Mahathir to deal with Rafidah in parts

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Posted July 27, 2005 07:19 AM
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Mahathir to deal with Rafidah in parts
Proton adviser Dr Mahathir Mohamad is set to re*** Rafidah Aziz's
explanations over the AP controversy in revealing parts and instalments.

In Part I, Mahathir says ( 1 ) Rafidah had misled the Umno delegates by
making false claims on the AP issue; ( 2 ) Rafidah's letter and attached
documents to him, which was previewed by the Cabinet, did not prove the
claims made by the minister herself.

Mahathir admits he may be 80 years old, but "saya belum lagi nyanyuk" (I'm
not senile).

Part II will be forthcoming. "A detailed explanation on the correspondence
among the various parties will follow to avoid any dispute," says Mahathir.

Reference:
- Bernama story
- Full text of Mahathir's statement

With so many side shows happening, I wish you do not lose track of the core
issue at hand: The wellbeing of the national car industry.

Also, look for the verbatim version of the Q&A session Mahathir had with
the Press in tomorrow's papers. My jaw dropped hearing his remarks over
TV3's Buletin Utama tonight.

In TV3's edition, Mahathir remarked cynically that "we can even hire
foreigners to run our country, including the Prime Minister's post, so long
as that foreigner has brain".



Posted July 26, 2005 09:21 PM
Classic Mahathir, but he's not finished with APs yet
UPDATED VERSION. Proton adviser Dr Mahathir Mohamad ended his one-hour
presser at 11:30hr - his verbal and body languages say he is bitter,
sarcastic, critical and defiant.

Expect a new twist to the AP controversy. Dr Mahathir claims that the list
released recently is incomplete.

And now, he wants the 2004 AP allocation to be made public because "people
should know the whole truth and nothing but the truth".

Quote from The Star, a stinger for the PM's Office that should vindicate
Kit Siang who has been pressing for the pre-2005 lists of AP recipients:


The former Prime Minister said the list released was not complete and
questioned why only the list for 2005 was released and not others.

"Once you have released, release everything because people may feel
suspicious. I like people to think that the government is transparent as
promised, and will give all figures.

"When I was prime minister, and I was accused of giving contracts to
cronies, I took out the whole pile showing out all the contracts and put
that out unamended," he said in a press conference.


Here's the gist of his talking points at-a-glance:


Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff's tenure as group CEO of Proton Holdings Bhd
was not renewed as he did not agree with the terms of the new two-year
contract which he felt were inferior to his own terms, while the Proton
board was not willing to consider Mahaleel's views.


He said he was not surprised by the decision made by the board of the
directors of the national car manufacturer.


Dr Mahathir also said Tengku Mahaleel's ability to run Proton was cramped
after he was removed from the chairmanship of major Proton subsidiaries.

He had been demoted to ordinary director whereas the chairmanship of these
subsidiaries were assumed by the chairman of the holding company.


Dr Mahathir said didn't know whether Mahaleel has failed in Proton, but,
according to him, Mahaleel has steered Proton to be profitable with an
accumulated cash of over RM4 billion and had even used RM1.8 billion to
build the Tanjung Malim plant without outside borrowings and without asking
the government for help.


He said: "I am quite sure that Proton will do better with the new
management."


On the AP controversy, Dr Mahathir said he would "make a written statement
for all so that there will be no misinterpretation."


On the issue of whether he will remain Proton's adviser, his reply: "Well,
I will still stay so long as they don't dismiss me."

Mahathir has referred to Tengku Mahaleel as having been 'dismissed' by
Proton - as used in Utusan's frontpage headlines today - until reporters
pointed out to him that it was actually a non-renewal of Mahaleel's
contract.

Not through with AP yet

According to The Star, a fresh controversy is brewing over the issue of
Approved Permits (AP) as Dr Mahathir today claims that the list released
recently is incomplete.

Dr Mahathir also questioned the basis used to determine the number of APs
issued.

He also said that he was not happy with the AP problem as more foreign cars
were being easily imported into the country.

Most importantly, he now calls for the 2004 AP allocation to be made
public.

God forbids, but we may be in for a surprise whose names will be revealed
in the 2004 list. Aisehman has started tracking, here and here.

* * *

Malaysian car maker Proton Holdings Bhd zoomed up 10% today as investors
bet Tengku Mahaleel's departure would pave the way for a stake sale to
German partner Volkswagen AG.

Tengku Mahaleel had been seen as an obstacle to such a deal.

Volkswagen is now more likely to invest in Proton, owned 42.7% by state
investment arm Khazanah, reports Reuters quoting brokerage CIMB Securities.

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pluto
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