KOTA KINABALU: The oil and gas sector is the backbone of the nation’s economic growth, says Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ruslan Muharam.
He said Sabah, with its natural resources available, can and has been contributing significantly to the country’s economic prosperity.
“More than that, Sabah has the potential to be a huge part of the development of this industry,” he said in representing the Sabah Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.
Ruslan said in this era of transformation from conventional energy production and dependence to more advanced and sustainable technologies, it was necessary to introduce to schoolchildren the immense possibilities and potential of this industry.
“Both the state and federal governments are committed to supporting the growth of this industry in terms of education, training and human capital development,” he said.
PETRONAS senior vice president of Malaysia petroleum management Datuk Bacho Pilong said digital innovation and manpower readiness are the main drivers of the oil and gas industry
He said contrary to some beliefs, the oil and gas business is not a sunset industry but rather, an ever evolving and expanding sector.
He said with Malaysia being one of the largest oil producers in South-East Asia, and one of the world’s biggest liquified natural gas producers, it has to be ready to evolve and move with the changing times to fully tap on the potentials of this industry.
“As PETRONAS aims to produce two million barrels of oil equivalent in a day this year, industry players must ensure that apart from producing clean and cost effective energy sources, it is also important to make sure that a highly skilled, dedicated and trusted workforce are ready.
“PETRONAS is also working towards achieving a RM60bil investment commitment for the upstream industry in Malaysia,” said Bacho during a PETRONAS hosted Oil and Gas Career Day at the Sabah International Convention Centre here on Saturday (Jan 18).
He said the event, held in collaboration with Sabah Human Resources Development Department (JPSM) and Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) Sabah, aims to create a comprehensive platform offering career opportunities and valuable information on the oil and gas industry to the visitors.
“The event brought together more than 40 exhibitors including over 20 prominent oil and gas companies and service providers, offering more than 700 job opportunities across various industry sectors and I hope both parties benefited from this event,” he said.
Bacho said the industry needed a strong dependable workforce to meet technological and management requirements to run smoothly and grow bigger, therefore an interest in science and technology was paramount among students and graduates.
The event was attended by job seekers, final year students, alumni from various universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions as well as secondary school students.
The event highlighted PETRONAS’ commitment to nurturing future-ready talent and supporting the recruitment drive within the industry.
