As the global energy sector evolves, Malaysian companies are emerging as key contributors to the next chapter of oil, gas and renewables. One such player making strategic waves is Asic Offshore & Marine Sdn Bhd, under the leadership of Md Jazli Rahimi, the Group Managing Director of Asic Offshore & Marine Sdn Bhd. In this candid interview with Top 10 of Asia, he shares the strategies behind the company’s evolution and his thoughts on leading through change.
“I started off with things that I fell in love with,” says Jazli. His pathway into the oil and gas sector was shaped by his familial roots in the maritime industry. Coming from a family involved in the shipping business, his early exposure to the marine world naturally steered him toward a technical education. He pursued a diploma in mechanical engineering, which eventually deepened into a focus on marine engineering and naval architecture.
His professional journey began at Keppel Shipyard, a respected name in the industry. There, he gained valuable hands-on experience as a piping and project engineer, playing a key role in the conversion of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels—massive structures that left a lasting impression on him in both scale and complexity. After five years, his capabilities attracted international attention and he was headhunted by SBM Offshore, a Dutch company that posted him to Monaco before relocating him back to Malaysia to establish and lead its engineering office in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2015, Jazli assumed leadership of a company that would soon undergo a major transformation. Taking over a modest outfit of just six people, he rebranded the company as Asic Offshore & Marine Sdn Bhd, with the acronym ASIC standing for Asian Sealand Intelligent Contractors. Under his stewardship, the company evolved from a small team into a robust workforce of over 370 employees, marking a significant growth trajectory within less than a decade.
“Asic today provides a suite of services focused on engineering, maintenance and repair for both onshore and offshore facilities,” explains Jazli. “Its work spans the marine and oil and gas sectors, with a strong focus on corrosion prevention and industrial coatings for processing plants and platforms”. The company’s versatility and ability to handle complex, high-risk projects have earned it a respected reputation across the region.
At the heart of Asic’s success is a deep-rooted belief in investing in people. Jazli has made it a cornerstone of his leadership to focus on nurturing talent rather than relying solely on systems or assets. He maintains that knowledge is not exclusive to age and that young graduates, especially those well-versed in emerging technologies, bring fresh insights into the business.
“Knowledge is not limited by age. Wisdom comes with experience, but knowledge can come from anyone,” he states.
In a sector populated by established giants, Asic distinguishes itself through its commitment to innovation and unconventional problem-solving. “While many companies stick to traditional methods of repair and maintenance, Asic actively explores and adopts newer, less conventional solutions,” says Jazli. The company takes calculated risks by testing and validating emerging technologies and products—often before they become industry standard—and then offering these enhanced solutions to clients. “We take on products and techniques that haven’t been tested widely. We study them, understand them and then implement them where appropriate,” says Jazli. “We deliver solutions faster than promised—and that earns us our clients’ trust.”
This willingness to innovate, combined with a track record of timely delivery and quality execution, has become a competitive advantage. Asic’s ability to deliver results faster than expected has made it a preferred partner for clients seeking reliability and agility.
“That’s how we stand taller than the others – we always ensure the efficiency of our services” he states.
As the world shifts towards more sustainable energy sources, Asic is actively realigning its strategy to embrace the transition. While oil remains a core part of its operations, the company is increasingly focusing on natural gas, recognised as a cleaner alternative within the fossil fuel spectrum. “Malaysia’s abundant gas reserves offer strong potential and Asic is positioning itself to be a key player in this space,” says Jazli.
The opening of a new office in Doha, Qatar, is a strategic move aligned with this vision. “By operating in proximity to major players such as QatarEnergy, Asic aims to gain valuable insights, build expertise and later apply this knowledge to support Malaysia’s growing gas infrastructure,” explains Jazli.
Beyond gas, Asic is laying the groundwork for renewable energy initiatives. “Plans are in place to launch a dedicated subsidiary focusing on green technologies, including carbon capture and gas transformation,” says Jazli. While he acknowledges that the path toward renewables requires time and substantial investment, he sees it as an essential step for long-term sustainability and relevance.
A key part of Jazli’s growth strategy involves diversification beyond the energy sector. Recognising the importance of multiple revenue streams, he has led Asic into new territories such as telecommunications and construction. “These industries offer both stability and expansion potential, allowing the company to remain resilient amid cyclical shifts in oil prices and global energy demands,” explasins Jazli.
On the international front, Jazli is preparing to expand into South America, specifically targeting Brazil and Guyana—regions experiencing substantial growth in energy infrastructure. “Diversification is key to staying relevant,” he states. These markets, he believes, offer the right environment for further expansion and cross-border knowledge exchange.
He adds, “Over the next five years, my goal is to triple the company’s size and valuation, solidifying Asic’s standing as a multinational player.”
Jazli’s leadership style reflects a balance of structure and openness. “I value the input of my engineers and believes in empowering my teams to propose better ways of executing projects,” he says. While he maintains his own framework for operations, he constantly engages with team members to refine and improve processes.
By fostering a collaborative culture and trusting in his team, Jazli has built an organisation capable of navigating complex challenges without compromising on integrity or performance. “I can’t do everything on my own. You need a capable team to run a successful company,” he admits.
For Jazli, inspiration comes from studying the paths taken by other successful entrepreneurs and companies, to which he declares “I believe that learning from real-world examples is one of the best ways to avoid pitfalls and emulate success.”
He is candid about the mental demands of entrepreneurship, stressing the importance of mental strength and perseverance. “Leading a growing enterprise in a high-stakes industry requires not just technical knowledge, but emotional resilience and the ability to adapt swiftly to changing conditions,” says Jazli.
“None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my loved ones,” Jazli expresses deep gratitude to his wife, parents, family, and trusted business partners for their continuous support. He credits their encouragement, sacrifices, and belief in his vision as vital to Asic’s growth, emphasising that his journey and achievements would not have been possible without their steadfast backing.
As someone who has worked his way from the ground up, Jazli offers pragmatic advice to aspiring leaders in the energy sector. He urges young professionals to focus less on immediate financial gain and more on gaining knowledge and hands-on experience. “The early years of a career, I believe, should be spent mastering the fundamentals, understanding field operations and building a strong foundation,” advises Jazli.
“You have to get your hands dirty. Be on the ground, do the work. Don’t chase the money early in your career—chase knowledge. Learn everything you can from your environment. Once you have that, the money will chase you,” he affirms.
In his words, once an individual becomes truly knowledgeable and valuable to the industry, financial rewards will follow naturally.