Najib: Why sideline Caltex and BHP?

PETALING JAYA: After news emerged that Petron had been appointed a fuel supplier for government vehicles, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak claims that the income of Petronas, a state-owned company that belongs to the rakyat, is being "disturbed".

In a statement on his official Facebook page on Friday (Aug 31), Najib asked why this was being done by the government.  

“Petronas has stations in nearly every area in Malaysia. Together with Shell, it is certain to be a sufficient combination for Malaysian government vehicles,” he said. 

“If the reason is touted as convenience, why sideline Caltex and BHP when they have almost the same number of stations as Petron?” he queried. 

Najib's statement came after a letter of appointment by the government went viral, fuelling questions of possible nepotism as Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son Mirzan is a director in Petron Corporation which owns Petron Malaysia.

Mirzan has reportedly been a director of the Filipino-based company since 2010.