Dr M leaving Proton is insignificant, says minister
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's resignation as Proton chairperson will not affect the national car maker, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainuddin says.
"The company is actually run by the management board, so doesn't matter who is going to be to the chairperson," Hamzah told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.
While Hamzah acknowledged Mahathir's role in founding Proton, he is confident that whoever takes Mahathir’s place will bring about changes to the company.
"Maybe it'll change in terms of its (corporate) culture and its position."
As to how Mahathir's resignation would affect the perception of Proton, Hamzah said it all depended on how the matter was reported.
Asked if he felt sad by the former prime minister's departure from the company, he said: "What goes around, comes around."
News of Mahathir's resignation from Proton broke this evening.
It came amid reports that the car maker was seeking government funding and that this may be in jeopardy due to Mahathir’s feud with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Facing a mounting debt
Singapore's Straits Times reported on Monday that Proton was facing mounting debt, poor sales and inability to pay its suppliers.
The report said Proton was looking for a RM1.47 billion grant from the government to remain afloat.
The daily quoted an unnamed senior Proton executive as saying that while there is widespread respect for Mahathir, there was a growing sense that he was now a liability due to his struggle with Najib.
Proton came about in 1983 after Mahathir conceived the idea of a national car and was subsequently supported by the cabinet.
By 1985, Mahathir unveiled the Proton Saga, the country's first ever national car.
For more news and views that matter, subscribe and support independent media for only RM0.36 sen a day:
Subscribe now