Petronas to axe 1,000 jobs, reshuffle senior execs

Petronas is one of the biggest employers of Malaysians and has about 51,000 staff members, according to its 2014 annual report.
Petronas is one of the biggest employers of Malaysians and has about 51,000 staff members, according to its 2014 annual report. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysia's Petronas announced it is making about 1,000 positions redundant and reshuffling some senior executives after a strategic review, as the state-owned oil and gas company tries to cope with the hit from a plunge in oil prices.

Petronas is one of the biggest employers of Malaysians and has a staff strength of about 51,000 people, according to its 2014 annual report.

A 70 per cent slump in crude prices since mid-2014 has been squeezing the finances of oil companies globally, including those of Petronas, which accounts for about a third of the Malaysian government's oil and gas revenue.

Earlier this week, the company posted a quarterly net loss and confirmed plans to cut spending by RM50 billion (S$16.8 billion) over the next four years.

Petronas said in a statement on its website yesterday that it was making efforts to re-deploy employees affected by the redundancies. "Petronas will further embark on a separation exercise for these employees as needed, which is expected to be completed over the next six months," it said.

The announcement was made after president and group chief executive Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin addressed employees in a much-anticipated town hall meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Under the review, leadership changes from within the organisation have also been made, which will take effect from April 1.

The statement said that some executives, whose service contracts have come to an end, are leaving the company.

The leadership line-up has Mr Mohd Anuar Taib as the new executive vice-president and chief executive officer for the upstream division, replacing Mr Wee Yiaw Hin.

Petronas said that the new structure, aimed at a flatter, leaner and more efficient business operating model, was to enable the company to better navigate the organisation through the tough external environment.

REUTERS, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 02, 2016, with the headline Petronas to axe 1,000 jobs, reshuffle senior execs. Subscribe