Former premier and Proton adviser Dr Mahathir Mohamad today played down reports of a rift with the national carmaker after he returned seven of Proton's vehicles.

"Those cars were sent to me for testing and I think they are not properly documented. They are not my cars, they belong to Proton. So, I have to give them back because I have finished using them. I can't use many cars," he was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

Mahathir, who has a passion for speed and brought Formula One racing to Malaysia, said that it was usual for Proton to send him their new models to test-drive.

Asked if his move to return the cars was a rebuff following a row over Proton, Mahathir said: "They can see it in what way they like. The thing is they (the cars) don't belong to me and I have returned them to the owner."

Bernama also reports that Mahathir will remain as the Proton adviser.

The Star newspaper on Monday cited unnamed sources as saying that the vehicles, which were to be used by Mahathir and his staff, were recently returned to Proton headquarters signalling a further strain in relations between the veteran leader and Proton management.

The vehicles included a Volkswagen Tuareg four-wheel drive and a Phaeton, which Mahathir often used for travelling, it said.

"The others were Proton Waja cars, including in Langkawi, which he used whenever he visited the island to look at development projects there," the source said.

Proton management officials had tried to persuade Mahathir, who helped to found the company in the 1980s, to continue using the vehicles but he was adamant on returning them, the report said.

Foreigner at MAS

In another development, Mahathir said any move to appoint a foreigner to head Malaysia Airlines must de done cautiously.

He added that it is important to gauge the response if the candidate is acceptable.

"You have to test the water first," the former premier was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

"One needs to figure out the possible reaction before putting his ideas into action on whether the people will accept it or not.

"Perhaps, all the national companies should be allowed to be run by a foreigner. Then, I think we should have a different definition of a national," he added

Mahathir said there was currently a local transportation company being headed by a foreigner and the company was not doing that much of a good job either.

To national companies likely to be headed by foreigners, he said: "I wish all of them good luck."

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday he wanted a Malaysian to head MAS but was willing to consider a foreigner as a temporary measure if there was no Malaysian capable of running the airline.

Abdullah said he did not think Malaysians were incapable of heading MAS but was leaving the decision to the management of the national carrier to find the right candidate.

"I am sure there are many Malaysians who are capable," said the premier.