A more successful Petronas good for Sarawak, nation: PM

BINTULU: Petronas can play a bigger role in the development of Sarawak and the nation if it attains greater success, said Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
For this reason, the Prime Minister said he wants Petronas to be more successful as it is "the goose that lays the golden eggs for the nation".
He said this when addressing Petronas employees in Sarawak at the Civic Centre in conjunction with the national-level Malaysia Day 2016 celebration here.
Present were Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Petronas chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, Petronas Group Chief Executive Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin and over 1,000 Petronas employees.
Najib said Petronas was now a huge company with a high impact in the nation.
He said after its inception in 1974, Petronas made tremendous achievements not only domestically but globally.
"From being just a national oil company, it has transformed itself to be a multi-national and is perhap the only one to be able to make the transition in the whole world.
"It is now present in some 30 diffent countries around the world, helping to develop facilities and talents," he said.
Najib said Petronas was now the pride and joy of the country and a national icon.
"Now, we have to take care of Petronas. As the prime minister I want this to happen for it to continue to succeed," he said.
Najib said the current world oil scenario had presented Petronas with a difficult and challenging situation.
But he was confident it could prevail when the people were together.
"We must have this spirit of togetherness that we must build upon. There will be differences of opinions but we can sit down to amicably resolve them.
"Then we will be in an even stronger position," he said, adding that this was what the Sarawak state and federal governments and Petronas had done recently.
"We are not going to be too parochial because if we focus too much on this issue we will miss the big picture of Petronas becoming successful globally and not just at home," he said.
"We must be together. We can be together if we take account of the interest of Sarawak, the nation and Petronas itself.
"We can harmonise them for our mutual benefits," he said.
Najib also said that Petronas would continue to give opportunities to Sarawakians going far in Petronas based on merit.
"After all we want Sarawakians serving in Petronas in Kuala Lumpur and outside the country to be successful.
"When they are successful, Petronas will be successful and when it is successful the nation will benefit. The government will pour back to the people whatever it gets for development purposes," he said.
"If you have the capability, you should be promoted to higher positions,"he stressed.
Recently, Petronas faced some staffing problems in Sarawak when some employees were denied work permits but the matter was later amicably resolved.
Meanwhile, Najib also reiterated his commitmment to help Sarawak to develop and to be on par with states in Peninsular malaysia.
"I am committed to see more development for Sarawak. You do not have to worry about your future."he said. — Bernama