National car manufacturer should close down if that is what the people want, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

According to Bernama, reporters covering a news conference following a function attended by Mahathir did not quite know what to make out of his remark that the Proton management should look into all suggestions pertaining to the matter.

"We just close down Proton if this is what the people want," said the former premier.

"And if some feel one way to overcome the many problems we hear today - including Approved Permits (APs) and so on - is that we don't have the automotive industry in Malaysia, we (can) just close down," he added.

When pointed out that his comments sounded as if he was sulking, Mahathir replied: I'm not sulking. What is there to sulk, (Proton) is not mine."

When a reporter noted the fact that Proton was his brainchild, the former prime minister responded: "My brainchild does not mean the government must uphold my brainchild."

Mahathir, who is Proton's adviser, was commenting on the SMS responses published by a newspaper today that made stinging remarks about the current state of Proton. Many went to the extent of proposing that it be closed down.

The SMS were in response to comments surrounding Proton made by Backbenchers Club Chairman Shahrir Abdul Samad on Saturday, among them was that Proton should not be required to meet the ruling on local content of up to 90 percent if this affected its competitiveness and increased prices in comparison with foreign vehicles.

He was also quoted as saying that if the quality of Proton products were still not up to standard and could not be exported, then it should close down.

AP issue... boringlah

Referring to his interview on TV3's Friday, Mahathir said the reason he accepted the invitation was to correct various statements that reflected badly on him, including the one that he had given approval for Naza Ria to be accorded national car status.

"I felt that I need to correct (things). Now I am a little bit bored with correcting. And then people say something else, then (I'll have to) correct again. I'm tired of correcting," he said, drawing laughter from those present.

Asked whether he would still continue as Proton advisor, his replied: "I am appointed (to the post), so I will still serve as advisor."

He was also queried on a letter dated July 14, 2005 he sent to International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz in which he put across his views on various aspects of the AP issue.

Mahathir said he thought the letter publication in the media would help explain things.

"I only revealed my letter, not other people's letter. So, whether or not people want to believe in what I say in my letter, that is up to them. Of course, I explained to the best of my ability," he said.

When it was suggested that the AP controversy had been going on for months, he said: "Yes. Boringlah."

"What I think doesn't matter, what the people think matters. If the people are satisfied that AP should be given to one or two people and they become millionaires overnight, fly around in helicopters and all that, if that is what we want, it's okay," he said sarcastically.

Mahathir added that his main concern was how all these had affected Proton.