'Senile' Dr M mum on Nor Mohamed's promotion

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has evaded questions on why Nor Mohamed Yakcop has seen promoted over the years, when he was allegedly responsible for the loss of RM5.7 billion through foreign exchange trading when in Bank Negara in the early 1990s.

Questioned by reporters at an event to mark the National Heart Institute’s 20th anniversary today,  Mahathir, in a self-deprecating tone, said he is "nyanyuk"or senile.

"The opposition will bring up any issue.

"You see now they are going after me. Also, I am nyanyuk, so why people (do) want to ask me? You look at me, I’m nyanyuk so I can’t answer your question," he said.

The DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua had yesterday described Mahathir as "senile", in denying the latter’s claim that a vote for Pakatan Rakyat would be a vote for billionaire George Soros.

Two weeks ago, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng had asked Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim in Parliament to explain Soros had been vilified as a rogue currency speculator, while Nor Mohamed (right) had been given a promotion.

Nor Mohamed joined Bank Negara in 1968 and eventually headed the foreign exchange unit. 

He resigned in 1994 for a short stint in the corporate world before returning to Bank Negara in 1998, where he spent another two years.

He became Mahathir’s special economic adviser after the latter took over the finance portfolio, and was subsequently appointed Second Finance Minister during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s tenure as premier.

Nor Mohamed is currently a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, and a member of the National Economic Advisory Council.

He had previously declined to comment on the forex losses.