‘Dr M can’t have the cake and eat it too’

BN Strategic Communications Director Rahman Dahlan, however, does not expect former PM to "toe the line" following his removal as Petronas adviser.

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications Director Abdul Rahman Dahlan has said under the present circumstances, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s position as Petronas adviser is “clearly untenable.”

“He can’t have the cake and eat it too,” the Sabahan lawmaker tweeted, following news that the Cabinet had terminated the appointment of the former prime minister as Petronas adviser.

Putrajaya’s decision to do so came after the elderly statesman launched the Citizens’ Declaration with Opposition leaders last week, a move aimed at ousting Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Mahathir was appointed Petronas adviser after he retired as prime minister in 2003.

When one of Rahman’s followers, @azeemambalam tweeted that Mahathir would now “shut up and toe the line”, the former dismissed the idea, saying, “And no one expects that neither.”

As for Mahathir’s fate as the Proton Holdings chairman, Rahman said that as the national car maker was a private company, it was up to its shareholders and not the Cabinet.

“But I wish good luck to Proton.”

Following the Citizens’ Declaration initiative, which saw the participation of several key Opposition leaders, including DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PKR Deputy President Mohamed Azmin Ali, several quarters had called for the elderly statesman to be removed from his various posts at top government-linked companies.

Apart from Petronas and Proton Holdings, Malaysia’s longest-serving premier is also chairman of the Perdana Leadership Foundation.