These included the controversial departure of chief executive officer Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff and the issue over the import of foreign cars through approved permits, which Dr Mahathir said had affected the sales of Proton badly. 

The sources said they believed Dr Mahathir’s decision to return the vehicles was not made at the spur of the moment but after serious reflection. 

”You must understand that Dr Mahathir was the man who mooted the national car project and for him to return the Proton cars is certainly something not to be taken lightly,” they added. 

Proton Holdings Bhd announced on July 25 that Tengku Mahaleel’s tenure of service would not be renewed and he would be on leave till the expiry of his contract on Sept 30.

Pending the appointment of a new CEO, the management of the company is now in the hands of four men. 

The group executive committee running the show comprises Proton chairman Datuk Mohammed Azlan Hashim, operations director Datuk Kisai Rahmat, Proton Tanjung Malim CEO Datuk Kamarulzaman Darus and board director Badrul Feisal Abdul Rahim. 

On July 26, Dr Mahathir indicated that the departure of Tengku Mahaleel might have been a result of “boardroom politics, which, I think, has spilt over to other politics.”

“Powerful hands might be involved, I don’t know. But my concerns are for Proton, a national project which a lot of people admire,” he said.