This Functional Family

I've spent a lot of time this year reflecting and overthinking. That means I'll be posting more here.

Sure, I could pour my heart out to my family but I haven't spoken to them, like really spoken to them, for a long time. We're not a touchy feely family anyway. My father rarely spoke of his childhood. I heard about my grandfather and grandmother mostly from my aunt. My mother is not a talkative parent either, the longest we ever spoke to each other was 6 years back over a half an hour phone call. My sister, well, we stopped seeing eye to eye since we were both primary school. Cousins? We never hang out together apart from when we were little kids.

But not to say they're not any good. I've had all the support I needed all my life without any shortage. My parents were determined that I got the best I wanted even when it was not what they wanted for me. I'm grateful that family never stands in my way of anything. They know very well that trying to stop me from doing what I've set my heart and mind to is an exercise in futility. Neither would them ask me to do things I don't want to.

But all said, I do feel that I'm really on my own in this life. Myself is all that I have. In other words, I'm alone.

And it's starting to get really lonely..

Re MAS (and Petronas)

Congratulations to Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin on his appontment to the chairmanship of Malaysia Airlines (also MAG).

I don't intend to repeat the wild theories as to why he retired (rather prematurely) from Petronas, the government's golden goose where Tan Sri spent his entire career.

But I do have several questions regarding these theories.

1. If it was related to politics, why not appoint some politician to the chairmanship? The government has made it clear they will appoint MPs to top GLC posts to ensure they are in sync to the government's policies (and not to reward those who support PM Mahiaddin's in Dewan Rakyat)

2. If Tan Sri Wan Zul is such a solid principled character who could not submit himself to the ruling government's power play, why would he accept the appointment instead of resign and decline any offer by the government to make his point? If really his retirement is of political nature?

Conversely,

If PM really thinks that the appointments in MAG and Petronas are to prepare these GLCs to weather the difficult times we're currently in, it looks like MAG has got the better side of the bargain since Tan Sri Wan Zul is a proven and tested business leader especially due to his experience in taking Petronas safely through the low oil prices crisis a couple years back. Will it not risk Petronas' readiness to change the guards mid-crisis? Especially as Petronas is of paramount importance to the government's finances, is it worth any level of risk, more worryingly, as Tan Sri Wan Zul's replacement is relatively young and inexperienced in a leadership role?

But anyhow, I do wish Tan Sri Wan Zul my very sincere best. He's definitely not one to shy away from making the toughest decisions - his tenure saw the first ever employees' downsizing at Petronas since its founding. I'll support Malaysia Airlines forever, for I am Malaysian, and that means I will still do even if I no longer serve this great company.