Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he feels that Dr Mahathir Mohamad has done the right thing by giving up the posts he held in entities associated with the government.

"It makes things difficult for the government when someone who is not aligned with it holds posts in its entities, even as an adviser," Zahid, who is on a working visit to the United States, said to Malaysian journalists in Washington yesterday night.

Mahathir had resigned on Wednesday as chairperson of Proton Holdings Bhd, chairperson of Group Lotus Plc, chancellor of Universiti Teknology Petronas, and adviser to Langkawi Development Authority and Tioman Island Development Authority.

Zahid, who was replying to a question, said Mahathir's resignations showed that he understood what needed to be done when he longer supported the government.

On March 11, the cabinet decided to remove Mahathir as adviser to Petronas.

Mahathir had quit Umno on Feb 29, citing loss of faith in the party.

Zahid said that though Proton was not a government company, it was associated with the National Automotive Policy and would require technical and financial support from the government.

Asked about Mahathir's position in the Perdana Leadership Foundation, Zahid said there was no pressure on the former prime minister to quit as the honorary president.

- Bernama