This follows a report by China Press, which said Li had left Dongfeng Honda and joined Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely) on Aug 22.

Geely  owns a 49.9% stake in Proton since inking a deal with Proton’s parent company, DRB-Hicom Bhd, earlier this year.

Li was reportedly brought into Geely to oversee Proton’s operations.

However, neither Geely nor Proton confirmed Li’s appointment as CEO of Proton, with Geely’s corporate communications department saying it will only issue a statement on the matter at an appropriate time, the report said.

Last month, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the government had no issue with a non-Malaysian being appointed as a chairman of Proton at the international level.

He added that Proton should pick talents regardless of nationality in order to be progressive.