PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP) Award Presentation Ceremony 2017

Friday, 9 June 2017
Pullman Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

Salam Sejahtera

dan Salam 1Malaysia,

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Michael Manyin Anak Jawong, Menteri Pendidikan, Sains dan Penyelidikan Teknologikal Sarawak, mewakili Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg

Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohammad Morshidi bin Abdul Ghani, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak, yang juga Ahli Lembaga Pengarah PETRONAS,

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Raiha Azni Abdul Rahman, Naib Presiden Kanan, Pengurusan Sumber Manusia Kumpulan, PETRONAS,

Yang Berusaha Encik Adif Zulkifli, Naib Presiden Kanan, Strategi Korporat Kumpulan, PETRONAS,

Yang Berusaha Encik Shamsur Taha, Ketua, Pejabat PETRONAS Wilayah Sarawak,

Dif-Dif Kehormat,
Teman-teman warga kerja PETRONAS,
Rakan-rakan Media,
Para pelajar dan ibu bapa,
Tuan-Tuan dan Puan-Puan yang saya hormati sekalian,

Alhamdulillah, marilah kita bersama-sama merafakkan kesyukuran ke hadrat Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala kerana atas berkat limpah izin dan kurnia Nya jua, kita dapat bersama-sama bertemu di dalam majlis yang amat bermakna pada petang ini.

2. Terlebih dahulu, saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan selamat berpuasa dan menyambut Ramadan Al-Mubarak kepada semua umat Islam. Semoga ibadah kita pada tahun ini dapat disempurnakan dengan lebih baik daripada tahun-tahun sebelumnya, insya Allah.

3. Seterusnya, tidak terlambat juga untuk saya mengucapkan Selamat Hari Gawai sempena festival penuaian kepada Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri serta seluruh rakyat negeri Bumi Kenyalang. Garu Guru Gerai Nyamai, Lantang Ati Nuan Menua.

4. Bagi pihak PETRONAS, saya ingin mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih di atas kehadiran Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Michael Manyin Anak Jawong di majlis pada petang ini. Sesungguhnya, kehadiran Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri memberi makna yang sangat besar kepada semua warga PETRONAS, institusi-institusi lain yang turut terlibat dan terutamanya para pelajar dan ibu bapa yang hadir pada petang ini.

Para hadirin yang saya hormati sekalian,

5. PETRONAS akan terus giat dalam usahanya agar Negeri Sarawak serta rakyatnya menikmati manfaat secara langsung dan tidak langsung daripada khazanah negara kita. Kerana sebagai pemegang amanah khazanah minyak dan gas negara dan rakan kongsi Negeri Sarawak, adalah menjadi sebahagian daripada tanggungjawab PETRONAS untuk memangkin aspirasi kemajuan Negeri Sarawak, demi kepentingan Negara kita.

6. Usaha-usaha PETRONAS yang berjangka panjang untuk memperkasakan negeri dan masyarakat Sarawak akan berterusan selagi PETRONAS masih gah berdiri. Pembangunan modal insan ini disalurkan melalui inisiatif-inisiatif yang lestari berteraskan tiga fokus utama iaitu Pendidikan, Kebajikan & Pembangunan Masyarakat, serta Pemuliharaan Alam Sekitar.

7. Sehubungan itu, PETRONAS dan anak-anak syarikatnya terutamanya di Sarawak telah sekian lama menjalankan pelbagai program-program ‘Tanggungjawab Sosial Korporat’. Berbekalkan inspirasi untuk melunaskan misi PETRONAS iaitu “We contribute to the wellbeing of society”, kami akan terus mempergiatkan usaha dalam membantu:

i. Pertama, anak-anak muda Sarawak yang layak dan berpotentsi melanjutkan pendidikan ke peringkat Sarjana Muda di Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS dan juga ke universiti-universiti terkemuka di luar negara;

ii. Kedua, PETRONAS juga sedang mempergiatkan usaha untuk membantu masyarakat setempat yang paling memerlukan bantuan mendapat perhatian yang sewajarnya. Di antaranya seperti program Kenali Anak Kita PETRONAS yang memupuk kesedaran gejala sosial; program Sentuhan Harapan PETRONAS yang mensasarkan rakyat miskin tegar dengan peruntukan makanan asas serta latihan keusahawanan, dan juga Program Bantuan Bencana PETRONAS.

iii. Ketiga, inisiatif memelihara alam sekitar. Ini meliputi pembangunan Piasau Nature Reserve di Miri, Projek PETRONAS “Biodiversity, Environmental and Conservation” atau lebih dikenali sebagai Projek BEACON di Taman Negara Similajau di Bintulu. PETRONAS juga aktif di Taman Negara Tanah Bencah Kuching melalui Projek Eco Bako; serta Projek Perlindungan Pesisiran Miri. Dan terbaru sekali adalah Projek PETRONAS-SARAWAK FORESTRY Eco Marine di Taman Negara Terumbu Karang Miri-Sibuti yang telah dilancarkan sendiri oleh Ketua Menteri Sarawak waktu itu, Allahyarham Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Adenan bin Haji Satem, pada bulan Oktober tahun lepas.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

8. Today we celebrate the academic achievements of all deserving sponsorship recipients from Sarawak. This is part of PETRONAS continuous commitment to focus on educational initiatives, which we are certain will leave a positive long-lasting impact on the State of Sarawak.

9. In our effort to shape the future generation who are capable of continuously contributing back to the Nation, PETRONAS is executing several initiatives focusing on the Education pillar. These initiatives include:

i. Program Sentuhan Ilmu PETRONAS (PSIP), in collaboration with PETROSAINS. This program aims to improve the quality of education in primary and secondary schools through strengthening the basic academic and non-academic skills of students;

ii. Trust School programme in collaboration with Yayasan Amir. This is to drive sustainable transformation of public schools through Public Private Partnership, focusing on excellence and holistic student outcomes; and

iii. Program BUDI-PETRONAS, a collaboration with Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) that encourages and provides opportunities for Sarawakians from underprivileged families to pursue academic excellence at MRSM schools in Sarawak.

10. PETRONAS believes in a holistic education investment in building an empowered society. One of PETRONAS’ educational pride is the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme itself. Since 2003, 689 sons and daughters of Sarawak have received the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship to date. This year, PETRONAS is awarding 353 scholarships with an outlay of RM 134 million to eligible students, including 46 students or about 13% are from Sarawak who will pursue their undergraduate studies at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS and other top universities overseas.

11. Recognising that technical expertise is an indispensable part in developing Sarawak’s economy, PETRONAS in collaboration with several vocational institutions in Sarawak, embarked on a sponsorship programme for vocational training known as the Vocational Institution Sponsorship and Training Assistance, or better known as VISTA. Among the selected institutions under this programme is the Centre of Technical Excellence (CENTEX), Sarawak, Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Sarawak (AWISAR), Institut Latihan Perindustrian, ILP Miri, Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) Miri, Politeknik Kuching and Institut Kemahiran MARA Bintulu. Since it began in 1992, these institutions have benefitted from support for its infrastructure, programme improvement, and sponsorship of selected trainees. The quality of Sarawakian technical expertise amongst its youth directly correlates to the success of this initiative; which is why PETRONAS regards the VISTA initiative very highly. To date, 1,040 Sarawakian trainees have benefitted from this programme.

PETRONAS Sponsored Students and Trainees, Ladies and Gentlemen,

12. PETRONAS is emerging from one of the most challenging times in the recent history of oil and gas industry. The low oil price, continuous global economic and geo-political volatilities, coupled with rapid disruptive digital revolution, PETRONAS must remain focused and resilient to ensure it is ahead of the curve. We have to transform ourselves to be more agile in the areas of technology, collaboration, business models and most importantly, our collective behaviour that shapes PETRONAS’ organisational culture. Alhamdulillah, this has enabled us to stand proud today with commendable performance for 2016 as well as the first quarter this year. We remain the only Malaysian company on the Fortune Global 500 list and a National symbol of pride.

13. Likewise, each one of you joining the PETRONAS family today as a scholar and as a trainee, must be the example of what PETRONAS is all about. I am confident that you would not have achieved all that you have, if you had not work hard, continuously improving yourself and always benchmarking against the very best. Sometimes, you’ll make mistakes. It is all part and parcel of life. What’s more important is how you bounce back from those setbacks and move forward with the lessons learnt to be better! These solid foundations have been engrained unto you by your parents and guardians and it has enabled you to be where you are today. Therefore, we must never, ever forget our roots! It doesn’t matter where we come from, what matters is what we do with our lives. So, never forget our roots, especially those who enabled us to be what we are today. I say this of myself and of PETRONAS!

PETRONAS Scholars and Trainees,

14. Today marks a new beginning of your lives. A chapter that will require a lot more efforts, persistence and hard work. Remember our national cyclist, Azizulhasni Awang or better known as the Pocket Rocketman? It is truly a story of trials and tribulations. Nobody would have expected a pint-sized cyclist from Malaysia to become a Keirin World Champion, to beat riders who are big sized and “giants” literally, from Great Britain, USA, Canada and other great cycling nations. Many may not realise that his burst to victory was 10 years in the making. He believed in himself and worked really hard. He pushed the boundaries every day at his training. Some people laughed at him when he first started because of his size. Eventually, he won in a stunning fashion where he performed a wheelie right at the finishing line. Inspiring fellow Malaysians to win big.

15. So, each one of you must have your own version of Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for your education, just like our Keirin World Champion, Pocket Rocketman. Your must DREAM BIG. If people are not laughing at your dreams, your dreams aren’t big enough. And just like Azizulhasni Awang, I want you to really work hard at the goals you have set, so that you can make a positive impact to the world today. As Steve Jobs puts it, “to put a dent in the universe”.

16. You have so far fulfilled the dreams of your parents and family to be called a PETRONAS scholar or a PETRONAS Trainee. Today is the day you have signed up for greater responsibilities – not just to yourself and your family, but beyond – for PETRONAS, for the State of Sarawak and for the Nation. We know you can do it! Do make us proud.

17. Once again, my heartiest congratulations to all recipients. Make this time of your life an epic one. Believe in your talents. Honour your gifts. And go out there blazing to inspire the world. Good luck and ALL THE BEST!

Para hadirin yang saya hormati sekalian,

18. Akhir kata, bagi pihak PETRONAS, saya sekali lagi ingin merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Michael Manyin Anak Jawong, kerana sudi meluangkan masa menghadiri majlis pada hari ini. Saya yakin dan percaya kerjasama erat di antara PETRONAS dan Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak, serta institusi-institusi terbabit akan terus dipertingkatkan lagi dalam usaha kita bersama memberi manfaat kepada pembangunan modal insan di Negeri Sarawak dan Negara kita. Lebih daripada itu, saya yakin kerjasama erat dan bersepadu ini juga akan menjadi pemangkin kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi meliputi segenap industri di Negeri Sarawak, Insya Allah.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Wabillahi Taufik Walhidayah, Wassamualaikum Warahmatullahhi Wabarakatuh.