SAMUR Project for Developing Sabah - Well Done Sabahans!

Politicians - you can't live without them. If you need something done, you either become a politician or have a politician get it done for you.

In the case of Sabah, the people made their voices heard and demanded that they be given a larger slice of the development pie. And they got it.

Well bargained and done, Sabahans! Well bargained and done.

The following is the Media Release issued by PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) on the Sabah Ammonia Urea (SAMUR) Project.

-----------------------------

PRIME MINISTER OFFICIATES GROUNDBREAKING FOR SAMUR PROJECT

Sipitang, February 16: PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG), a subsidiary of PETRONAS, today held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Sabah Ammonia Urea (SAMUR) Project in Sipitang, Sabah. The event was officiated by YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Hj Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the RM4.5 billion project marks an important milestone for PETRONAS in its continuous efforts in developing and adding value to Malaysia’s oil and gas resources in line with the Government’s economic development and transformation initiatives.

The event also symbolises PETRONAS’ commitment to further spur the growth of the oil and gas industry in Sabah, supporting the Sabah Government’s Halatuju, the master plan to bring development and progress to the State.

Located in Sipitang Oil & Gas Industrial Park, the world-class SAMUR Project forms an integral part of PETRONAS’ overall downstream plans to optimise the value of the oil and gas resources found offshore Sabah, currently being developed in an integrated manner by PETRONAS.

“The development of the project is expected to act as a catalyst to the growth of Sipitang and its surrounding area, widening the manufacturing base of existing industries and promoting other spin-offs for the State’s socio-economic benefits”, said Chairman of PCG Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, who is also the Executive Vice President of PETRONAS Downstream Business.

The project will also provide a myriad of professional and technical employment opportunities for Sabahans. In this regard, PCG has embarked on a training programme at its various chemicals plants in Malaysia for Sabahan technicians, in preparation for SAMUR’s operation beginning 2015.

Riding on the strong agricultural growth in the Asia Pacific region, the project is part of PCG’s strategy to grow its fertiliser business in this important market. The project strengthens PCG’s position as a key regional fertiliser player, while supporting Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programme that focuses on the agriculture sector as one of the National Key Economic Areas.

The SAMUR project consists of a urea plant, a granulation plant and an ammonia plant, as well as utilities and jetty facilities. The urea plant will produce 1.2 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of granulated urea, while the ammonia plant will produce 740,000 mtpa of liquid ammonia.

This will potentially position PCG as the second largest urea producer in South East Asia, as the new plant would almost double its current production capacity. Currently, PCG operates two urea plants -- a 750,000 mtpa urea plant in Bintulu, Sarawak and a 683,000 mtpa urea plant in Gurun, Kedah.

PETRONAS News - PETRONAS kicks-off 2011 Grand Prix Ground Promotional Activities

With barely a week to the 2011 Formula 1™ PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix on the weekend of 8 to 10 April, PETRONAS kicked off its ground promotional activities on 2 April 2011. The centre of the company’s activities is at the 2011 Formula 1™ PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix Showcase at Suria KLCC with a host of daily programmes.

The highlight of the activities at the showcase was the special onstage appearance by the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team drivers, Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg on Wednesday, 6 April 2011 from 5.30p.m. Both drivers also indulged their fans in an autograph signing session that afternoon.

In addition to daily trivia activities that offer participants the chance to walk away with attractive prizes, visitors can also participate in a simulator challenge. The showcase also includes the retailing of exclusive range of PETRONAS Motorsports and MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team merchandise as well as the retailing of MERCEDES-BENZ’s range of premier items for the first time.

Visitors can also view the exclusive range of timepieces by MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team partners, Graham London and the range of lubricant products by PETRONAS’ retailing arm – PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad.

Also on display at the showcase are the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team’s MGP W02 race car and Mercedes-Benz’s top of range version of the marquee’s four-door coupe; the CLS 63 AMG road car.

The 2011 Formula 1™ PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix showcase will end on Sunday 10 April 2011. For more information on PETRONAS’ activities visit http://www.petmos.com.my/ or onfacebook page: www.facebook.com/PETRONASMOTORSPORTS

Journalist Laureate Award Goes to Journalism’s Unsung Hero

The MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Award of “Tokoh Wartawan Negara” (Journalist Laureate) 2009 was awarded to Dato’ Liew Chen Chuan, the Group Managing Director and Group Editorial Director of Sin Chew Media Corporation, during an award ceremony held at the Sime Darby Convention Centre on 6 October 2010.

Hailed as “journalism’s unsung hero” by his peers, Dato’ Liew, or better known as “CC”, is the only journalist who has served under all six Prime Ministers of Malaysia. With nearly half a century at Sin Chew, he is at the pinnacle of his career as a professional journalist, rising from the ranks to become both Group Managing Director and Editorial Director of the newspaper.

Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) Datuk Chamil Wariya said, during the award ceremony’s welcoming speech, that the criteria for choosing a “Tokoh Wartawan Negara” is continuous excellence in writing and publishing; impact of his intellectual contribution to the community of readers of his publication; effectiveness, contribution and activities in his media organisation as well as other non-governmental media organisations; and leadership, prominence and assiduousness.

“Based on such criteria, not a lot of journalists could be considered for the ‘Tokoh Wartawan Negara’ award,” Datuk Chamil observed, implying that a highly accomplished journalist like Dato’ Liew is few and far between.

The MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Award of “Tokoh Wartawan Negara” (Journalist Laureate) 2009 was presented to Dato’ Liew by guest of honour YB Datuk Wira Abu Seman Bin Yusop, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.

Also present was En Mohammad Medan Abdullah, PETRONAS’ Senior General Manager of Corporate Services.

Speaking on behalf of Minister of Home Affairs YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Datuk Wira Abu Seman acknowledged the contributions of journalists and the instrumental role they play in nation building. He also reminded journalists to fight hatred, senseless conflict and prejudice. “Avoid putting forth baseless arguments, and encourage dialog and harmony. Do not become arrogant and prideful, insensitive, inaccurate, overly biased and overly sensational. Give priority to what is good for our nation,” he said.

Before ending his speech, Datuk Wira Abu Seman congratulated Dato’ Liew and assured the journalism community that the Ministry of Home Affairs remains committed to working strategically and closely with the media for the long term.

Interestingly, Dato’ Liew’s accomplishments were so remarkable that the panel of judges who assessed his candidacy for the “Tokoh Wartawan Negara” award need not comprise of anyone who could read or speak Chinese.

As Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, Journalists Laureate for 2006 and Chairman of the Selection Panel asked rhetorically, “How could a panel of judges comprising people who are not native speakers of Mandarin or any Chinese dialect preside over the judging of a ‘Tokoh Wartawan Negara’ like CC?” After detailing Dato’ Liew’s extensive accomplishments, Tan Sri Zainuddin remarked, “CC Liew, the unsung hero in the realm of Chinese media publication, has all the qualities of a ‘Tokoh Wartawan Negara’.”

During his acceptance speech, Dato’ Liew said, “I am humbled by the great honour fellow journalists have bestowed upon me. I see it (the award) as recognition, not my personal efforts but, of the role of Sin Chew daily in journalism and nation building.”

He added, “As a daily newspaper, our primary function is to serve our readers. If we serve them well, we develop with them a relationship of mutual respect that is enduring and rewarding. If we don’t serve them well, well, they have plenty of alternatives – other newspapers, other media. I’ve always believed that with good views and sincerity, no problem is beyond solution. Having said that, we (Sin Chew), as a newspaper, are fully cognisant of the sensitivities of certain matters, especially those not enshrined in the (Federal) Constitution – we know how far we can go in a rational discourse.”

Dato’ Liew went on to explain that established media organisations and journalists maintain certain standards and discipline to ensure that informed debate does not result in harm to society. Although the modes of communication are changing, certain journalistic principles remain immutable. They are truth, accuracy, fairness and balanced presentation.

“At the same time, if writers or publishers are careless about the possible consequences on public order as a result of what they write or publish, they must face the music. I believe in freedom of the Press, but with freedom comes responsibility. But again, punishment must be in accordance with the law and not administrative fiat, and the law must be fair, just and not oppressive,” he added.

------------------------------------

About Dato’ Liew Chen Chuan

Malaysian, aged 72, Dato’ Liew is a highly accomplished journalist of 48 years.

He joined Sin Poh (Star News) Amalgamated Malaysia Sdn Bhd (former publisher of Sin Chew Daily) in 1961 as a reporter, and was made Editor-in-Chief in 1981. He was appointed as the Executive Director of Sin Chew on 1 April 1991, and was re-designated as Managing Director effective from 1 September 2004.

He serves as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Sin Chew (since 15 September 2009) and is the Senior Advisor to the Group Executive Chairman of the Company. He sits on the board of Yayasan Sin Chew as a trustee and holds directorships in several private limited companies.

Under his editorship, Sin Chew has become the largest and most influential Chinese media group in Malaysia. After a corporate restructuring, the group is now part of an enlarged entity known as Media Chinese International Limited, which is listed both in Malaysian and Hong Kong stock exchanges. It has become a significant global media player and is the biggest Chinese media group in the world outside of mainland China.

Concerned with improving conditions for the working journalists, Dato’ Liew plunged himself into building up the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) when it was in its formative stage. He became its General Secretary for five years, which is unprecedented, as this key position would normally be held by someone from the English newspapers.

One of his concerns was to bring journalists from Utusan Melayu back into NUJ’s fold to ensure a balanced representation of working journalists in the country. Since then Utusan journalists have been playing a significant role in the NUJ, often holding the Presidency.

Dato’ Liew was a member of Advisory Council of the Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA).

He is also the Advisor to the World Chinese Media Research Centre of Beijing University.

-----------------------------------------------

About the MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Award of “Tokoh Wartawan Negara” (Journalist Laureate)

The award was introduced by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) in 1988 to acknowledge those who have greatly contributed towards the development of journalism in the country, through their writings as well as their actions.

Nominations for the award can be submitted by media organisations or media related bodies and individuals.

Previous winners were:
1) 1988 - Allahyarham Tan Sri Abdul Samad Ismail

2) 1992 - Mendiang Tan Sri Lee Siew Yee

3) 1995 - Allahyarham Datuk Dr Ishak Muhammad

4) 1998 - Allahyarham Tun Mohammed Fuad Stephens

5) 1999 - Allahyarham Tan Sri Melan Abdullah

6) 2000 - Tan Sri Mazlan Nordin

7) 2006 - Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin

The prize for “Tokoh Wartawan Negara” has been included into PETRONAS’ sponsorship of MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Award, beginning 2009. The winner of “Tokoh Wartawan Negara” receives RM30,000 in cash from PETRONAS.

Yes, PETRONAS has a Sense of Humour

This year's PETRONAS Raya ad is no tear jerker. Breaking away from the formula used in previous PETRONAS adverts, this year's Raya ad is hilarious bordering on irreverent, whilst carrying an important social message - give and take.

I love how the male actor in the ad sounds a lot like and even looks a little like the late Tan Sri P Ramlee. And the whole retro setting is classic!

At the same time, the give and take message can be applied to other social considerations, including driving carefully and considerately on the road.

I love this ad. I think it's the best ad since the passing of the late Yasmin Ahmad.

And yes, PETRONAS has a sense of humour.

End of a PETRONAS Era

One of the most important men in Malaysia has just left the PETRONAS building. Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican clocked out for the last time at Tower 1, PETRONAS Twin Towers, KLCC at about 6.15 pm yesterday.

For PETRONAS staff, it marked the end of great era, one that started with the late Tan Sri Azizan Zainul Abidin being appointed as Chairman of PETRONAS and ended with Tan Sri Hassan stepping out of Tower 1 for the last time as President and Chief Executive Officer.

Three fundamental things describe this era - PETRONAS' embarking on a strategic globalisation programme to augment Malaysia's crude oil and gas reserves, adding value to its core business, and providing exciting new challenges to its young employees who form about 70% of the PETRONAS population.

From the rousing send-off Tan Sri Hassan received yesterday from more than 1,000 able bodied staff who filled the PETRONAS lobby to the brim, the consensus among the PETRONAS people is clear. Tan Sri Hassan - the embodiment of PETRONAS' Shared Values of Loyalty, Integrity, Professionalism and Cohesiveness - has discharged his duties with excellence.

Well done, Tan Sri. Well done, indeed.

You will be missed.

We are also happy for you. While we see the sadness in your eyes, from the expression on your face, we also see relief - great and utter relief.

Such a great burden has been lifted from your shoulders. How liberating it must be for you.

Yes, we will continue to soldier on in memory of you and in honour of your sacrifices.

Yes, we will support your successor as you have asked us to. And as you have shown us how, we will continue to work hard for the sake of the nation and corporation.

















-----------------------------

Addendum: The new PETRONAS President came in today. His first message written from his desk was comforting and inspiring.

Here's to a bright future for PETRONAS under Dato' Shamsul Azhar Abbas.

Tie-up with Mercedes GP - Go, Go, PETRONAS!

With so much negativity hurled at PETRONAS lately, it's good to know that an overwhelming majority of Internet-connected Malaysians are behind the national oil company's move to sponsor the Mercedes GP "Silver Arrow" team, whose principal driver is none other than 7-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher. Check out the reader feedback section at Paultan.org and see for yourself (click on the links below).

The Internet, as we know, is filled with left-wing supporters who are very vocal in expressing their disagreements with the government of Malaysia. When it comes to PETRONAS' tie-up with the Silver Arrow team, such people are generally full of praise.

Perhaps the move by PETRONAS appears left-wing enough that it merits their praise. Or perhaps, they see it for what it really is - a purely commercial or business move on PETRONAS' part to further enhance its brand value through the Silver Arrow tie-up.

By backing a marquee like Mercedes, PETRONAS is enhancing the attractiveness of its line of lubes, particularly the Syntium line. In layman terms, if Syntium is good enough for a Mercedes, then it's more than good enough for any other car.

What's more, with Schumacher adorning the PETRONAS logo, the multi-fold returns on investment for PETRONAS goes almost without saying.

Of course, some people are not too happy. One of them is Alex Yoong who reportedly said that he is ashamed because of the PETRONAS tie-up with Mercedes GP.

Well, he has been bashed left,right and centre for it - I need not add further to the bashing here.

I just want to point out that, as per its mission statement, PETRONAS is a business entity first and foremost. Hence, it needs to do what it must to stay afloat.

At the same time, its mission objective is to contribute to the well-being of the people and nation. It has done this by giving back more than RM471 billion since its incorporation in 1974 - a feat unmatched by other Malaysian corporations.

And it's not doing it simply by taking and selling oil and gas from Malaysian waters - revenue from international operations in 2009 surpassed the RM100 billion mark and continues to be the biggest contributor to PETRONAS' revenue.

Over and above that, PETRONAS is still doing its part to support Malaysia's interest in F1 by sponsoring the Malaysian round. So, no one, not Alex Yoong, not anyone has the right to shame PETRONAS for not sponsoring the 1Malaysia F1 Team (1MF1T).

F1 is a business. If Tony Fernandes et al don't have a profit model for 1MF1T, then they have no business being involved in F1.

If Fernandes is able to pull another rabbit out the hat for 1MF1T the way he did for Air Asia, then he can can come back to PETRONAS in a couple of years to present a tie-up proposal. At the same time, if 1MF1T turns out to be a winner, he wouldn't have to because there would be others for Fernandes to consider.

------------------

Addendum - click on the following links to Paultan.org
http://paultan.org/2009/12/22/alex-yoong-ashamed-with-petronas-over-mercedes-gp-sponsorship-deal/
http://paultan.org/2009/12/23/mercedes-gp-petronas-formula-one-team-official-renderings/#comment-285963

Ford's Autoconnexion Still Uses Crappy Castrol Motor Oil

Here I am at Ford's Autoconnexion service centre again, waiting for my car to be serviced. Again, I'm wondering why I should bother to come back here once the 3-year warranty period for my Ford Focus S2.0 is over.

Why? It's because of my sheer displeasure with Castrol motor oil.

Yes, Castrol sponsor's Ford rally teams and has been a key player in Ford's string of successes in WRX. But that doesn't mean Castrol motor oil is necessarily good for my Ford Focus S2.0.

My bad experience with Castrol began when Ford's Service Centre in PJ offered to put the Castrol Edge 0w30 oil into my engine to make it lighter and smoother.

Bull! For a while, the engine felt lighter, but then, it became jerky and inexplicably rough.

So, I swapped the stupid 0w30 oil for the Castrol Magnatec 10w40 oil. Although the roughness and jerkiness dissipated, they didn't really go away.

In fact, at times, the engine became really jerky and rough.

What the hell?

Out of desperation, I bought a 4L bottle of PETRONAS Syntium 3000 5w40 motor oil and topped up my Focus' engine oil.

Lo and behold, the jerkiness dissipated to almost non-existent.

No doubt the damage by Castrol motor oils has been done, the Syntium 3000 managed to rehabilitate my engine, albeit slowly.

So, here I am, at Ford's Autoconnexion service centre, waiting for my car to be ready. As soon as it's done, I'm going to whip out the Syntium 3000 and, in plain sight of the supervisors and mechanics, top up my engine oil with it.

Early next year, I'm going to have a little chat with the manager of the service centre. If he won't let me use Syntium 3000 fully for the next oil change, I'm taking my business elsewhere...

Two Weeks of Virtual Hell at the Towers

The last two weeks were horrid - budget planning cycle presentation (and grilling), publication deadlines, little sleep, etc.

So, what do I do the first chance I get to be on leave? I'm working on my laptop using wireless broadband!

Have I gone nuts?! I can't seem to wind down.

I've become a trained monkey! Work! Work! Work!

And I'm enjoying it! Oh! The horror...

Looking back, the two weeks of virtual hell wasn't all bad. There were moments of comic relief among my staff.

And then, the two weeks culminated in my company's Policy Address by the President & CEO.

One of his most memorable remarks is this: "I would have failed the corporation and I would have failed my conscience if there is no one within this organisation who can replace me..."

For that, I truly admire him.

Yes, I'm rambling, but I'm blogging again.

Next entry would be on cars.

Stay tuned.

PETRONAS Receives ‘Most Valuable Malaysian Brand’ Award for 3rd Time

For the third year running, the PETRONAS Group has captured the number one position in the Brand Finance’s league table of ‘Malaysia’s Top 50 Brands’. The brand ranking is based on the 2009 Brand Finance Report on Malaysia’s Intangible Assets and Brands produced by Brand Finance Singapore. According to the report, PETRONAS’ brand value for 2009 increased by 29.3 per cent to RM10.709 billion from RM8.279 billion in 2008, and has a brand rating of AAA- (extremely strong, with ‘+/-’ showing a more detailed positioning in comparison with the general rating group).
Brand Finance plc’s Chief Executive Mr David Haigh, who presented the award, said, “2008 saw the oil and gas industry operating in a highly challenging environment with escalating costs, forcing companies to incur high capital expenditures. Despite this, the PETRONAS Group managed to contain the impact of rising costs, and posted a 21.2 per cent and 31.5 per cent increase in revenue and net profit respectively from 2007. PETRONAS’ performance has also, in part, benefitted from the higher average oil price in 2008 compared to previous years.”
Mr Haigh added that PETRONAS is a company “that does its community service diligently, by quietly going away and doing it, which is quite different from most companies. PETRONAS always delivers and it comes out from the heart. That’s why PETRONAS is the No. 1 brand.”
Receiving the award on behalf of PETRONAS was Group Corporate Affairs’ General Manager for Strategy & Performance, Pn Noor Afiza M Yusoff. The award was presented at a ceremony held at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur on 25 June 2009.
Trailing PETRONAS in the Top 10 list of the Most Valuable Malaysian Brands are Genting Berhad, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Maxis Communications Berhad, YTL Corporation Berhad, Sime Darby Berhad, Malayan Banking Berhad, Telekom Malaysia, IOI Group and Resorts World Berhad.
AirAsia Berhad emerged as the Best Performing Malaysian Brand. “It has bucked the trend followed by other airlines that have reduced capacity and frequency of air travel, thus demonstrating resilience, tenacity and prowess,” said Mr Haigh.
Moving forward, he noted that large and stable brands with significant reach and share of voice would “gain exceptional market share in 2009, as short-sighted competitors blindly cut brand support during these challenging yet opportunistic times.”
He added that the question that brand owners should ask is, ‘What should be done to prepare for the upturn of the economy?’ “Now is the time to prepare and invest; more deeply understand the drivers to your brand value; sharpen your brand’s positioning and key points of difference; ensure organisational alignment to support consistency of brand delivery; increase value by acquisition; and promote and internationalise your brand.”
The Brand Finance Report on Malaysia’s Intangible Assets and Brands is based on an independent and unbiased analysis, according to Brand Finance Singapore. The objective of the report is to highlight that Malaysian companies can do more to leverage the value of their intangible assets and brands.
According to the report, the total value of Malaysia’s 50 largest brands and brand portfolios is RM61 billion, representing a 5.8 per cent decline over last year’s study. In addition, the brand values of most companies have decreased, especially for those in the banking industry due to the subprime crisis that affected the global financial market.
The Brand Finance Report uses the ‘Royalty Relief’ methodology, which is based on the notion that a brand holding company owns the brand and licenses it to an operating company. The notional price paid by the operating company to the brand company is expressed as a royalty rate. The Net Present Value of all forecast royalties represents the value of the brand to the business.