Malaysian corporate scene in early 2015: Staying, moving up, moving out

PETRONAS. Some people won't be too happy with news that Shamsul 

Azhar Abbas, the Petronas boss, is most probably staying on at the national oil corporation, at least until the current doldrums in the oil and gas industry blows over. The rest of Malaysians are going to sigh in relief if the PM can confirm this as soon as he's recovered from the e-coli infection, insyallah. The nation needs the most steady, experienced (not to mentionfearless and independent) man at Petronas at this time, someone who can stand his ground against politicians and their little armies and Napoleons … 

1MDB. I'm not too sure what to make out of the change at the 1MDB. According to the Malaysian Insider a while ago, Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, the current CEO, is resigning after nearly two years and will be replaced by a Malaysian banker in Abu Dhabi by the name of Arul Kanda Kandasamy. Read the rest of the story and the usual awful comments h e r e. I can't complain. I have made my views public that if the CEO cannot or won't speak up in defense of the 1MDB, he should pack up and go. Of course, there is always the possibility that he would speak up AFTER he's no longer with the Fund. And at least AKK is not a Mat Saleh ….

MCMC. I hear the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has appointed Tengku Zaib Raja Ahmad as its acting CEO after Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi completed his term as CEO/Chairman on New Year's Day. The secretary general of the Communications and Multimedia Ministry Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad is acting as MCMC chairman. I'm not a fan of this "acting" business, I think they should leave that to real actors and actresses. The Minister, Shabery Cheek should name someone quickly to replace Sharil if that is, indeed, the plan. This is so that the regulator's functions won't be disrupted, it will also allow Sharil to move on to bigger things, which I have no doubt he will.

-rocky's bru