The idea of a flying car has been around for a very long time, and Malaysia will attempt to create just such a vehicle. According to minister of entrepreneur development Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, a prototype is set to be unveiled to the public this year, Bernama and New Strait Times report.

“This year is a realistic target because we have the technology already. It is all about speed of implementation,” said Redzuan. The minister stated that plans for a prototype are already ready, and it would cost just over RM1 million to build, although it’s up to the private sector whether they want to do so.

“We will use local capabilities to build the flying car. We will only refer to foreign parties when it comes to exchanging information over the car’s safety,” he noted. The car is said to be capable of flying safely at low altitudes at a reasonable speed, and is targeted for use in the agriculture and aerospace sector, among others.

“We are providing the catalyst and ecosystem to stimulate the people to think beyond what we are capable of doing today,” he added. The project will also draw upon the capabilities of the aerospace, drone, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and automotive sectors.

Keep in mind that the flying car project is separate from the third national car project that was presented by prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. “Malaysia has the skill set to excel in all these fields. We need to make full use of it, because the bottom line is we want to be a producing nation,” Redzuan said.