malaysia dan Thailand yang berhampiran dengan Kelantan yang juga menjadi isu besar.yang juga sedang didalam perbincangan di mahkamah.Ya,isu royalti minyak ini masih diperingkat mahkamah.Kita harapkan satu keputusan menang menang tercapai dan ia nya tidak di politikan.

Salam, terima kasih.

Kampong man said...

Salam Dato,

Sikit pembetulan typo .Pengeluaran Malaysia adalah 640K barrels per bday(bpd) .

Terima kasih.

hairel said...

Kampong man,

Purata pengeluaran (dalam Malaysia) tidak sampai 500k barrel per day. Ini sahaja milik Malaysia, pengeluaran di luar negara milik Petronas secara total.

About Me

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I was born in 1947 in Kedah. I came from a rice farming family. I have been a journalist since 1969. I am the Editor-in-Chief of magazine publishing company, Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd. I was Group Editor NST Sdn Bhd and Group Editor-in-Chief of NSTP Bhd between 1988 and 2000. I write fortnightly column “Other Thots” in the Malaysian Business magazine, Kunta Kinte Original in Berita Harian and A Kadir Jasin Bercerita in Dewan Masyarakat. Books: Biar Putih Tulang (1998), Other Thots – Opinions & Observations 1992-2001 (2001), The Wings of an Eagle (2003), Mencari Dugalia Huso (2006), Damned That Thots (2006), Blogger (2006), PRU 2008-Rakyat Sahut Cabaran (2008), Komedi & Tragedi-Latest in Contemporary Malaysian Politics (2009) and Membangun Bangsa dengan Pena (2009).