Thursday, March 18, 2010

Why was Hassan Merican replaced as Petronas CEO?

I blogged on the change of guard in Petronas earlier this year.

I was curious why one of our best known CEOs in Malaysia for Petronas did not have his contract renewed and my question in parliament was addressed to the Prime Minister.  I also asked why was Omar Mustapha appointed to the Petronas Board of Directors despite the objections from Tan Sri Hassan Merican.  Of course, the reply in parliament completely avoids the essence of my question. Read it for yourself.

Tony Pua meminta Perdana Menteri menyatakan sebab Tan Sri Hassan Merican telah diganti sebagai ketua eksekutif Petronas walaupun prestasinya adalah cemerlang sejak pelantikannya pada 1995. Apakah rasional Omar Mustapha dilantik sebagai pengarah Petronas, dan sebab perlantikan beliau ditolak oleh Tan Sri Hassan?


The answer:

Kerajaan tidak menafikan bahawa Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Hassan Merican mempunyai pengalaman yang luas dalam industri petroleum. Beliau juga telah berkhidmat dengan cemerlang dalam Petronas sejak tahun 1989 sebagai Naib Presiden Kanan Kewangan sebelum dilantik sebagai Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif dalam tahun 1995.

Perlantikan Y.Bhg. Dato' Shamsul Azhar sebagai Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif yang baru juga adalah berasaskan prinsip yang sama di mana beliau juga mempunyai pengalaman yang luas dan prestasi yang cemerlang semasa perkhidmatan beliau di Petronas.  Beliau mula berkhidmat dengan Petronas pada tahun 1974 dan pernah memegang beberapa jawatan kanan iaitu Naib Presiden Perniagaan Minyak, Naib Presiden Eksplorasi (Upstream) dan Naib Presiden Maritim dan Logistik.

Namun begitu perlantikan Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Petronas dan juga ahli Lembaga Pengarahnya adalah di bawah bidang kuasa penuh Y.A.B. Perdana Menteri berdasarkan pada Akta Pembangunan Petroleum 1974.

Tentang kenapa Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Hassan Merican menolak perlantikan Omar Mustapha sebagai Pengarah Petronas, persoalan ini haruslah ditujukan kepada beliau dan bukannya kepada kerajaan.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I met both Hassan Merican and Omar Mustapha and frankly Merican is so nice, you really wonder why he don't like OM. Merican is the kind of guy that can get along with just about anyone.

amoker said...

What a spin in the answer. It just does not give anything out eh?

Omar must be earmarked as the next Petronas CEO.. then you will ask the same question and the answer will be some vagueness about new blood not experience that is important.

Anonymous said...

"...perlantikan Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Petronas dan juga ahli Lembaga Pengarahnya adalah di bawah bidang kuasa penuh Y.A.B. Perdana Menteri berdasarkan pada Akta Pembangunan Petroleum 1974"

that simply tells you tony and also the public to shut up, as it is the prerogative of the PM

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's because National Servicemen do not like devious pirates.

Lee Wee Tak said...

Anom 8.42pm - spot on. pure arrogance of the PM in such dismissive tone

for a national petroleum company that contribute what...40% of national coffers and this is the accountability we get?


"Apakah rasional Omar Mustapha dilantik sebagai pengarah Petronas,"
- not a single word on this, so I gather no rasional but some element of unmentionable in Parliament whereby you have immunity...now what to hide there?

Anonymous said...

This guy does not have any experience in O&G. He's there as Najib's proxy to siphon off more money. So typical of the sucker!! He's cut-off so much funding for school & welfare activities to fund his 1programs and his wife's kindy, all unneeded by Malaysians. WE need that money for meaningful school activities, not more 1programs!

Jonathan said...

It's amazing how people can say something and nothing at the same time. I wish politicians were more direct and clear.