Rahman Dahlan: Dr Mahathir can’t have his cake and eat it
(The Star) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad cannot have his cake and eat it too, said Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan over the former premier’s removal as Petronas adviser.
“Under the present circumstances, his position as Petronas Adviser is clearly untenable. He can’t have the cake and eat it too,” said the Umno supreme council member on his official Twitter account, @mpkotabelud.
Abdul Rahman, who is also Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, responded to a follower on Twitter who asked if Cabinet’s unanimous decision to remove Dr Mahathir from his post as Petronas adviser would silence the former premier.
“Nope. I don’t think so. And no one expects that either,” said Abdul Rahman, who took to Twitter to comment on Dr Mahathir’s removal from his post.
Abdul Rahman added in response to a question from another follower that Dr Mahathir “has never been loyal to anyone but to himself”.
However, when asked if Dr Mahathir would be removed from his Proton post, Abdul Rahman said that the decision was up to its shareholders.
“Proton is a private company. So up to their shareholders, not Cabinet. But I wish good luck to Proton,” said the Barisan Nasional strategic communications director. Dr Mahathir is Proton’s chairman.
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a statement saying that Cabinet had unanimously decided to terminate the appointment of Dr Mahathir as Petronas adviser.
“Cabinet decided that since Tun Mahathir is no longer supporting the current Government, he should no longer hold any position related to the Government. Therefore, the Cabinet today agreed unanimously to terminate the appointment of Tun Mahathir as adviser to Petronas,” said PMO.
According to PMO, Cabinet had discussed Dr Mahathir’s actions, particularly in launching the so-called “citizens’ declaration” with Opposition leaders last week.
“The declaration aims to topple the democratically-elected Government led by the Prime Minister, and is therefore against the law and the Federal Constitution,” it said.
Last Friday, Dr Mahathir and other signatories – including former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, PAS election director Datuk Mustafa Ali and former Kita president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim – signed a declaration calling for Najib’s removal.
