By Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) are in the midst to restudy the National Automotive Policy in an attempt to ensure that local players – Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) remains a competitive brand in the world.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed said that the study will discuss matters involving national automotive industry such as new vehicle projects, development of local companies, research and development as well as increasing of export.
“The government are open to any ideas and suggestion in terms of the implementation of new car projects, including suggestions of collaboration with (industries from) other countries,” he said.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat earlier, Mahathir said that local automotive industries are essential if Malaysia hopes to be a proper developed nation.
He defended Proton, refuting claims that the company have since fallen from grace. He blamed Proton’s less than encouraging performance lately as a fault of the previous Barisan Nasianal (BN) governance.
“Previously, Proton had succeeded in penetrating local and international market. We sold about 25,000 Proton cars in the United Kingdom and other countries. It was because of to the less efficient administration that knows nothing about the industry that Proton’s performance declined.”
“The previous government had allowed all sorts of (foreign) vehicle in Malaysia without ever giving opportunity for Proton to penetrate their market in return. With cars supplied by giants into Malaysian market competing with Proton, its hard for us to compete,” he said.
Mahathir was responding to MCA Ayer Hitam MP Dr Wee Ka Siong who questioned whether PH will continue to protect the third national automotive company should the project be resumed.
Wee claimed that the policy to protect Proton all this while has made the government bear the expenses of RM300 billion.
