Brothers in Arms (and Media Relations): Reflecting on TNB’s Golden Era, Syed Hidzam, and a 2am Mamak Mission

There are friendships forged in boardrooms, and then there are connections born of shared wavelengths, mutual respect, and a deep appreciation for doing things the right way.

Recently, I had the rare pleasure of meeting an old friend in person—someone I’ve shared a digital bond with since the days of 90s SMS right up to today’s WhatsApp chats. 

Despite decades of digital rapport, this was only the second time we’ve ever met face-to-face.

His name is Syed Hidzam Osman, and in him, I’ve found such a true kindred spirit that during our catch-up, I felt an urge to ask him: “Can we be more than friends? Can we be brothers?” Now, right here on this blog, I am making it public. I can only hope he accepts!

The Dynamic Duo of TNB’s Golden Era

To understand why Syed holds such a special place in my professional and personal regard, you have to wind the clock back to the era of Tan Sri Ani Arope, the legendary chairman of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

Syed was specially hand-picked by Tan Sri Ani Arope to serve as his personal assistant. Together, they formed a formidable pair that left a lasting impression on me—and on corporate Malaysia at large. In stark contrast to the bureaucratic stumbles often seen in newly privatised entities of that era, Tan Sri and Syed proved that a former government agency—the old Lembaga Letrik Negara (LLN)—could successfully transition into a top-tier, world-class corporate citizen. The secret? The culture of excellence they built from the top down.

Tan Sri was a consummate, no-nonsense leader—a fierce advocate for efficiency and accountability, much like Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusoff is to me today. And Syed was the heartbeat of that communication channel, standing out in my mind as the gold standard of what stellar customer service and media relations should look like. He was what Zarina Ahmad Osman, a personal assistant to the then mayor Tan Sri Kamurazzaman Shariff was to me. 

The Taman Kepong Miracle and the 2am Mamak Supper

That recent meeting brought back a flood of memories, giving me the perfect chance to finally ask Syed a burning question I’d carried for years: How on earth did TNB find out about an article I wrote that was scheduled to hit the streets at 11:00 AM that very morning?

Back then, I had prepared a one-page piece for the Malay Mail regarding the plight of the residents of Taman Kepong, who were struggling in the dark due to a lack of proper street lighting. But before the ink was even dry on the asphalt, something incredible happened. Before the papers hit the road, a TNB street lighting team had already arrived on-site to install some 20 to 30 new streetlights!

Witnessing their lightning-fast response, I pivoted. 

Instead of running a piece full of criticism, I turned it into a story of swift action. I had the residents pose with thumbs-up signs, and I followed up with a glowing headline: "TNB, you light up our lives."

I still vividly remember that TNB team working tirelessly around the clock to get every single light up and running. To show my appreciation, I ended up treating them to supper at a nearby Mamak stall that was still bustling at 2:00 AM. That is what happens when public utilities actually care.

Books, Briyani, and Shared Stories

When Syed and I met recently, we swapped stories of the old days. He even picked up ten copies of my book. When it came time to settle up, he looked at the discounted total and asked, “Why should I pay 50% of the retail price?” Refusing any handouts, he insisted on paying the full retail price.

Of course, true to form, I couldn't let him walk away empty-handed on the hospitality front—I ended up treating us both to a wonderful plate of Nasi Briyani, which we thoroughly enjoyed together while trading war stories.

During our chat, Syed shared a wish that resonated deeply with me: he hopes that one day, TNB might invite the two of us back to talk about the good old days—specifically on how to handle media relations and customer engagement with heart and grit. He shared numerous personal experiences of resolving tough TNB customer issues back in the day, efforts that made a massive, lasting impact on the company’s public standing.

Looking Back to Move Forward

In an age where corporate communication is often reduced to sanitized PR statements and automated chatbots, looking back at what Tan Sri Ani Arope and Syed Hidzam achieved reminds us of the power of human connection, accountability, and genuine public service.

Syed, if you're reading this: the offer stands. Let's make it official. Brotherhood looks good on us. Maybe we can kick off a Perpaduan foodie group and invite others like my classmate Saiful Bahri Hasan Basri, whom I told you about. Maybe we call ourselves Ani Arope foodies group in honour of his Malaysianness? We will choose only a Muslim restaurant out of respect for our Muslim friends. Some of us may even want to pose for the picture like this AI generated image I did when some friends came down from Singapore and we had our lunch together. It was a fun time. And to pass on this Perpaduan legacy, we invite our children along so that they can continue on with their own get together next time? Game for it?