By Leslie Lopez, Senior Regional Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Razak's bid to appoint his key aide as a director of Petronas is being resisted by the board and could put the Premier at odds with the national oil corporation's influential adviser, former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

According to senior government officials, the board of directors of Petroliam Nasional (Petronas) raised reservations over the proposal to appoint Mr Omar Mustapha at its monthly meeting last month.

Mr Omar is one of the premier's closest political confidants.

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