Proton vs. MITI, Round 3
Jeff Ooi already has a very detailed coverage on the latest updates on the Proton vs. MITI saga, so I’m not going to talk much about it. More time for me to write more howtos and more about nice shiny automobiles! But I’m sure all of you would want to know the latest in this Proton/AP controversy.
Basically, Dr. M reveals some basic statistics on the distribution of APs in Malaysia, of which a majority of 54400 went to 20 particular companies, out of 67,000. The remainder 12600 went to the remaining 82 AP awardees.
Let’s do some basic math here.
54400 / 20 = 2720
This is an average of 2720 APs per company. Based on the market rate of RM35,000 per AP, this is an instant profit of 95.2 million ringgit a year on top of everything else. In Singapore, COEs are sold instead of given away, and the money goes to the government. Here, it goes into the bumiputra businessman’s pocket. I want to be bumiputra too.
Next, Dr. M responds to Rafidah saying that it was his administration which decided the ruling on 40% local content to qualify as national car. He says it did not fall under his control/decision, etc etc, haih. The same with the Naza Ria’s status as a national car.
Details here at Screenshots.
Related Posts:
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Government Commited to removing protection for Proton
Rafidah instructed to reply Dr. M
Misconceptions over Proton subsidy unfortunate
Proton vs. MITI Round 3
Mahaleel’s job safe for now
Tengku Mahaleel given 1 week to explain
Mahaleel’s job on the line
Rafidah’s cheap shots at Mahaleel
Malaysia’s new automotive policy delayed
Tengku Mahaleel critics government auto policies
AP holders told not to compete with Proton
July 6, 2005 @ 2:23 am
Haha! You gotta respect the good Doctor’s handling of the issue. Grudging admiration, at the very least!
July 6, 2005 @ 9:15 am
Can’t even get the backseat of Gen2 correct, yet want to make gas-electric cars… belum boleh merangkak sudah mau berlari.
Proton to make gas-electric engine car in 5 years
PROTON Holdings Bhd plans to develop a car in the next five years that runs on gasoline-electric engines, said its adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
For five years, the national carmaker had been working on a so-called hybrid vehicle, he said.
Hybrid cars are powered by conventional gasoline engines and battery packs. Dr Mahathir did not say if the carmaker, based in Shah Alam, would buy technology from Toyota Motor Corp or Honda Motor Co.
“It’s not been easy going into hybrids and also electric cars,†Dr Mahathir said.
“Proton is working hard, doing research, but the allocation is very, very minimal and the number of engineers we can allocate for research is also very limited.â€
Proton, set up in 1985 to lead Malaysia’s push to industrialize, is trying to develop new car models to compete with Toyota, Honda and other overseas assemblers ahead of a possible government move to end tax rebates for local manufacturers.
The carmaker needs new technology after Mitsubishi Motors Corp and Mitsubishi Corp, which provided their engine and chassis platforms for Proton cars, sold their stakes in Proton last year.
Toyota’s spokeswoman Ai Ishitoya and Honda’s spokeswoman Makiko Yoshida both said they were unaware of Proton’s plan to develop hybrids or purchase technology from them.
“In Europe, by next year, all vans are expected to be non-polluting,†which means they “may have to be either hybrid or electric engines,†Dr Mahathir said.
Toyota and Honda own patents for developing hybrid vehicles. Toyota has sold some of its technology to Nissan Motor Co and Ford Motor Co, enabling them to put their own hybrid cars and sport-utility vehicles on the road.
General Motors Corp and DaimlerChrysler AG last year said they would jointly develop their own hybrid engine system.
Dr Mahathir did not say where Proton would get its hybrid technology. – Bloomberg
July 6, 2005 @ 1:10 pm
Dr.M says that VW is willing to buy Proton. Heck ANY SANE car company will wanna buy Proton, at TWICE it’s price.. for LOTUS! Proton simply isnt milking Lotus well enough. Once Proton is bought over, it will be let to die, with the new factory manufacturing rebadged cars, and Lotus being detached from Proton to do better worthier things for big momma….
July 6, 2005 @ 8:44 pm
it’s sad when close friends fight
Dr Mahathir, who supposedly retired completely from politics and taking up a completely legitimate position in state-own car disapointment company, attacks former henchwoman, Rafidah Aziz, heading the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)…
July 11, 2005 @ 10:19 pm
AP is for there minority group who batter only. do u think government doing right for there own Malaysians!. o there only feeding bangau how to eat n spoon feeding ?. do u think there like people to say there stupid ? but there like to do a stupid thing that never change at the end kill our nation whit multiracial problem will come. than come out like indon. we Malaysians r vary passion. do u think teaching children not to smoky by the way the smoke sucking in front of children!
June 28, 2006 @ 6:38 am
[...] given 1 week to explain Mahaleel’s job on the line Rafidah’s cheap shots at Mahaleel Malaysia’s new automotive policy delayed Tengku Mahaleel critics government auto policies AP holders told not to compete withProton [...]