PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) is no longer Petronas adviser following a unanimous decision by Cabinet to terminate his appointment.
“Cabinet decided that since Tun Mahathir is no longer supporting the current Government, he should no longer hold any position related to the Government. Therefore, the Cabinet today agreed unanimously to terminate the appointment of Tun Mahathir as advisor to Petronas,” said a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The PMO said on Friday that Cabinet had discussed Dr Mahathir’s actions, particularly in launching the so-called “Citizens’ Declaration” with Opposition leaders last week.
“The declaration aims to topple the democratically-elected Government led by the Prime Minister, and is therefore against the law and the Federal Constitution,” it said.
Last Friday, Dr Mahathir and other signatories – including former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, PAS election director Datuk Mustafa Ali and former Kita president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim – signed a declaration calling for Najib’s removal.
Dr Mahathir was appointed as Petronas adviser after he stepped down as the prime minister in 2003.
He remains the chairman of Proton Holdings Bhd, a post to which he was appointed in June 2014.
A loss of perks and face for Dr M
PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s removal as Petronas adviser may not hurt him too much financially – after all, he had wanted to step down before – but it could deprive him of many perks and leave him embarrassed.
The adviser received an allowance of between RM12,000 and RM16,000 a month, which would probably be small change for a man of Dr Mahathir’s stature.
However, he also has a secretary and support staff who help with his duties at his futuristic office on the 86th floor.
In fact, one could say he was holding the highest office in town, right at top of the Petronas Twin Towers, with doors that looked like something out of Star Wars movie.
Even the Petronas board meetings are held on 85th floor.
The office of Petronas adviser is a prestigious post reserved only for a former prime minister. Dr Mahathir was appointed in 2003. The third Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn, was the adviser before Dr Mahathir.
There has been speculation that Dr Mahathir was also allowed to use the Petronas jet when he requested for it during the period when Tan Sri Hassan Merican was Chief Executive Officer in the early 90s. This apparently stopped when Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas was made CEO/president.
There is speculation that Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi may now be appointed as adviser in place of Dr Mahathir.
That would be a slap in the face of the outgoing adviser as he had been instrumental in removing Abdullah as prime minister, too.
Meanwhile, former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said the sacking was aimed at humiliating his father.
Mukhriz said his father had actually tendered his resignation letter in 2013 but the Government had then rejected it.
“Now PMO wants to humiliate him by firing him,” he said.
