Batman Returns?

It was a private dinner at a golf club in town with the newly-appointed CEO of a Government-linked industry body, that is one of the key drivers of the K-Economy since the mid-1990s.

Let's call the new CEO - Batman. And for the sake of discussion, let's call the GLC industry body, MesseD-up Co. (for its innate ability so far, to spend billions of RM of taxpayer's money and not achieve its objectives)

When I heard that Batman was appointed for the job, I was pleased but nevertheless concerned, for him.

This is a man who has spent his entire working life in one of the most advanced and well-known high-tech MNCs, in the world. Although still relatively young, he could have chosen to go into semi-retirement or work for another GLC-linked private entity that was not so problematic, nor political.

But Batman accepted the offer to head MesseD-up Co., which was previously headed by the fun, affable but "not-interested-in-doing-the-job" Salsa King. Salsa King's contract was not renewed, much to the joy and relief of the industry players.

MesseD-up Co. has a such a long and negative history with industry players, that if it was a point of reference that could be ignored, it probably would have been. Although the salaries of the senior management would rival the salaries of some of the Vice-Presidents in Petronas - making them some of them, some of the most overpaid locals in town - they just did not deliver on the results.

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My first impression of Batman, was that he was disarmingly charming.

Within 20 minutes of the dinner, the whole table had warmed up to his casual, down to earth, no holds-barred, no-comments-censored style. He called a spade a spade, but always kept the outlook positive and optimistic.

He's an extremely confident guy but it was clear that he knew how big his future task is and how important it is for Malaysia, to take the next leap in the K-economy. Make no mistake - his easygoing demeanour may make you under-estimate him but I could see him assessing all of us, gauging our views and experience.

He likened his task for the next 5 years in MesseD-up Co, as one of transforming a 737 into a 747, but in mid-air and during the flight. I thought it quite apt, although I didn't want to rain on his parade, by saying that he also needs to throw out some of the co-pilots and cabin crew in there too and get brand new ones, who are actually interested, in doing their job.


He outlined what he wanted to do and the sort of support that he needed from industry players, to do it. But mostly, he was there to listen to our opinion on the issues that need addressing within the industry. He wanted the big picture and to identify the areas which Messed-up Co. could play a role. But he wanted our help to make that change - he confessed that he could not do this alone.

Batman was attentive and asked a lot of good, probing questions. And sometimes, his observations, are acutely sharp. He requested of us not to disagree in public but to debate all the issues behind closed doors - as disagreeing in public, would only damage his efforts at MesseD-up Co. and the initiatives that he's trying to drive, within it.

He said to all of us at the table: "MesseD-up Co. will be more customer-driven, after this. Our KPI will be measured by the success of our industry players and they will be our measure, of whether we're successful or not. There will be no "syok-sendiri" self-measurement."

I'd never thought I'd hear this from a CEO of MesseD-up Co. But well, this is the difference when you bring in someone qualified to do the job, from the private sector!

The meeting lasted 2 hours, but everyone felt more charged-up and optimistic about the fate of MesseD-up Co. and in changing the landscape of the industry. We pledged our support to Batman and offered each of our respective expertise, as and when they were required.

It's going to be a gigantic task for Batman. There's no doubt about that. But there's no better person for the job right now, than him. We have to make the best of this opportunity to make that change.

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Before we left the dinner, I asked him a question which has been nagging at me: "Why did you take this job? Aren't you putting your successful track record, at risk, by joining MesseD-up Co.?"

He smiled and gave his answer:

"2 reasons - First, I had spent 18 years in the MNC and I've done all I can, within this region. An internal promotion would mean that I'd have to be transferred, to somewhere out of Asia. I'm tired of overseas postings and I thought that enough was enough. I wanted to come out from the MNC and do my own thing.

Secondly, and this is the more important reason: The days when I was still in the MNC, my father always said to me that if young Malay professionals with the sort of background and expertise that I have, do not contribute back directly to the country, at some point in their lives - then, it would be an awful waste for the country."

Personally, I thought the second reason was far more compelling. One of the sparkling local boys have come back into the system, to try and help save this country, from the hazards of future economic disability. That's a heartwarming thought.

I worry for him, as he does not yet know, how bad and pervasive politicians are within MesseD-up Co. Or how frequently Government bodies have meetings for years, that leads to no action.

Or sometimes, how mistaken policies are "born", out of the Prime Minister's random remarks - just because the Minister is trying to impress the PM. I wonder how long it would take, before everything frustrates him, to the point of resignation. I hope he has the patience for the awful territory, that comes with the job.

But there is no better man for the job, at this time, than Batman. And if he's the only man that's interested in making substantive change and improvement within the industry - we will stand by him and give him our wholehearted support.

Good luck, Batman. God be with you, for the uphill battle ahead.