Untouchable giant with ego problems: This is how Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Aman decribed the management of Petronas for it's failure to honour their promise to provide opportunities to the locals within the immediate vacinity of Kimanis and Bongawan once the development of Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) project which has been the most recent hallmark of sucess in putting Sabah as a major player within the national oil and gas industry.
Not even the officers within Petronas escape his honest and straight forward criticism; aptly being described as being 'very proud'.
Datuk Anifah expressed his frustration over the matter: stating that they ( the people of Kimanis and Bongawan) want to defend Barisan Nasional (BN) and Petronas but the projects are given to Koreans and outsiders. This leave the locals with nothing much a due other than watching the opportunity passed them by. He made it clear that The BN and the Prime Minister are not at fault but the Petronas management.
Staying true to his responsibilty to his constinuency, Anifah highlighted the obvious fact that opportunities promised for the locals in Bongawan and in Kimanis have not even reached 10 per cent in terms of implementation.
He expressed his dismay over the matter citing that circa 2003 to 2004, Petronas has made many promises in bringing the industrial development within the vicinity of Kimanis and neighbouring Bongawan. The Kimanis MP made a point that he 'do not want the locals to just watch and see opportunities they should be getting given to outsiders.' He said even the catering and putting up fencing were given to outsiders.
"We are given contracts worth RM5,000 or RM7,000 as if we are beggars when it is making millions. Even me as the Kimanis MP want to give them sand for the setting up of a co-operative but they rejected and gave others the opportunity.This is happening even to me as a MP, so what about the ordinary people here," said Anifah.
Anifah made it clear that up to this point, Petronas has yet to invite him in his capacity as the elected representative and as a Minister to hear its briefing on the types of opportunities they can give to the locals. Complaints from the locals here are channeled directly to him and not to Petronas: They complained they have yet to enjoy what was promised.They (the locals) see the development but not the benefits. Datuk Anifah made a poitn that Petronas management, including the new one, did not seem to care.
Anifah is fully aware that Petronas has its own 'towkay' although he was always on duty overseas. He said he resolved many Petronas issues outside the country and yet the company did not even thank him for it. He noted that Petronas is only thankful to the Prime Minister and not to the Federal Ministers in the Cabinet and other Mps.
He urged Petronas to give a briefing on the opportunities for locals including providing courses that could enhance their socio-economic status and directed his special officer, Datuk Awang Sahak Salleh, to set up a committee to attend the briefing.
Anifah is voicing out these dissatisfactions not to insult Petronas or portray it in a negative way but as a gentle reminder to Petronas to be more attentive to the locals in these two districts. He cautioned Petronas that the local communities would join him in taking action so that Petronas would learn to respect the people here. In his words, Anifah said that "If Petronas fails to brief us on the opportunities for which priority should be given to us, I will know what to do."
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