Malaysian Insider has reported that Petronas advisor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he had heard that another person would be appointed chairman of the national oil corporation, to take over from Tan Sri Hassan Merican but he did not know how far this was true. The former prime minister said he was only an advisor without executive powers and, as Petronas came under the jurisdiction of the prime minister, appointments to any post in the corporation would depend on the decision of Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Perhaps, this other person is more efficient than Hassan Merican. Perhaps, he can bring in more profits. How do we know?” he said when asked whether it would be the right move to replace Hassan as the chairman. Hassan is also the Petronas president and CEO.

There has been talk over the last several months that Omar Mustapha Ong, the special officer to Najib when he was the deputy prime minister, would be appointed a director of Petronas while former home minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar would be appointed chairman.