The decision to terminate the services of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Petronas adviser is appropriate as he is involved in efforts to topple a legitimate government, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said after an indepth discussion yesterday, the Cabinet unanimously agreed to end the former prime minister's service in Petronas, an important organisation in the country.

"We want to build the country but at the same time, there are efforts to bring down the country, it is not proper," he told reporters after opening the Kota Baharu Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) office in Jalan Kebun Sultan here today.

READ: Petronas respects government's decision on Dr Mahathir

In a statement yesterday, the Prime Minister's Office said the Cabinet made the stand as Dr Mahathir was no longer supporting the existing government and he should not be given any post linked to the government.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on Mahathir's Declaration to bring down Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Mustapha who is also Kelantan UMNO Liaison Committee chairman said all parties should protect the peace in the country and not topple the nation built together.

On March 4, Dr Mahathir headed a group of 50 leaders, including Lim Kit Siang of DAP and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Mohamed Azmin Ali of PKR, to sign the declaration to remove Najib as prime minister.