Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the newly appointed Selangor Menteri Besar could run the state well if he managed it on his own.

"Try to be on your own," he said when asked on his advice to Mohamed Azmin Ali who was appointed to the state's top post yesterday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum 2014 here today, Dr Mahathir said he (Mohamed Azmin) could be a good menteri besar "if he doesn't listen to instructions from elsewhere".

Yesterday, Mohamed Azmin was sworn in as the new Selangor menteri besar in place of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.