Mr. Divine Intervention
The incoming Malaysian Airlines’ MD Idris Jala spoke to a gathering of academicians in Penang on 25.10.2005. Among others, he outlined the need for the followings to turn MAS around:
- going for the impossible;
- anchoring everything on a profit and loss statement;
- Instituting discipline in action in a rigorous and relentless manner;
- Changing one’s leadership style depending on the team development; and,
- Praying for divine intervention.
Whoa…whoa.. wait a minute. Praying for divine intervention? I don’t think praying for any intervention from above is on the menu for a CEO. Imagine putting on your resume that kind of stuff. No wonder he got hired.
No, I am not saying it’s wrong to pray for any help but for a CEO to say that is kinda daft. A CEO is to make money or turn the company around financially, not to pray for miracles.
One more thing, why can’t the government hire someone more familiar with the industry, regardless whether or not he’s a Malay, Chinese or Indian or a foreigner. Look what Tony Fernandez has done to Air Asia. The reason is once again - Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) rubbish. Some politicians still think they are living in the 80’s, appointing Malays to top managerial positions just to show the people that they (the Government) have achieved a lot in creating Bumiputra entrepreneurs.
Well, the truth is quite the opposite, bumis are still lagging behind in almost everything.
1 comment:
Heheh, Jared... Idris Jala is no Malay!;-) He's a Kelabit, a fellow Sarawakian! And probably when he said divine intervention, he was refering to his christian God. Long ago, when I did my practical training in the Personnel Dept with Shell in Miri, Idris was one of the young guns in that dept. I think he'll make MAS turnaround. He seems capable and was managing director of Shell MDS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and executive director of Shell Malaysia Ltd, Gas & Power.
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