Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has sarcastically suggested that Malaysia may be better off remaining an European colony.

He said this in a blog posting today in defence of national car maker Proton Holdings which its owner DRB-Hicom is in the midst of selling a majority stake to a foreign partner.

"Frankly, Malaysia would be a better country if we stayed as the colony of Europeans or other developed countries.

"They obviously know better than us about governance and the development of countries.

"And they will produce better cars, making us proud of our technology," said Mahathir, who as prime minister pushed for the manufacturing of local cars through the founding of Proton in 1983.