\Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should nominate his former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad for senatorship, said Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today.

According to Lim, this would provide Mahathir with a proper parliamentary forum to articulate his views, criticisms and grievances.

He also noted that the former premier's experience and hindsight after 22 years at the apex would also prove to be beneficial.

"There is no reason why anyone should fear giving Mahathir a parliamentary voice in the Dewan Negara, as such an appointment would be particularly significant on the eve of Malaysia's attainment of half-century of nationhood.

"It will also have the added benefit of raising the quality and significance of the Dewan Negara," he said in a statement.

In the same vein, he added, Mahathir must also be prepared to give a proper accounting of the various controversial decisions, policies and projects undertaken during his premiership.

Mahathir had fired a volley of criticism against Abdullah last week when questioning certain decisions made by his successor's administration.

Numerous leaders have come out to criticise Mahathir for his outburst but the latter had remained adamant on the need for answers.

He also stressed that there was nothing personal in his criticism despite wondering aloud if he had made a mistake by choosing Abdullah.

Answers needed

Meanwhile, Lim said the questions raised by Mahathir must be answered by the present government.

"There will be something fundamentally amiss with the Abdullah administration if the questions raised by Mahathir could not be satisfactorily answered by the government without involving the prime minister.

"While one holds that Mahathir was being too petty, personal and childish with the 'unkind' statement that Abdullah had not been his first choice and the demand for a 'degree of gratefulness', one can nonetheless maintain that the public-interest issues raised by Mahathir warrant proper answers," he added.

Mahathir had questioned the government's decision to scrap the half bridge project, the sale of Italian motorcycle manufacturer Augusta to a euro 2 company by Proton, the non-renewal of Proton former boss Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Arif's contract and the discrepancies in the issuance of Approved Permits.

Lim said Abdullah's place in history will be determined not by wether he passes the Mahathir test but wether he fulfills his reform pledge and programme which netted him the greatest Barisan Nasional victory in the 2004 general elections.