AN analyst, who questioned Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ability to lead at 93 at a GE14 forum, is now out of a job.

Kamarul Zaman Yusoff resigned as the director of Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Institute for Malaysian Political Analysis (Mapan) on Sunday, saying he did not want to put the university in an “awkward” position.

Kamarul was a panellist at the “Is Tun M too old to be PM?” forum hosted by Sinar Harian on its Facebook page on March 22. The other panellists included a psychologist and a fitness consultant. 

“I would like to apologise openly to all at UUM who feel awkward because they think my critical action against Dr Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan had affected the university’s reputation,” he said on his Facebook page.

“I don’t deny that wherever I go, strangers recognise me and criticise me as the ‘academic who supposedly wet himself in the presence of Dr Mahathir during a Sinar Harian forum on March 22’,” he said, referring to Dr Mahathir’s last-minute decision to appear at the event in Shah Alam.

“I don’t deny that is what’s on the mind of many people when my name comes up.

“In view of this, to put all quarters at ease, I hereby voluntarily resign from my position as the Mapan director of UUM, effective May 14, the first working day after conclusion of the 14th general election,” he said.

Kamarul maintained that his views were his own. He also denied being a supporter of former prime minister Najib Razak or of the previous Barisan Nasional-led government.

Dr Mahathir was sworn in as prime minister on Friday. – May 14, 2018.