Happy Chinese New year of the TIGER.

I would like to wish all my chinese visitors of this blog HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE TIGER. May 2010 be a very good year for all of us.

Terima Kasih Hassan Merican.

Yesterday was a sad in the KLCC area as it is the last day in office for Petronas CEO Hassan Merican. Mainstream media reported some of the Petronas staff cried. It is always my belief that CREDIT must be given when it is due especially when a person have done a great service to the country and his services is not appreciated by the PM. After completing my HSC in St.Johns Institution in 1980,I was offer a job as an audit clerk in June 1981 by the accounting firm of Hanafiah,Raslan and Mohamad (HRM). The person who offered me the job is none than Hassan Merican who at that time was the staff partner of the audit firm based at 7th Floor Bangkok Bank Buliding.

I will also express my greatest appreciation to the late Tan Sri Basil Ismail who is the person responsible for recruiting Hassan into Petronas.In 1984, Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Berhad(BBMB)was badly hit by the Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal due to corruption by its directors and certain of Malaysia top politicians at that time. In order to keep BBMB afloat,Petronas money was pumped in and Tan Sri Basil who was then the chairman of Petronas was installed as chairman of BBMB. As HRM was the external auditor for BBMB, the partner in charge was Hassan Merican.Both of them was instructed by the then PM Tun Dr Mahathir to clean up the mess in BBMB.After completing the job in BBMB, Hassan took up Basil offered to become Vice President Financial Services of Petronas and the rest as they said is history.

I would like to take this opportuinity to say " TERIMA KASIH " to Hassan Merican for the following reasons:-

Firstly, for giving me a job. I was young and inexperience then but I have learned and gain a lot of experience during my 5 years at HRM.

Secondly,For making Petronas the only FORTUNE 500 COMPANY in Malaysia.

Thirdly,for making Petronas as a company that break record profit year after year. Petronas currently sponsor 45% of Malaysia govt budget and The bonds issued by Petronas is currently rated higher than the bonds issued by the govt of Malaysia in the international financial market.

Lastly, for being a "NO MAN" unlike Amokh in Khazanah who is a "YES MAN" to the PM. Thanks for being brave to say NO to the UMNO politicians.Thus,it make Petronas a great company.

Currently,the only worry is whether Petronas will become another PERTAMINA especially when the new Chairman and CEO is known to BE A YES MAN.I hope that Hassan will DECLINE Najib offer to be the PM oil and gas adviser.