Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a strategic partnership that will see both companies provide significant benefits spanning multiple areas of co-operation.

This strategic partnership between PETRONAS and TM is aimed at implementing five clusters that would increase both companies’ operational excellence and enhance their customer experience, leveraging on each other’s strengths and shared values.

The collaboration would see the two companies working on increasing the adoption of PETRONAS products amongst TM employees, starting with PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) extending its SMARTPay services to TM staff, which would allow cashless payments and increased operational efficiencies while providing significant savings on fuel costs each year for TM. Additionally, PDB and TM will be developing the next generation network infrastructure to enhance the former’s retail network and improve its customer service delivery at PDB stations.

PETRONAS will also collaborate with TM, via its information technology arm PETRONAS ICT, to explore data centre of the future. This would involve digitising PETRONAS’ data assets to improve data security as well as enhance user experience.

The partnership will also see PETRONAS and TM explore a smart park concept for KLCC. This initiative is aimed at not only improving the experience of patrons using the car park, but also increase the safety and security at the facility. PETRONAS and TM will also invest in a joint research covering areas concerning the oil and gas and telecommunications industries, such as building local competencies, knowledge exchange and the ‘Smart Helmet’ initiative, to encourage safety at the workplace.

PETRONAS President & Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, signed the MoU on behalf of PETRONAS while TM was represented by Dato' Sri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly, Group Chief Executive Officer, TM.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee emphasised that leading Malaysian companies must take the lead in working together and collaborating for greater success. “The opportunities are limitless – from solving current issues, providing support and services to co-creating and innovating future market offerings and solutions,” he said.

“Today’s signing marks the expansion of PETRONAS and TM’s existing working relationship. As we discover new ideas and strengthen our connections, I hope that this collaboration will not only provide benefits to PETRONAS and TM, but also to our industries, our customers and the nation. The whole of PETRONAS and I look forward in making this journey a success,” he added.

Commenting on the collaboration, TM’s Group CEO Dato' Sri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly said: “As the nation’s one and only company capable of providing the best connectivity and fully integrated telecommunications, ICT and smart services, TM, together with its business solutions arm, TM ONE, is proud to play its role as the strategic partner in establishing the ecosystem for PETRONAS’ digital transformation.”

“TM through TM ONE, the only enabler for businesses and public sector to realise full potential of their digital opportunities, is committed to deliver integrated business solutions that will fulfil the dynamic, sophisticated needs of business verticals including the oil and gas industry, especially in today’s digitally-connected environment.”

The joint collaboration involving TM and PDB, PETRONAS ICT, KLCC Property and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), sees the partners leveraging on each other’s strengths to create greater value and growth for the industry and Malaysia’s economy.