Uggah gestures as Abang Johari shows off his new Petros jacket given to him as a token of appreciation during a candid moment at the Petros launch. Also seen are (from left) Sharbini, Hamid, Medan, Zuraimi, Morshidi (partly hidden) Heng and Dr Rundi.
KUCHING: The setting up of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) is the best thing that has happened to the state, says its chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Hamid Bugo.
Though he admitted its establishment was a little late, it’s nevertheless ‘better late than never’ as Sarawak needed catalysts to sustain the social and economic growth required by its increasing population.
“Oil and gas has to be one of these catalysts. After all, they are our resources, or if you like, an engine of growth,” he said at the launch of Petros which was officiated at by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg here Tuesday.
Hamid added that the setting up of Petros required a lot of courage, given the present uncertain global situation in the oil and gas industry, which is “beset by low prices and unpredictable American presidential policies.
“But as the saying goes, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’. This is one statement we must be guided by to achieve our ambition.”
The former state secretary also noted that Sarawak was very fortunate to have a chief minister like Abang Johari who is willing to go the extra mile to make things happen.
“Petros will certainly be behind him and I also want to thank him for having the confidence in the six of us Board of Directors,” he said on behalf of the other five board members namely Datu Zuraimi Sabki, Sharbini Suhaili, Heng Hock Cheng, Dato Mohammad Medan Abdullah and Datin Josephine Hilary Dom.
He acknowledged that Petros is up for a huge challenge ahead especially with the volatile global situation in the oil and gas industry.
“It is even more challenging given that all oil and gas activities in Sarawak, although very substantial, are controlled and monopolised not by the state.
“Nevertheless, we have to be brave musketeers and combine our experience and expertise to face the rough seas of challenges.”
He also expressed his confidence that Sarawak would soon be in a position to exercise sufficient control over activities in the oil and gas industry in the state so as to be able to fully support Petros as a major player and contributor in the development of domestic oil and gas industry.
On Petros’ vision, Hamid said the company aims to be a major player in the exploitation and utilisation of energy in Sarawak with its role eventually as an active and fully integrated oil and gas operator across the value chain upstream, midstream and downstream.
“When all these happen, we believe Petros will be able to provide opportunities, employment and businesses for our younger generation in building their skills and expertise to the next level.”
He hoped that players in the oil and gas industry would not regard Petros as a disruptive competitor but
rather view the company as a facilitator, collaborator and government-linked entity that wanted to see values in working together.
“We want to share and in doing so benefit Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole. Like many other ventures, this gigantic task of making Petros cannot be achieved by us working in isolation.
“We need support from authorities and agencies. We need partners for capital and expertise and we plan to collaborate and work together with others in the industry.”
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani and cabinet ministers were among those present to witness the launch of Petros.