Malaysian Power Company Delays IPO

July 28, 2012

Sorry, was that ‘company’ or ‘country’?

Dateline 2012-07-04:

Malaysian power producer Malakoff Corp. Bhd. plans to delay its proposed $1.5 billion initial public offering because the company needs more time to prepare for the share sale, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Wednesday.

Malakoff, which delisted and was bought out by construction and power company MMC Corp. Bhd. five years ago, will move its listing to the first quarter of 2013 from the fourth quarter this year.

 


JP Morgan upbeat on Malaysian marginal oil fields

July 27, 2012

Dateline 2012-07-10:

JP Morgan Asia Pacific Equity Research is upbeat on Malaysia’s marginal oil field risk service contracts (RSC) due to the favourable risk reward, and local skillsets upgrade.

In a report issued on Monday, it said the first contract, valued at RM2.4bil saw Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) awarding it to a consortium comprising Petrofac, Kencana and SapuraCrest. The second (RM3bil) went to the Dialog-Roc Oil-Petronas consortium.

The most recent was Coastal Energy Co, listed on the Toronto and London Stock Exchange, for the development of the Kapal, Banang and Meranti cluster of small fields offshore Peninsular Malaysia. This was the third marginal oil field contract awarded out of 27 upcoming.


Wata’s HAZOP Course 2012-06-23

July 26, 2012

We survived. Wait for the nationwide tour. Those of you who came, and didn’t throw Vegemite jars at me, thanks. Those who did, where the heck did you find them?

And thanks to Mr. Kamal of Berwanger, who helped lead half the class in the roleplaying game.


More spark for Malaysia power sector soon

July 25, 2012

Spark, gas, hot air… recipe for an explosion. Doesn’t anyone look at the fire triangle anymore?

Dateline 2012-07-09:

Malaysia’s power sector which has been grappling with inconsistent gas supply in the first half of the year, is expected to see brighter days, now that issues are steadily being resolved.

Energy Commission chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Hasan said the country’s electricity demand is expected to sizzle, with annual growth ranging between three and four per cent until 2020.

 


Fuel subsidies must come to an end, says Malaysia PM Razak

July 24, 2012

Dateline 2012-07-03:

As Malaysia enters the developed world status, the country’s Prime Minister Najib Razak has said that the government must look at ending fuel subsidies in the near future.

The announcement has left some Malaysians worried that they could be forced to pay higher premiums even as minimum wages in the country remain somewhat stagnant.

“I have no problem losing the subsidies, but we also have look at increasing our wages to combat the extra money we’d be forced to pay,” transport driver Mohsen Saturk told Bikyamasr.com.

“We all want to keep moving forward, but the people can’t be lost in the process,” he added.


Saturday Star 2012-07-14 – Job Opportunities

July 23, 2012

To all readers, Ramadhan Mubarak (yes, I’m a few days late, not making up my own madhab). Be a bit more patient and tolerant to fellow beings, and start helping out those less fortunate then us. Invite me over for tarawikh prayers, iftar optional, wifi a must.

C’mon. Buy my recommendations, or through my Amazon store. I need the money to pay for my new camera. Where are those corporate sponsors? Or throw donations at me. Plus, it’s my birthday month, so spend a little extra.

If you need my help to submit your CVs, donate to the blog, and I’ll review your CV to see if it is worthy of my (and my associates’) expectations. If you can’t figure out how to donate, no need to ask.

  • I’m looking for a senior process engineer, 7+ years experience. Send your cv here . Also looking for process safety persons, lead piping designer, lead instrument engineer, and other seniors you think will catch my eye.
  • Talisman is looking to populate their Kinabalu team. And they are looking for an allocation engineer! Apply here, and visit their site.
  • Berlian McDermott Sdn. Bhd are looking for people. Visit the website, “Career page” under Asia Pacific to apply, or submit your CV  here.

May I suggest that readers try Bluestacks? Run your Android apps on your Windows tablet, so you can buy that Win8 tablet (and buy me one) without worrying you won’t have anything to play on it!

Support your local bookshop!  Bookalicious at The Summit Subang is a good choice. I think they focus on trilogies, quadrilogies, and other ologies. Tell them I sent you, and enjoy the look of perplexity on their faces. Those of you who have dropped my name, thanks!

You need to improve your Excel massage skills if you want to be an engineer. Here are some words to help you along.

  

Excel 2010 BibleExcel 2010 Power Programming with VBA (Mr. Spreadsheet’s Bookshelf)Excel for Scientists and Engineers: Numerical Methods

This week’s food promotion is … mee bandung Mooor. If you find nice places around PJ, let me know. I’ve tried the one across from the PJ State Police Station.


Special Report: Petronas chafes at its role as Malaysia’s piggy bank

July 22, 2012

Piggy bank is such a Malaysian unfriendly word. Porcine bank? Khindzir bank?

Dateline 2012-07-02:

State-owned oil company Petronas is tired of being Malaysia’s cash trough. Its growing pique at the government flared into public view here in early June at the World Gas Conference.

Chief executive Shamsul Azhar Abbas took to the stage and declared that the government’s policy of subsidizing fuel was plain wrong. A murmur ran through the crowd – his boss, Prime Minister Najib Razak, was sitting in the front row.

Moments later, Najib went to the podium himself to remind everybody that the subsidies – for which Petronas foots the bill – have “social-economic objectives.”

The subtext of that rejoinder: Malaysians pay among the lowest electricity rates and petrol-pump prices in Asia. While the government has vowed to “rationalize” that, it’s highly unlikely to happen before elections expected in a few months.

 


PM: Country can’t run forever on fuel subsidy

July 21, 2012

Yes we can, right up to the next election at least.

Dateline 2012-07-02:

The country cannot rely on fuel subsidy-driven consumption to prop up the economy in the long run, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He acknowledged that Malaysia has one of the lowest pump prices in Southeast Asia – second only to Brunei Darussalam – but pointed out that the country needed to reposition its oil-based revenue towards economic development.

“If we use all our riches to provide fuel subsidies, that will increase consumption. If we increase consumption, we do not build productive assets for our country’s future and, one day, oil will be depleted, there will be less oil, the amount of oil production will go down and at that time we will face a grave situation.

..


Dr M supports Petronas-backed mega Islamic bank

July 20, 2012

Ah… any comment I make is going to upset the left, right, conservatives, radicals and Jabba simultaneously. Who says I can’t create a lose-lose situation?

Dateline 2012-06-24:

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has voiced his support for a proposal to set up a mega Islamic bank with Petronas and pension funds being used to underwrite some of the US$1 billion (RM3.2 billion) in start-up capital.

The influential former prime minister insisted last night there would be nothing wrong should the government decide to go ahead with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) proposal to use an injection from the cash-rich state oil firm as “Petronas money is government money.”


Petronas awards 3 North Malay Basin gas fields to Hess Corp

July 18, 2012

Isn’t this really outdated. How do I get onto this gravy boat?

Dateline 2012-06-21:

State oil firm Petronas signed three production sharing contracts with the exploration arm of U.S. firm Hess Corp on Thursday, kicking off a $5.2 billion gas project off Malaysia’s east coast.

The North Malay Basin project, comprising nine gas fields about 300 km (186 miles) off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, is aimed at securing new gas supplies for Petronas as it faces a supply crunch.