Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has dismissed suggestions that he is still making decisions for his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a news report said over the weekend.

"When I said I would retire, I meant it," Mahathir, 78, was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times on Saturday.

"I am not a senior minister," he said, in an apparent reference to neighbouring Singapore's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Lee, 80, stepped down as premier in 1990 but is still an influential figure with the cabinet position of senior minister.

Some Malaysian reports had it that the appointment of defence minister Najib Abdul Razak as deputy prime minister was a sign of Abdullah following Mahathir's directives.

Abdullah appointed Najib as his deputy on Jan 7. Mahathir had signalled his approval for Najib as the future deputy premier shortly before he retired on Oct 31 after 22 years at the helm.

Mahathir, however, said Abdullah had not once sought his advice on who should become the deputy premier or on any other matter.

"If we are at the same function, then I will see him. But if not, we rarely meet. I have never said anything nor has he once asked me on party matters (since the retirement)," he said. - AFP