Dr Mahathir rejects Jomo's advice to retire from politics

PUTRAJAYA - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad rejects economist Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram's advice for him to withdraw from the political stage and take on a role as an elder statesman instead of remaining active in politics.

Dr Mahathir said many people have approached him for his opinions.

"That's his (Jomo's) opinion; I don't necessarily need to follow his advice," he said in a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here today.

On Monday, Jomo in a forum said that Dr Mahathir should assume the role of an elder statesman for the developing world but Dr Mahathir rejected it.

"I had advised Dr Mahathir to take on a role as an elder statesman to help develop the country, but of course, he had rejected my advice as usual," he said.