Helang light car for Langkawi tourists

There is a company called The Island Car Company which are using Kancil parts including the 660cc inline-3 engine to produce a 4-seater light car with a fiberglass body for the purpose of taking tourists around resort islands.

The company will be based in Langkawi and the cars will be built at the company’s workshop with an initial batch of 100 units. No price indicated yet but the company will call it the Helang, which is probably a reference to the eagles found in Langkawi Island.

With a fiberglass body the car had better be intended only for slow speed cruising as I doubt the shell would have much crash safety capabilities engineered into it. Does anyone have photos of the Helang? News reports mentioned Tun Mahathir has tried the prototype out.

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • aliBaPa on May 13, 2009 at 7:14 am

    First !!

    that's good idea for tourism.

    ppl has tok-tok, we have vroom-vroom.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • MisterBenjo on May 13, 2009 at 7:30 am

    I think they got the idea after watching Top Gear Vietnam Journey.anyway its a good idea.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • BanyakMasukWorkshop on May 13, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    hmmm.. what i'm more interested in is, how are they getting this approved for use on public roads as "public transport"?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • bmpower on May 13, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    100 unit only?

    but why need to setup a factory?

    what a waste.

    they should only made a custom order from p2 or p1.

    BTW, whose company was that?

    is that 'someone'? or GLC or etc is in?

    don't wasting taxpayer money again and again.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Roti naan on May 13, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    Name like very changgih, but I hate to see when the car turn out like burung pipit only…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mitlanevo on May 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    [quote comment="238030"]Name like very changgih, but I hate to see when the car turn out like burung pipit only…[/quote]

    hopefully won't look like gagak, lol~

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • leonardo on May 13, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    Since it is a 'public transport' it must be approved by JPJ to have insurance and road tax. Or do these cars have 'special permit' and 'special approval' by the Govt? If an accident occurs, which is a high probability during peak seasons, it would have serious consequences if it does not meet minimum safety requirements, especially with the fiberglass body.

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  • azhar167 on May 13, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    A 4 wheel vehicle with body shell is still safer than having the tourists riding around the island on kapcais without helmets.

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  • leonardo on May 13, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    [quote comment="238040"]A 4 wheel vehicle with body shell is still safer than having the tourists riding around the island on kapcais without helmets.[/quote]

    This is an issue of enforcement or the lack of it. Kapcais are NEVER a safe vehicle. Maybe build a Malaysian Beca Nano?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Littlefire on May 13, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    Tata Nano competitor… LOL~!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • lets wait for the outcome~

    hopefully it could make us proud

    cheers!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • 4G63T DSM on May 14, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    I wonder why don't do one better?

    Make them electric. At least it would be a plus point for those eco crowd, like those eco tourists..

    Afterall, its not much different from an electric golf cart which they use in all the major hotels to ferry guests around.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • chaku on May 14, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    [quote comment="238026"]100 unit only?

    but why need to setup a factory?

    what a waste.

    they should only made a custom order from p2 or p1.

    BTW, whose company was that?

    is that 'someone'? or GLC or etc is in?

    don't wasting taxpayer money again and again.[/quote]

    pls read carefully..do go accusing w/o proper reading…in the article stated WORKSHOP..not factory…a workshop is completely diff from factory…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • [quote comment="238026"]100 unit only?

    but why need to setup a factory?

    what a waste.

    they should only made a custom order from p2 or p1.

    BTW, whose company was that?

    is that 'someone'? or GLC or etc is in?

    don't wasting taxpayer money again and again.[/quote]

    my company..why? can not ka? who u to ask?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • [quote comment="238510"][quote comment="238026"]100 unit only?

    but why need to setup a factory?

    what a waste.

    they should only made a custom order from p2 or p1.

    BTW, whose company was that?

    is that 'someone'? or GLC or etc is in?

    don't wasting taxpayer money again and again.[/quote]

    my company..why? can not ka? who u to ask?[/quote]

    hahaha… this bmpower thought like the taxpayer's money like his own money… do this do that…. hehe …. if other taxpayer give approval… wat can u say ??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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