Abang Johari speaks to reporters after the function. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The additional non-Muslim Bumiputera board member for Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) has to be ‘very experienced’, says Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
When approached by reporters after distributing sacrificial meat at Masjid Darul Hana in Petra Jaya here yesterday, Abang Johari replied to those asking who the non-Muslim Bumiputera board member would be: “Just be patient. We need a very experienced person. You can ask the board later.”
On the criticism by some netizens that the initial list of Petros board members lacked Dayak representation, Abang Johari remarked: “Actually we already have a Dayak on the board – (Datuk Mohammad) Medan Abdullah. He is a Kelabit.”
The chief minister added that he had no control over what individuals said online.
Last month, the Chief Minister’s Office announced the appointment of Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Hamid Bugo – a former state secretary who once served with Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd in Bintulu – as Petros chairman.
The other board members are Medan, who is Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd chief executive officer (CEO); Sarawak Energy Bhd CEO Sharbini Suhaili; state Public Works Department director Zuraimi Sabki; and Heng Hock Cheng, who served as managing director of Shell Gas and Power Malaysia before his retirement in October 2006 after 34 years of service encompassing areas of upstream, downstream as well as gas and power divisions.
Soon after the announcement, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas told The Borneo Post that Petros would appoint a non-Muslim Bumiputera to the board soon.
Uggah said he was tasked by the chief minister to look for a candidate.