Sabah O&G firms told to strengthen capacity first
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Published on: Thursday, July 02, 2026
By: Sherell Jeffrey
ESTABLISHED local industry player, Masnahwi Nawi, said Sabah oil and gas vendors must prioritise building competency and facilities before chasing contracts or risk collapsing midway through project delivery.
“To have the opportunity, industry players must have something that they are capable of. If they stand on their capabilities and the technology, then they can find the opportunity,” said the Nawi Oilfield Services Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer at the 13th Sabah Oil, Gas and Energy Conference and Exhibition.
Masnahwi, who founded his company in 2019 and has since expanded operations into Indonesia with plans for Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, said the oil and gas sector demanded knowledge above all else as a first entry requirement, followed by technical competency, commercial acumen and strict adherence to health, safety and environment (HSE) standards.
“To involve in the oil industry, the first thing is knowledge. It is not like a trading business where you just send things without providing any technical or HSE support,” he said.
He said the lack of proper resources and facilities remained the single biggest procurement barrier for local small and medium enterprises.
“Companies that enter the sector without first securing adequate manpower and equipment often find themselves stranded before they could deliver.
“Participating in any contract without any resources or facilities is like starting in the middle of an empty road,” he said.
On the question of whether capability or opportunity should come first, Masnahwi said both had to move together but that building capability was the necessary foundation.
He said he started Nawi Oilfield Services from zero with no guaranteed contracts, choosing instead to strengthen the company’s product line and technical base before seeking opportunities.
“I believe we chose the right product line. This is a huge opportunity, not only for Sabah but globally. Thus, we needed to strengthen our foundation first, which is our capabilities and then from there we can showcase the capability to get the opportunity,” he said.
Drawing on his own background of more than 20 years in well intervention services with global firms including Schlumberger and Weatherford, Masnahwi said he built Nawi Oilfield Services around a focused product line of through-tubing services, an area he described as having no local competitor in Sabah at the time.
He said the company also deliberately began operations outside Sabah, leaving what he called the comfort zone early so it could demonstrate its capabilities in a more competitive environment before returning to grow its presence in the State.
He attributed the company’s growth to three elements, his personal technical expertise, the quality of its products and the training of crew members through internal programmes.
“I give you a Kancil or a BMW, which one do you prefer? We put it that way,” he said, referring to the company’s emphasis on service quality over just market entry.
For the record, the SOGCE 2026 is organised by Midas Events Management and supported by the State Government and Sabah Convention Bureau. Daily Express is the media partner.
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