Mahathir leaves it to Umno to decide on his posts
The Star, Thursday November 2, 2006
Mahathir leaves it to Umno to decide on his posts
LANGKAWI: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is unperturbed by calls asking him to relinquish his advisory posts in several government-linked companies and agencies.
Dr Mahathir said he did not give the calls any thought because people had the right to say what they wanted.
“I hear the calls. It is their right. If they want to sack me, go ahead,” he said.
Dr Mahathir, however, added that he would step down without any objection if that was what Umno wanted.
“I leave it to Umno. Umno has the support of the rakyat,” he told newsmen after visiting the Loaf Bakery, Galeria Perdana, and two boat-making centres here yesterday.
Asked if certain quarters were trying to sideline him, he said: “Tok sah la pusing banyak-banyak. (Don’t twist so much.) Just report what I say.”
Dr Mahathir said he was visiting Langkawi to check on its progress while he was still the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) adviser.
“I hope I will be allowed to come to Langkawi even after I am no longer Lada adviser.”
Asked if Lada’s existence was still relevant, Dr Mahathir said his opinion no longer mattered because he had become “unpopular”.
“I am very unpopular (now). I was invited to attend a function in Johor today, and another function in Baling on Friday. But both invitations were cancelled recently,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said the function in Johor was organised by Persatuan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Se Malaysia and that in Baling by a non-government organisation.
On Umno Kubang Pasu’s call to him to relinquish his posts and not to openly criticise the leadership, Dr Mahtahir said: “The requests will be given due consideration.”
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