PETRONAS’ first service station PS TTDI opened its doors on July 3, 1981.
MUCH like in every other industry, the oil and gas sector has not been without challenges.
In 1979, the world over was hit by the second oil crisis. Malaysia was not spared and with the fuel retailing industry being largely monopolised by foreign operators back then, there was a need to ensure sustainable supply of fuel to Malaysians while reducing over-reliance on imported oil.
In response, PETRONAS set up three skid tanks to retail kerosene and diesel within Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, and this marked its foray into the retailing of downstream petroleum products and the birth of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB).
Two years later, it established its first full-fledged petrol service station in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur, while PDB was incorporated under the Companies Act 1965 on Aug 5, 1982.
PS TTDI continuously gives back to the community around TTDI KL.
Humble beginning
PETRONAS Station Taman Tun Dr Ismail (PS TTDI) opened its doors to customers on July 3, 1981, with a setup of only four pumps and a basic automotive workshop.
Four decades later, it remains synonymous with PDB’s growth, with expansions in the number of pumps and on-site partners.
Its growth, however, did not come without challenges.
A pioneer staff, Nor Azam Abd Karim, recalled: “Back then, the Petronas brand was unfamiliar to most and the confidence was not there. We knew we had to do something different. We then introduced the 5 plus 1 service and began to see more customers coming in, attracted by the value-add.”
The 5 plus 1 service unique to Petronas included a complimentary five-point vehicle check and a free windscreen wipe. Back then, the cars would come in with mud-covered windows due to road conditions, rendering the service necessary.
‘We are very closely linked to the community here (TTDI),‘ said Haslinda.
Lives simpler and better
PS TTDI soon became a local favourite and continued to expand its offerings and undergo upgrades to serve the community better.
In 2009, PS TTDI renovated its station to become a hyperstation offering convenience under one roof. Pos Laju was its first tenant, followed by KFC and Subway in 2010.
In 2019, the station underwent a facelift for its Kedai Mesra and in early 2021, a food service corner was added as part of the Makan@Mesra programme. Tealive was later added to the new offering within the station.
PS TTDI was also the first to adopt the world’s largest outdoor payment terminal with 15in (38cm) touchscreen display as part of PDB’s nationwide initiative to provide a faster and more seamless transaction process.
Wherever PDB operates, it always reminds its dealers to contribute back to the surrounding community that fuelled its growth.
PS TTDI dealer Haslinda Haron Kamar who took over the station in 2000 said: “We are very closely linked to the community here and always try our best to contribute and add meaning to community events to give back to the ones who have supported us all these years.”
The station is very involved with the TTDI residents association and also regularly helps out at nearby mosques, especially in this current climate which saw many seeking food aid.
It also contributed to an NGO – Bakti TTDI – to give away bubur lambuk during Ramadan and donation of essentials to the underprivileged.
What is more interesting is that the station has gone above and beyond to adopt SMK TTDI as its school of choice for over five years now.
PS TTDI underwent multiple upgrades over the years to better serve the community.
For Malaysians, by Malaysian
PS TTDI has paved the way for over 1,000 more stations and led PDB into commercial, lubricants, cooking gas and digital technologies such as Setel, which in the wake of the pandemic offers a safer refuelling option and delivery of Kedai Mesra items to the car to minimise contact.
All these happened within a span of 40 years. It’s a reminder of PDB’s early beginnings and the decades that followed, of how and why this journey began and for who it owes this illustrious journey to.
Before it coined its latest brand promise of making its customers’ lives simpler and better, it was already living it long before since the 1979 oil crisis.
This is a solution that has now become part and parcel of Malaysians’ lives.
