FEB 16 — In the northern Malay slang, when something is rare and valuable, it is often referred to as “buat ubat”. Literally translated, it means for healing illnesses.
In a situation where Malays are being lampooned and parodied by members of their own race as much as by other races, it is heart warming to have an “ubat” like Hassan Marican (Tan Sri).
Since being cast aside from Petronas, allegedly over differences with the Najib government on board appointment, this Kedah-born former Petronas president and CEO is doing extremely well across the Causeway and beyond.
Hassan, who left the national oil company at the beginning of 2010, has been accepting directorship with several foreign firms in the energy sector.
He has accepted appointments to the board of Singapore government-linked companies like SembCorp Industries Limited, SembCorp Marine Limited and Singapore Power Group (SP). In Malaysia, he sits on the board of Sarawak Energy Berhad and, in the US, on the board of oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips.
Hassan, 58, led the Petronas board in disagreeing with Najib’s nomination of his close confidante, Mohd Omar Mustapha Ong, as a non-executive director. Omar came in and Hassan went out.
The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that Hassan is set to become chairman of Singapore Power Group Ltd (SP) in June, succeeding Ng Kee Choe, who will retire on June 12. It quoted Energy Asia, a news portal that focuses on the energy industry.
Singapore Power Group is a leading energy utility company in the Asia Pacific. It owns and operates electricity and gas transmission and distribution businesses in Singapore and Australia.
Of course, Hassan was not nominated to the 10-member board of SP because he is a Malaysian and a Melayu. He was appointed because he is good.
Back to Hassan the “ubat”, unfortunately he is now being engaged to keep Singapore healthy instead of being here in Malaysia, where we actually need more “ubat” and better “bomoh” to cure our many illnesses and maladies. Que sera sera. — kadirjasin.blogspot.com
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
