Sources said the Proton board had recommended to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that Syed Zainal Abidin, whose three-year contract expires next month, remain as the national carmaker's chief.
"Any appointment or reappointment must go through various stages of approval. Once the board of directors has recommended someone, the proposal must be vetted by Khazanah Nasional Bhd's investment committee, then the Second Minister of Finance and, finally, the Prime Minister.
"So, a delay in the reappointment of Syed Zainal Abidin could be because of a delay during any of the approval stages," a source told Business Times.
The source noted that the Khazanah investment committee comprises the Prime Minister, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar and Proton chairman Datuk Mohamed Azlan Hashim.
When asked, Syed Zainal Abidin said that any decision made by the government would be in Proton's best interest.
"There is no black and white yet, so I can't comment much. My contract will expire next month," he told Malaysian reporters in Cairo, Egypt, after the launch of the Proton Persona and facelifted Gen.2 sedans early this week.
Syed Zainal Abidin said he would continue to helm Proton after December unless notified otherwise.
He said that he was willing to renew his commitment to developing Proton further if given the task for another term.
"I am a professional. If the company wants me to continue, I am willing because there is a lot more to be done," he said.
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