a journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step. the first step to a liberalized market is to get rid of proton. Of course prices won’t come down immediately but more competition and removal of non-tariff barriers will eventually bring down prices and benefit consumers. But as it is, proton stands in the way of any change.

Do you want to keep paying artificial prices for cars? Change will not come by itself if consumers don’t do something. Stop buying proton is the single most effective way of forcing our distorted market to change for the better. If you can’t see the cause and effect then you shouldn’t comment on other people’s maturity.

1. AP is illegal under WTO and to be abolished by 2010.
2. China capacity to manufacture and/or produce car are 20 million by 2010. Local demand expected to take up 10 million and left another 10 million for export. China-Asean forum work toward FTA arrangement. Therefore in future, our market will flooded with Chinese made/assemble cars.
3. Under Japanese-Malaysia FTA – our G has commitment to open our market including car sector by 2010.
4. We are in nego with USA on FTA and expected to be finalize by June 07. This further open our market to all front in this merciless and vicious yet unpredictable biz environment. Therefore, P1 is sure gone case if can’t find foreign partner or become contract assembler!
5. AFTA is just a litmus test yet P1 still unable to export in million volume as well as high % compare to domestic market.
6. Why VW come in Malaysia simply for their biz plan to penetrate market in this region.

With the above scenario, especially Chinese car or foreign assemble car in China, the market will flooded with all kind of models with the lowest price possilbe, yet P1 still unable to put up good show. This is the likely future scenario and electronic or computer sector already proof it under open market.

Look at below comments I posted on other section how P1/NAP or the like “white elephants” projects have impact on our hard earn RM: -

If there are no “white elephants” sucking rakyat money like Perwaja, P1, MAS, etc that need G protection and/or bail out. If our GLCs are properly manage and truely economically viable, previously our RM and Sing Dollar is “split” during 1970s. Say today all our GLCs make tonne of monies and enrich our nation coffer yet our RM is so strong (just like Brunei Dollar) and 1:1 with Sing Dollar. Without P1 in the first place, today with better income, high RM value and on par with Singapore purchasing power parity (PPP), the cars including Civic we buy under open market is equivalent to RM 32,859.54 only (now easily 3 – 4 time). This is suppose the reality and high standard of living we suppose to enjoy, but all that AP King, crocs and cronies thingy shattered and manipulating our hard earn money.

Remembered this small red dot Sing Island is without natural resources and the only advantage is port only. We have many natural resources including petrol, palm oil, timber, etc. If all these properly manage and we value metrocracy and put human talent on full use, today our RM even may stronger than Sing Dollar. Before crisis 1997, RM 1 = USD 2.4, and now 2006 Sing D 1 = RM 2.3. If our RM appreciate at the rate of the way it depreciate for the last 10 year, then today our RM 1 may = USD 1. Therefore, with high living standard like US, we can purchase Civic at RM 21,290 only – really real damn bargain “cheap-cheap”.

If the P1 is protected for another 22 years, may be our RM depreciate to 10% of today value, so Waja say like Iswara still in the market, the selling price may be RM 590K – damn so “expensive”

as of today, the govt. is still more than happy to hand out more AP’s, hence more imported cars coming in = more tax revenue.

Besides, this is a blog that reports on automotive news, and comments should be related to that news alone. I think many people have already told you joe ooi, please stick to the topic. If you want to pursue your own personal agenda, I suggest you start your own blog, and you can talk about the “G”, and “P1″ all you like, and people who also get their kicks out of that can go there and hang out with you.

went into a hostel once and surprisingly most if not all are from well off families. if those fellors having 12 A1’s in spm and still cant get a measely local U scholarship know about it they’d be pissing blood. i know i nearly was even though i didnt score anywhere near 12 A1.

anyway….that guy is a lucky guy. give him the benefit of doubt first. he’ll appreciate the car more if it was earned with his own blood and sweat. looks like an artist or engineer to me.

Congrats !

I thought I saw one in Penang some months ago? Or this is the official launch from the WV Group Malaysia?

but, that GTI really awesome. wonder how it will fare compared to the Focus STi?

Ford? Hello?