KUALA LUMPUR, August 1 – PETRONAS, in partnership with Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn Bhd (EY), has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop Malaysia’s neurodiversity ecosystem. The MoU outlines the collaboration between PETRONAS and EY in raising awareness about neurodiversity in Malaysia, promoting and facilitating organizational readiness in creating job opportunities for neurodiverse individuals, and providing upskilling and community support to selected organizations and academic institutions.
This collaboration reflects PETRONAS’ commitment to advancing its Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) agenda, which includes diversifying its workforce to include neurodiverse talents. PETRONAS recognizes the potential of neurodiverse individuals to contribute with their diverse thinking and perspectives, which will be crucial as the company develops its talent pool for the future jobs requiring innovative solutions in the energy transition. The MoU was signed by Farehana Hanapiah, PETRONAS Senior Vice President of Group Human Resource Management, and Ismed Darwis Bahatiar, Ernst & Young PLT Malaysia Markets Leader.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik, PETRONAS President and Group CEO, and Dato’ Abdul Rauf Rashid, Ernst & Young PLT Malaysia Managing Partner. Farehana stated, Hiring neurodiverse talents presents an innovative opportunity for PETRONAS and other organizations to address business needs and contribute to nation-building. This drives us to create a deliberate ecosystem to attract and engage neurodiverse talents, enabling them to unleash their full potential.
By harnessing the power of individuals who think differently, neurodiversity can bring innovation and creativity to the workplace while fostering inclusive and empathetic leadership. We are pleased to collaborate with EY on this journey as EY has a strong global track record in neurodiversity. Over the past eight years, EY has been able to quantify tangible business outcomes resulting from having neurodiverse talents as part of their workforce. This MoU provides a platform for both PETRONAS and EY to promote awareness, advocate for neurodiverse talents, and build a movement for a more equitable ecosystem for neurodiverse talents in Malaysia on a larger scale,” she added.
Ismed expressed his excitement about joining forces with PETRONAS in their pursuit of a neurodiverse workforce as part of their D&I initiative. Recognizing and celebrating the unique perspectives and abilities of neurodiverse individuals will foster a culture of innovation, drive sustainable growth in the energy sector, and have a positive impact on communities. Together, PETRONAS and EY are building a better working world for all.
PETRONAS’ partnership with EY demonstrates its commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, solidifying its position in the global energy market as a progressive energy and solutions partner that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing), 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequality).
