EXCLUSIVE Dr M returns to Proton BY WONG CHUN WAI there,'' sources added. It is understood that the Proton management : The strained relationship had tried to persuade Dr Mahathir to continue between Tun Dr and the using the vehicles but he was adamant. Proton management has taken a fresh twist with The sources said Dr Mahathir had started using the former prime minister returning the seven his personal cars to travel to work, adding that he Proton vehicles given to him. was "deeply hurt" by developments in Proton. It is learnt that the vehicles, which were to be These included the controversial departure of used by Dr Mahathir personally and by his staff, chief executive officer Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel were sent to the Proton headquarters in Shah Tengku Ariff and the issue over the import of for- Alam recently. eign cars through approved permits, which Dr Sources said the vehicles included the VW Mahathir said had affected the sales of Proton Touareg, a four-wheel drive, and the VW badly. Phaeton, which the Proton adviser often used for The sources said they believed Dr Mahathir's travelling. decision to return the vehicles was not made at the ''The others were cars, including spur of the moment but after serious reflection. two in , which he used whenever he visited the island to look at development projects • TURN TO PAGE 10

Mahathir's decision not to be taken lightly, say sources

• FROM PAGE 1 of his contract on Sept 30. tor Badrul Feisal Abdul Rahim. "You must understand that Pending the appointment of On July 26, Dr Mahathir Dr Mahathir was the man who a new CEO, the management of indicated that the departure mooted the national project the company is now in the of Tengku Mahaleel might and for him to return the hands of four men. have been a result of "board- Proton cars is certainly some- The group executive com- room politics, which, I think, thing not to be taken lightly," mittee running the show com- has spilt over to other poli- they added. prises Proton chairman Datuk tics." Bhd an- Mohammed Azlan Hashim, "Powerful hands might be nounced on July 25 that Tengku operations director Datuk involved, I don't know. But my Mahaleel's tenure of service Kisai Rahmat, Proton Tanjung concerns are for Proton, a would not be renewed and he Malim CEO Datuk Kamarul- national project which a lot of would be on leave till the expiry zaman Darus and board direc- people admire," he said.