DR M: I WANTED PAK LAH TO BE ‘BRITISH ADVISER’

(The Star) – Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will make a good adviser to Petronas, according to his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).

The former premier said Abdullah would give “good advice to Petronas”, though he had hoped his replacement would become a ‘British adviser’ instead.

“I had hoped Pak Lah could become a British adviser, not a Malay adviser because when British advisers give advice, it becomes a command.

“When Malay advisers give advice, people will just forget it,” he told reporters in jest after attending a symposium on criminalising war at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, here, Saturday.

Dr Mahathir, however, pointed out that Abdullah was qualified for the role because he was a former prime minister.

“All prime ministers are qualified. I’m confident he will give good advice to Petronas,” he added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in a statement on Friday that the Cabinet had agreed to Abdullah’s appointment as the new Petronas adviser.

Dr Mahathir, who previously held the post, was recently removed following his harsh criticisms of Najib’s administration.

The Petronas adviser traditionally occupies the 86th floor of the twin towers, which is literally the highest office in Malaysia.