PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with five local universities to build Petronas stations within the compound of the universities.
Besides providing access to fuel, the space provided by the stations can be used to set up cafes and retail outlets.
PDB Managing Director/CEO Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin said plans are in the pipeline to create an innovation and entrepreneur hub at the stations, whereby, it will be a “co-working space” and “start-up incubator” for students to discuss possible business opportunities.
“The signing ceremony signifies our commitment to develop capabilities among the undergraduates. We want to play a more proactive role in equipping them with industry knowledge and know-how, so they can transition to the working world, seamlessly.
“We see this as a win-win partnership, where we work together with young talents to create innovations for the fuel retail business and at the same time, we provide them with a conducive platform to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and marketability, leveraging on our infrastructure and expertise,” said Syed Zainal.
He said the students would also be given the opportunity of learning the ropes in managing a fuel retail station under PBD’s entrepreneurship programme.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Education Minister Maszlee Malik, who said space should be allocated in the stations for a “reading corner”.
The Mou was signed by Syed Zainal on behalf of PDB with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s (UTAR) president and CEO Prof. Datuk Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO Prof Datuk Mohd Saleh Jaafar, Universiti Teknologi MARA’s deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Kamal Haron , Universiti Teknologi Petronas vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar.
