Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad evaded questions on why Nor Mohamed Yakcop has been promoted over the years, despite he being allegedly responsible for the loss of RM5.7 billion through foreign exchange trading when with Bank Negara in the early 1990s.

NONE Questioned by reporters at an event to mark the National Heart Institute’s 20th anniversary today,  Mahathir, in a self-deprecating tone, said he is "nyanyuk" or senile.

"The opposition will bring up any issue.

"You see, now they are going after me. Also, I am nyanyuk , so why people (do) want to ask me? You look at me, I’m nyanyuk so I can’t answer your question," he said.

The DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua had yesterday described Mahathir as "senile" , in denying the latter’s claim that a vote for Pakatan Rakyat would be a vote for billionaire George Soros.

NONE Two weeks ago, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng had asked Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim in Parliament to explain why Soros was vilified as a rogue currency speculator but Nor Mohamed (right) had been given a promotion .

Nor Mohamed joined Bank Negara in 1968 and went on to head the foreign exchange unit.

He resigned in 1994 for a short stint in the corporate world before returning to Bank Negara in 1998, with which he spent another two years.

He then became Mahathir’s special economic adviser after Mahathir took over the finance portfolio. Nor Mohamed was subsequently appointed second finance minister when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became prime minister.

Nor Mohamed is currently a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, overseeing the Economic Planning Unit, and a member of the National Economic Advisory Council.

He previously declined to comment on the forex losses.

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