When it was revealed that International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz was going on leave, rumours were abuzz that she is facing action over the controversy concerning the country's automotive industry.

However, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied this.

"No action whatsoever. She wants to go on vacation and had told me about it some time ago, she had informed me three weeks ago," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report today.

He said this when asked to comment on rumours that Rafidah's vacation, which starts tomorrow, was related to the criticism against the automotive industry by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

On Wednesday, the cabinet had instructed Rafidah to submit a written reply, which she did yesterday, to Mahathir regarding his queries.

Studied contents

Asked about the letter, Abdullah said he studied the contents and returned it to Rafidah. I believe the original copy had been sent to Tun (Mahathir)," he said.

Asked to comment on the contents, the premier said it clarified the matters raised by Mahathir as reported in the media.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Mahathir had defended Proton's chief executive officer Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff who was criticised for the negative comments he had made regarding the country's auto policy in an interview given to a Chinese language newspaper.

Yesterday, Rafidah was reported as saying that she would start her leave Friday and when questioned by reporters, she declined to confirm whether she would meet Mahathir during her leave.

The duo, who were known to be close allies, had also locked horns over the issue of Approved Permits (Aps), which falls under Rafidah's ministry.

Mahathir, who is also Proton adviser, had cast aspersions on the concentration of APs on only a few companies and demanded for the list to be made public.

However, the government has refused to do so.