‘To bring about change, you must not want the job’

IN January, Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas, the-then president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), received a picture of his son in school from his wife. He broke down, realising how much he had missed the child growing up.

“I broke down ... where was I all these years?” asks the 63-year-old gangling oil industry veteran, who could easily be passed off for a Texan oil baron had he donned a “cowboy” hat.