At the launch of the new Proton Persona today, DRB-Hicom reiterated its support for the national carmaker and said that it will continue to hold a ‘strategic stake’ in Proton, even with a foreign partner in the picture.
“DRB-Hicom will continue to hold a strategic stake in Proton. We will definitely not sell 100%,” DRB-Hicom group CEO Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar said, when asked if the conglomerate is looking to fully divest its interest in Proton.
Recent reports have mentioned the possibility of Proton’s current owner selling 100% of its stake to a foreign party. This has already been refuted by DRB-Hicom, which said that it is “highly committed to hold [sic] a substantial and strategic stake” in the national carmaker, and is confident of the Proton’s turnaround plan.
DRB-Hicom earlier said that Proton is in the midst of undergoing a Request For Proposal (RFP) exercise in seeking a permanent partner that is a strategic, operational and cultural fit, as part of the requirements for the government’s RM1.5 billion soft loan.
This exercise is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017, and its implementation is being overseen by a task force committee formed by the government to monitor the progress of Proton’s turnaround. DRB-Hicom stated that it will make any appropriate announcements to Bursa Malaysia in a timely manner, in accordance with listing requirements, as and when necessary.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who officiated the Persona launch, said that the government does not have plans to take over Proton, and that it’s vital for the carmaker to find a strategic foreign partner, which is part of the terms of the RM1.5b soft loan. That should be done by the first quarter of 2017, he said.
Late last month, Mustapa said that a few leading automakers from Europe, China and Japan have expressed interest to become Proton’s strategic partner. “The government wants Proton to ensure its strategic partner has the capability to lift the company once again. The strategic partner must also have the technology, capital and export network,” he said.
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DRB, please pay back the RM1.5 billion loan. Don’t forget that the money is for Proton. Please don’t use the money for DRB Bonus for staff.
Sell it off to China company!
Cadang mu terbaik sekali…
Mempersonakan!
What is new with Proton? When they ask for money, they will pretend to be insaf, pretend to let go their bad attitude.
After they got the money, they will talk tough and back to their true character.
Datok IOMA
You are right.Now P1 is rewarding our Olympic heroes with cars,as if they are BILLIONAIRES.
P1 is on cancer chemotherapy.Imagine cancer patients using cash to divert to others,instead of paying for their treatment.
It is so shameful.Trying to show off,when P1 is still in intensive care.
Anyway,if still bleed….no worry….ask the mus for another bailout.Taxpayers’ money, mah..apa susah,ini Kunte Konta dan Albert nak bising?
DRB-Hicom better left proton go to foreign company because management of proton is worst than before bought and never improve QC even vendor suppliers…DRB-Hicom still request fund aid from gov…poor management…
Probably sell to China… like how our lands and properties are being sold. After few years Proton become pemasang kereta cina. That’s all that’s left. What a sad ending…
I still think it is Suzuki should really be a partner for Proton. While Suzuki concentrate on kontots car, Proton can sedanised it. Using same reliable engine and part it will be a win-win for Suzuki and Proton in ASIA.
Suzuki is a failed product… sell or partner with china…. open china market better…. if can sell 1% of total china automotive market maybe start earning money already….
The Persona looks OK. But price is steep. I think many buyers will still prefer the cheaper and more efficient and powerful Bezza. The only selling point for Persona over the Bezza is the slightly wider interior room for the passengers. Other than that, the Bezza did just as fine and in many cases better with more refinement in cabin and engine over the Persona. It’s Japanese proven technology and platform versus a untested and new platform of Iriz, which Proton has painted an extremely bad image for consumer.
Jangan banding dengan bezza la, tak sama level. Iriz pun utubers banding dengan Jazz dan Focus, mana ada banding dengan Myvi.
If compare spec Persona, persona Won… Vsc all variants….. P2 pls offer the same also… if not P2 models are over price….
Bezza is for desperate people to own a car or know nothing whatsoever about cars. Jalan je, eksiden salahkan semua. Persona is better but not economically.
If DRB still hold strategic stake in Proton, then what is the difference? And with this, I don’t think they can find any good partner which willing to bring Proton far as the new partner just don’t own the company
Proton, a company created by politicians, for politicians, owned by politicians, behave like politicians.
Who are politician? Those who fed on people’s money and shamelessly make convenient promise. Like political party, leadership changes every 5 years!
If they intended to sell it just for profit, we will still see a proton tiara facelift till now. Why bother making a new car when using the same machine to make the same car will be cheaper. Sense any carmaker that does that instead?
After launching the new Persona, the Proton management shouldn’t goyang kaki and go holiday. It’s time to start the BIG plan which is penetrating the global market by next year. This Persona has got the potential to be in overseas markets such as South America (Chile, Brazil), India, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines and Australia, these are the B-segement goldmine. No more jaguh kampung please.
U can continue talk till the cow come home! As long as P1 still rules by those political link person… no one will put money in p1 as it is the same as putting money into pacific ocean!
Pls pay back softloan! Those are rakyat money!