How not to run a national oil company (Update)

UNTIL about 5pm last Monday evening, Malaysians at large did not know who was going to head their most valuable company – Petroliam Nasional Bhd.

During a town hall meeting that started at about 3pm, many within the organisation had the impression that president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Shamsul Abbas would stay on as the 62-year did not give away any indication he was stepping down.