Several parliamentarians said today that they would not agree to any suggestion to make Dr Mahathir Mohamad 'senior minister' or 'minister mentor' - the positions held by former Singaporean premier Lee Kuan Yew.

This seems to be the consensus from a random survey conducted by malaysiakini in Parliament House today.

The MPs were asked to comment on a remark by Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin who said that Mahathir, who helmed the nation and Umno for 22 years, should have followed in the footsteps of Lee and remained in the cabinet.

"But it is too late now as Dr Mahathir has 'missed the boat'," Zainuddin had said.

Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad (BN-Ketereh) said Mahathir should not be the minister mentor like Lee since he (Mahathir) wants to interfere in the running of the government.

"I feel that Mahathir should travel around the world and go to all Third World countries by using the Petronas funds and to share with them how he turned Malaysia into a developing country in just two decades," said the MP.

Global leader

Mahathir is also the adviser to Petronas, the state-owned oil company.

"He should make himself a leading global leader like (ex-South African president Nelson) Mandela. He should not go and stand as a delegate (at the Umno general assembly), he should leave this business to his son or grandson," quipped the Ketereh MP.

Mohd Alwi, who is also the Kelantan Umno information chief, was referring to Mahathir's plan to contest as a delegate for the Umno Kubang Pasu division in order for him to attend the coming party's general assembly in November.

Idris Haron (BN-Tangga Batu) said Lee was "wiser" in choosing to stay on as minister mentor.

"Mahathir has made a wrong move by not staying on in the cabinet as minister mentor, so sudah-lah . He had been given enough time and power for 22 years as prime minister," said Idris, who is also an Umno Youth exco member.

However, Idris opined that Mahathir would not want to imitate Lee.

"Whatever is done by Lee, Mahathir will not copy. Mahathir is adventurous and he wants to be seen as 'original' as he likes to do things his own way... this is why the ex-premier's favourite song is 'My Way'."

Not a convention

Wan Junaidi Jaafar (BN-Santubong) said it is "not a convention and tradition" in Malaysia for a former premier to remain in the cabinet, as proven in the case of the three ex-prime ministers before Mahathir.

"Singapore is different, they don't have any premier before Lee so he (Lee) can create history in making himself minister mentor," said Wan Junaidi, a supreme council member of the Sarawak-based PBB.

He added that Mahathir could always meet with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss issues affecting the administration and thus there is no need for the creation of any new post for him.

Mat Yasir Ikhsan (BN-Sabak Bernam) however held a different view.

"I think any suggestion to make him minister mentor could be considered as Mahathir is an elder statesman and he has many dynamic views. (The minister mentor post) can serve as an opportunity for him to interact with the present administration," said the MP, who is the Umno Sabak Bernam deputy division chief.