Anuar (left), newly appointed president and group CEO of Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd, and Ruslan, who moves from BPHB to become Sarawak Energy Bhd’s group CEO designate.
KUCHING (August 3): Two of Sarawak’s biggest corporations are seeing leadership changes, with Dato Ruslan Abdul Ghani leaving Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB) to take the top job at Sarawak Energy Bhd.
Sarawak Energy in a statement on Monday said it has appointed Ruslan as group chief executive officer (CEO) designate effective Sept 1, and that he would assume the role of group CEO on Nov 1, following the retirement of Datuk Sharbini Suhaili at the end of October.
Ruslan currently serves as president and group CEO of BPHB, a role he will conclude on Aug 16.
An engineer by training, Ruslan brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the energy and infrastructure sectors, including 32 years with Petronas in senior positions in Malaysia and abroad.
Sarawak Energy said he had played an instrumental role in the transfer of Bintulu Port from federal to Sarawak ownership during his tenure at BPHB.
Sarawak Energy chairman Datuk Ibrahim Baki said the appointment reflected the board’s confidence in Ruslan’s ability to lead the utility into its next phase of growth.
“His expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors, combined with his strong commitment to operational excellence and sustainability, will enable Sarawak Energy to continue advancing its long-term strategy while supporting Sarawak’s renewable energy aspirations,” he said
Ibrahim also credited Sharbini with growing Sarawak Energy into one of Southeast Asia’s leading renewable energy utilities, noting that he led the acquisition of the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant and maintained the group’s international investment-grade and domestic AAA credit ratings.
Ruslan’s departure sets up a change at BPHB, which said it had appointed Anuar Ismail as its new president and group CEO effective Aug 17.
Anuar, who hails from Sri Aman, has spent more than three decades in the energy sector. He began his career with Petronas in 1991 as a materials analyst at Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd’s Sarawak operations, and served as Petronas’ country chairman in South Sudan from 2019 to 2021.
He later served as senior general manager of Petronas Carigali’s Sarawak Asset unit, followed by Petronas head of integrated hydrocarbon management, Malaysia Petroleum Management, and most recently as head of state relations at Petronas group strategic relations and communications.
BPHB chairman Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said the board was confident that Anuar’s leadership would build on the group’s foundation and ensure continuity in executing its strategic priorities.
“We are confident that his leadership, commitment and dedication will build upon the Group’s strong foundation, ensuring continuity in executing our strategic priorities while delivering sustainable value for our shareholders and stakeholders,” he said.