CORPORATE AGENDA ?
Top of the list of priorities of Petrolium Nasional (PETRONAS) the Malaysia National Oil and Gas business entity for the next financial year is to target a profit of USD114 billion, with USD9 billion slotted for its maritime and logistics arm, Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC).
This was revealed by unnamed sources of MISC to Webmaster.
"Failure is not an option", "Hire and fire" and "Contract to deliver" are the catch phrases that will drive MISC employees to achieve this objective.
It seems like a tall order but, as one senior executive, who refuse to be named, puts it: "There is a danger that we will be encouraged to perform, perform and perform; while putting our lives' other priorities taking the back-seat".
The executives have apparently lost their will to stand up for their rights when the President of their Executives Union was 'unlawfully dismissed' for apparently unwilling to abide to a secondment instruction issued by MISC Human Resources unit. Many of the union's executive committee were also unfairly treated, which many claimed, as the company tactics to discourage executive unionisation.
It was revealed that many senior executives and long-serving non executives, have left the company via the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) and Special Package (SP) in 2003 and 2004.
However, many executives are looking forward to April this year, when the company CEO announced the new remuneration package last month. The package is most probably one of the 'carrot' dangled in front of the staff, while the subtle hint of 'hire and fire' and 'failure is not an option' is the 'stick' that make up the "carrot and stick" approach taken to make the staff deliver the goods.
One ex-staff who left via the SP option in 2003 mentioned of the pressure he faced during the cataclysmic changes in the MISC organisation after MISC takeover by Petronas. "You're to work hard. Nothing wrong with that. But you're expected to work beyond the office hours, many days until 10.00 o'clock at night for almost everyday of the week. Many week-ends are also spent at the office! I decided that this is not for me. I mean the company does not own my soul, you know. So you're pushed and pushed, I think you would come to a point when you've to decide whether you should remain part of that system. No doubt you will be highly rewarded for your effort but at some point you may not be healthy to enjoy that reward. If my health suffers, my family will suffer. The company may find a replacement tomorrow if it loses me today. But my family will not have someone to replace me if something happen to me. So it is better to take my money (SP compensation) and make my exit".
Readers are welcome to comment on this matter.
Webmaster. (19/2/2005)he further re-organization will further squeeze all MISC staff to perform, perform and perform; with all their life's other priorities taking the back-seat