The New Malay Dilemma with Mahathir

Dr Mahathir returns cars to Proton
BY WONG CHUN WAI

The strained relationship between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Proton management has taken a fresh twist with the former prime minister returning all the seven Proton vehicles given to him. It is learnt that the vehicles, which were to be used by Dr Mahathir personally and by his staff, were sent to the Proton headquarters in Shah Alam recently.

Sources said the vehicles included the VW Touareg, a four-wheel drive, and the VW Phaeton, which the Proton adviser often used for travelling. “The others were Proton Waja cars, including two in Langkawi, which he used whenever he visited the island to look at development projects there,” sources added.

It is understood that the Proton management had tried to persuade Dr Mahathir to continue using the vehicles but he was adamant.

The sources said Dr Mahathir had started using his personal cars to travel to work, adding that he was “deeply hurt” by developments in Proton. These included the controversial departure of chief executive officer Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff and the issue over the import of foreign cars through approved permits, which Dr Mahathir said had affected the sales of Proton badly.

The sources said they believed Dr Mahathir’s decision to return the vehicles was not made at the spur of the moment but after serious reflection.

”You must understand that Dr Mahathir was the man who mooted the national car project and for him to return the Proton cars is certainly something not to be taken lightly,” they added.

On July 26, Dr Mahathir indicated that the departure of Tengku Mahaleel might have been a result of “boardroom politics, which, I think, has spilled over to other politics.”

“Powerful hands might be involved, I don’t know ...” Mahathir said.

So, whose hand is that which is so powerful that Mahathir? What can make Mahathir react openly with such extreme actions of dissent - it signify a showdown. We may hear more and see more of further open clashes with the establishments. Mahathir knows what he is doing and he knows the impact such actions will bring. Will we see direct confrontations of this anointed Kalifa vs the young Turk? You know what I mean!