67 thoughts on “PROTECTIONISM”

1. Salam Tun dan semua pembaca.
   1.Kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia harus berbangga dengan pencapaian Negara yang bercita-cita tinggi dan mempunyai wawasan yang jauh untuk standing dengan bangsa lain yang telah maju di dunia ini. Dasar perlindungan(Protectionism) adalah bertujuan untuk kebaikan dan kelangsungan industri tempatan.
   2.Proton adalah pemangkin kepada bijak pandai tempatan memberi sumbangan, turut sama berkecimpung dan berusaha belajar mengejar kemajuan teknologi yang setiap hari kian berkembang. Jika kita tidak melakukannya sekarang, kita akan ketinggalan dan akan terus menjadi bangsa MUNDUR yang tidak mencipta suatu apa pun, malahan kekal menjadi bangsa pengguna DUNGU sampai bila-bila.
   3.Saya tertarik dengan usaha Proton yang bergerak secara Proaktif menghasilkan kereta keluaran Malaysia yang menggunakan Sistem hybrid seperti dipamerkan dalam KLIMS2010. Rekaan itu boleh dimajukan lagi dengan melakukan beberapa modifikasi dan penyesuaian. Umpamanya rekaan pada dua motor pemacu yang berhampiran roda supaya dicipta lebih selamat(kemungkinan-kemungkinan yang berlaku apabila terendam dalam air jika mengharungi banjir).
   4.Masaalah “Wear & Tear” setelah beberapa lama digunakan dapat diatasi agar tidak nanti dimasuaki air, terutama ketika banjir. Ini dapat mengelakkan berlaku kejutan elektrik voltan tinggi pada pengguna. Ada lebih baik gunakan Drive Shaft(front wheel drive) disambung pada motor besar yang dipasang pada MOUNTING, iaitu tempat d imana engin kereta konventional dipasang.
   5.Pandangan saya, Proton mungking boleh menggunakan elektrik sepenuhnya atau hybrid, iaitu bergantung kepada kesesuaian teknologi dan yang terbaik.
   6.Jika elektrik sepenuhnya, satu enjin elektrik menggunakan sistem aruhan seperti MOTOR bersaiz besar binaan kompak adalah lebih praktikal, atau enjin sistem SOLENOID yang mudah diselenggara dan tidak dimasuki air dipasangkan pada tapak(mounting) tempat enjin konvensional.
   http://www.maintenanceworld.com/Articles/relianceelectric/maintenance-troubleshooting-electric-motors.htm ).
   7.Injin jenis itu boleh digabung dan disesuaikan pula dengan sistem transmission (gearbox & cluth) sedia ada dan menggunakan drive shaft(FWD) sama seperti injin kereta konventional. http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/330034468/TZBP5500_4_frequency_changer_high_voltage/showimage.html ).
   http://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2010/02/09/the-best-electric-vehicle-motor/ ).
   http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/227497995/High_voltage_motor/showimage.html ). Large size motor.
   8.Kaedah ini bermaksud, cuma injin konventional sahaja diganti dengan motor bersaiz besar(electric induction motor) dengan teras(armatures) bersaiz besar menggunakan magnet kekal atau sebaliknya dan memerlukan kuasa punca bekalanvoltan serendah(DC 100v hingga 200v sahaja), untuk kurangkan penggunaan kuasa elektrik.
   (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY_FkNEe4SQ&feature=related ).
   9.Sistem itu pula boleh menjana “current output” yang tinggi dengan sendirinya, mungkin 50A, 100A, 200A atau lebih tinggi lagi(dimana sesuai dan selamat), bagi mendapatkan DAYA KILAS yang berkuasa menarik berat kenderaan+beban, mendaki bukit dan memecut. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbD0I1FuJKA&feature=related ).
   10.Terdapat beberapa sistem sedia ada yang berguna perlu dicuba dan diaplikasikan kedalam proton untuk “generate” sumber tenaga elektrik.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlO8UDsc-Fc&feature=fvw ).
   11. Jika menggunakan sistem solenoid, kuasa aruhan tersebut boleh dieksploitasi seperti kaedah pergerakan engin konvensional menggunakan Crankshaft untuk menghasilkan tenaga pusingan mengantikan piston. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a1rgkcm0cA&feature=related ).
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aWobDU0Cm0&feature=related ).
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5s_6E5dU-k&feature=related ).
   12.**Satu sistem yang mungkin praktikal untuk dicuba bagi mendapatkan bekalan tenaga elektrik berterusan, iaitu gabungan kaedah sedia ada menggunakan alat “converter/ inverter”, praktikal dicuba dan dikaji. Sistem tersebut boleh menjana tenaga elektrik tinggi dengan sendirinya secara berterusan menggunakan kuasa bateri biasa.
   http://www.techlib.com/electronics/highvolts.html ).
   12.Konsep gabungan menggunakan CONVERTER/inverter DEVICE yang boleh “convert/invert” kuasa bateri 12v, 24v atau 48v kepada kuasa AC/DC 110v hingga 220v keatas mungkin praktikel diaplikasikan. Alat tersebut ada dalam pasaran yang diguna oleh penghuni rumah kawasan SETINGGAN bagi kegunaan Tv dan lampu panjang. http://www.voltageconverters.com/220_volt_power_inverters.html ). http://voltageconvertertransformer.110220volts.com/12v-dc-to-220v-50-hz-ac-power-inverter-3/ ).
   13.Sejenis converter/inverter “heavy duty” boleh menggerakkan beberapa peralatan elektrik secara serentak terdapat dalam pasaran menggunakan bateri kuasa rendah(12v, 24v atau 48v), ini menjimatkan kos berbandig bateri khas yang bersaiz besar dan lebih mahal. Konsep tersebut boleh DIMAJUKAN lagi dan diaplikasikan pada sistem kenderaan elektrik(EV). Beberapa model converter dan inverter terdapat dalam pasaran.
   http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/powerbrightchina/product-detailFMonYauTuJfH/China-Power-Inverter-6000W-ROHS-12V-DC-220V-AC-ERP6000-12-.html ).
   http://www.adaptelec.com/powerbright-erp40012-12v-dc-to-220v-ac-power-inverter-400-watt-capacity-p-88.html ).
   14.***Sistem ini perlukan dua unit bateri(satu dalam keadaan standby mode), secara “hunting” sistem outomatik akan menukar sambungan bateri, apabila yang sedang diguna sudah mula lemah dan perlu dicaj semula sama ada oleh sistem solar atau alternator(sistem dari plug luar apabila diperlukan sahaja).
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relay ). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contactor ).
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_relays ).
   15.***Seterusnya, kuasa yang telah terjana 110v atau 220v oleh converter itu pula boleh dipertingkatkan lagi kepada KV(kilo volts) seperti KONSEP menghasilkan VOLTAN TINGGI seperti diguna dalam sistem Tv melalui satu circuit dipanggil “FLYBACK TRANSFOMER”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdh8gC9Jgv4&feature=related ). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXLuw4DHZ8g&feature=fvw )
   16.**Sistem “TESLA” tersebut dapat menjana voltan tinggi hingga mencecah 5kv ~ 30kv atau lebih untuk dibekal pada tiub kaca Tv bagi menghasilkan elektron.
   (Satu device BARU harus direka menggunakan gabungan konsep-konsep tersebut diatas bagi menggerakkan motor elektrik yang lebih berkuasa). http://www.google.com.my/search?q=high+voltage+coil&hl=en&prmd=ivns&ei=NHk3TfHIDYflrAeQo835Ag&start=10&sa=N ).
   17.Secara proaktif, mengabungkan semua kaedah diatas dengan sistem kereta konventional lebih praktikal boleh dilakukan, iaitu kaedah menjana kuasa elektrik secara berterusan menggunakan ALTERNATOR(permanent magnet rotors) harus DIBANGUNKAN untuk digabungkan sebagai pelengkap kepada device tersebut diatas tadi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5I2JCwlFDY&feature=related ).
   18.Dalam sistem kereta konventional, kuasa elektrik yang dihasilkan alternator disambung pada “Condenser dan coil” (yang menyimpan kuasa boleh charge dan discharge) menghasilkan voltan tinggi hingga Kilo volts untuk kegunaan Palam Pencucuh(spark plug), juga mengecaj bateri dan peralatan lain dalam kereta.
   19.Bagi kereta EV ini, konsep permulaan perlu menggunakan “sistem starter” juga untuk PERGERAKAN(Kitar Pusingan pertama) pada sistem. Dengan menggunakan Wheel Pemberat (Flywheels) bagi tujuan “momentum”, dapat menggerakkan teras motor dan alternator serentak(bekalan elektrik permulaan ialah dari converter/inverter unit).
   Apabila pusingan telah mencecah 1000 ~ 2000 RPM, dalam masa beberapa saat alternator mula berfungsi bagi mengambil alih bekalan kuasa secara berterusan(selain dibantu sistem device converter/inverter juga dibantu sistem solar jika pelu seperti yang disebutkan diatas).
   20.Melalui gabungan divice tersebut, bagaimana jika system elektrik yang dibekal kepada SPARK PLUG(pencucuh) itu diubahsuai bagi menggerakkan teras armatures motor elektrik pula(motor bersaiz besar sebagai injin EV yang hendak direka).
   21.Dengan melakukan modifikasi ciptaannya, konsep/sistem itu mengagihkan bekalan elektrik kepada Armatures melalui sistem rotor, sismtem CDI atau sistem elektronic. Konsep itu juga perlukan “timing fire” agar synchronize `bagi mombolehkan sistem pergerakkan berterusan dan berkuasa menggerakkan Teras Motor(armatures) bagi tujuan memcut, beban dan naik bukit.
   22.Pada “pedal pendikit” perlu guna sejenis “Variable Resistor” yang direka khas mengawal motor, yang boleh turun/naikkan kuasa elektrik, dapat mengawal kuasa dan kelajuan motor bagi tujuan memecut dan naik bukit.
   23.***Secara inovasi bagi mengekalkan system terus berkuasa, membekalkan kuasa berterusan kepada motor, sistem perlu dibantu oleh bekalan kuasa dari “converter/inverter unit” atau sistem solar yang bekerja secara SYNCHRONIZE (timing system) dengan bekalan kuasa dari alternator untuk mengatasi masaalah “power lost”.
   (Dua unti bateri tersebut yang sesuai, membekal kuasa pada convertor/inverter unit, sentiasa dicaj oleh alternator/solar serta saling bertindak/berfungsi bergilir-gilir secara automatik antara keduanya).
   24.***Sistem harus direka untuk membolehkan pergerakan berlaku secara SYNCHRONIZE (iaitu satu “timing system” direka agar boleh berlaku kitaran pusingan berterusan). Timing juga harus synchronize dengan kitaran Wheel Pemberat(flywheels) dan bekalan tenaga dari unit Converter/inverter .
   25.***Bagi meringankan pergerakkan Alternator, satu gear ratio/pulley ratio yang sesuai(gunakan belting) perlu direka agar BEBAN menarik pusingan alternator menjadi RINGAN dan lancar. Perlu melakukan beberapa percubaan dan modifikasi untuk mendapatkan kesesuaian.
   26.**Untuk mengekalkan LAJAK pusingan(momentum), seperti yg telah disebutkan diatas, motor EV tersebut perlu dipasang “FLY WHEELS”(flywheels to store rotational energy) pada shaft berpusing armatures(seperti yang dipasang pada “CRANKSHAFT” dalam sistem injin konventional), “gear ratio” atau “pulley ratio” yang sesuai(agar pusingan teras motor jadi ringan & lancar) menarik alternator dengan mudah.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbvP5EvpUbA ).
   http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5565044_flywheels-work.html ).
   http://www.beaconpower.com/products/about-flywheels.asp ).
   27.***Ratio yang sesuai perlu dipadankan agar kerja menarik alternator itu tidak menjadi tambahan beban kepada teras motor EV yang memerlukan pergerakan lancar dan berkuasa. Dengan cara itu sistem berupaya membekalkan kembali kuasa elektriknya secara berterusan pada Main Motor.
   28.***Sistem itu juga untuk mengecaj bateri dan lain-lain peralatan dalam kenderaan, sama seperti kaedah injin konventional yang membekalkan elektrik pada semua peralatan dalam kenderaan.
   29.Kepanasan motor akibat induction dan current tinggi perlu disejukkan dengan sistem penyejuk yang direka khas menggunakan “liquid coolant system” pada dinding motor(kaedah seperti injin conventional). Manakala sistem penyejuk(ventilation) pada Armatures menggunakan angin disejukkan oleh kipas bina dalam (inlet/outlet air cooling sistem yang direka kalis air).
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq_mZbPdxGs&feature=related ).
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ539H8xt4k&feature=related ).
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dSVhYbDe4U&feature=related ).
   30.Saluran sistem ventilasi harus dipasang air-filter untuk mencegah habuk dan kotoran melekat dalam motor. Sistem caj semula bateri pula mungkin praktikal jika menggunakan sistem solar yang dipasang atas bumbung kenderaan atau dimana sesuai jika sistem lain tidak praktikal.***
   31.Semua sistem, device dan teknologi sedia yang ada tersebut diatas, boleh digabungkan dengan melakukan uji-kaji dan penyelidikan bagi mendapat satu kaedah baru, boleh menghasilkan kuasa elektrik yang setabil & berterusan untuk menggerakkan motor yang berkuasa memecut dan mendaki.
   32.Motor harus bersais besar yang benar-benar praktikal dan berkuasa menggerakkan kenderaan, memecut dan mendaki bukit. Harus digabungkan pula dengan komponen sedia ada seperti Gear Box dan drive shaft kereta konventional (iaitu kaedah selamat jika mengharungi banjir) seperti kaedah kereta konventional (front wheel drive). Proton harus mencubanya.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BI0292l71o ).Connecting Motor to Transmission.

2. In tghe 80s (BP – before proton) , my father bought a toyota corolla for a RM10k and sold it 10 years later for RM12k… when he bought the car… he made a 3 years loan… and at that time the maximum was 5 years loan to purchase the car…. now..???? The minimum is 7 years loan for an affordable repayment.. and most are on 9 years loan….????
   What dows a 9 years loan means???? the car will be a 9 years old car and it’s a old car already… and people had to buy a new one to replace it (especially for a proton)… ehich leads us people to be all the time under loan servicing….
   During my father’s time – before proton… after 3 years, they already finished pay for the car loan and the car is still in a very good condition…
   To maximized the usability of their car, to service them at least for 10 years, they bought imported cars which is more quality than proton…
   This is the reason why Proton market share is reduced to 35% now….
   So what Proton should do???
   1. Make more quality cars so that we don’t have to buy Japanese cars to last for 10 years at least… Proton should star with improving the power window first…. Be stright with their suppliers which now supply Proton with sub standard components…
   2. reduce the Proton price at least to the price that we sell in other countries… (which is much cheaper than in Malaysia)… if we can sell it with that price oversea.. why can’t se sell it at the same price in our own country..??? if not we still has ‘bermentaliti dijajah’ in our minds… we should look after our own people first…! when Proton is cheaper… and with high quality… people will buy proton volunteraly… no need for high imported car tax anymore… with cheaper protons, means less years to service the car loans.. and more money can be save for other things… or to buy another proton….

3. Dear Tun,
   May I adress andreytay and TuaCheng.
   Dear Mr andrewtay and Mr TuaCheng, I notice that both of you have made a come back after a period of absence especially after andreytay dropped the stinking hydrogen bombs on the Haj and that TuaCheng still refused to respect Tun by insisting to address him as Mr Mahathir. I think Mr TuaCheng is the only person in Malaysia who addresses Tun as such.
   I don’t receive special favour from Tun or the government just like all the commenters here. We just happen to state our views in a healthy debates. Please don’t take to heart whatever my comments or remarks may be. Sometimes we make a fool of ourselves in a public forum like this. I am sure all of us are decent people and law abiding citizens who just stick our necks out a bit.
   I am a muslim, surely I will speak in favour of muslims and you are non muslims surely you will defend non muslims. But let us not be enemies. Live and let live. Don’t worry and be happy. I will try to persuade you to become muslims as it is my duty as a muslim and you would try to counter with hydrogen bombs to intimidate me not to preach to you. It is all part of life, or spice of life. Non muslims especially Chinese dislike being preached on religion even though it may be good for them. I was once in the same shoes.
   amin tan

4. Dear Tun,
   The time has come for us to revisit whether the proton protection policy is still relevant today. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong about protection policy. But we also need to ask whether the proton protection policy would give maximum benefit to majority of Malaysians, or only for the 50,000 workers you so worried of.
   Proton customers disspointment are mainly caused by the lack of quality of proton cars. Since the past years, we did not see any significant improvement of quality on proton cars. For example, my new proton gen2 has an empty gas which caused the air-conditioner to malfunction. I frequently wonder how the quality control workers in proton factory do thier job when such car could be released from factory and hand over to the customer.
   Nowadays, we are facing a constant increase in oil prices. As far as I could understand about the trend, its always going to be like that in the future. The customers are at the loosing side. The government could not reduce the price of a hi-tech hybrid and oil efficient cars because of proton protection policy. On the other hand, we could not see any signs that proton could produce cars as good as these imported cars.
   So what would happen to Malaysians? at the end of the day, we are paying high petrol prices with lack of quality cars, not because we could not afford to buy hybrid cars – but because of proton protection policy. Therefore, we need to revisit this policy. Should the benefit is not being enjoy by the majority of malaysians, why we need a protection policy for proton? again, there is nothing wrong with protection policy. But the governmnet has to ensure that majority of malaysians would benefit from it.
   As for the taxes and infrastructure expenses, its up to the governmnet to seek the best way to use the revenue. Please do not say that the governmnet is still do not have enough money after we have to pay higher prices for petrol due to subsidy cuts.

5. Well Tun,
   May God bless you and your family.
   It’s not a surprise to see Malaysian now a days to be too selfish. To ignore a future of 50,000 staffs from various fields automotive sector; Proton as a manufacturer, Vendors for the local compartment from the Proton parts itself and retailers for Proton spare parts. Just imagine that everyone of them has two kids to be feed. Actually you just let 150,000 to be suffered. It’s not very simple to get new jobs on the dot with the current loan and expenditure to be paid off.
   Various sectors will be affected. Our local market to be named a few such as retailers & hypermarkets, panel clinics, students tuition center, stalls & restaurants, workshops and so many etc. will be.
   Additionally, More problems will come over the country; suicides, crimes rating arise, foreign investors lack of confident and etc.
   It’s not fair to blame that all the vendors are UMNOs cronies. They are all our fellow friends; Malay, Chinese, Indian and Bumis from Sabah & Sarawak. To be named a few : Automotive Plastic parts manufacturer, Bolt and Nuts companies, Fabric maker companies, Mould maker companies, Car aircond companies, Painting companies and lubricants companies. Are you crazy to blame that they are all UMNO’s cronies? Come on man!! Be rational and more logic. Actually there are more 150 companies in the market involved with automotive sectors.
   Hey you man out there!! Don’t be too selfish to let down our fellow Malaysian citizen. Or you’ll be better to withdraw your citizenship and fly away to other countries. Malaysia won’t need you anymore. Our country just need the countrymen; men and women absolutely. Just the citizen that want to protect their beloved country.
   Just higher the car quality and protect the industry.
   It’s so easy to loose anything than to make the things. After all, you just doing so much noise rather to be the giver.
   Selamat berjuang Tun!!

6. Look at some of you guys, trying to give your half-hearted compliments to Proton.
   Just admit it, when Proton broke up with Mitsubishi, the cars they produce thereon are substandard. Proton has no experience in the research and development field. They are so bad at it they think by purchasing Lotus that would compensate for their inadequacy.
   Proton was ill founded on the concept that they will produce cars from Mitsubishi’s technology transfer. From past history, cars manufacturing companies are founded on the basis that they can produce and design most of the essential parts of the car like an engine for instance. An engine! You cant even design you own engine and you want to make cars? Lame!
   Proton dont even make engines until Campro came along. Even Campro itself is design mostly by Lotus. Malaysia is not a hi tech country whatever the government tells you people (or maybe we so happen to be the poorest hi tech country in the world). Only fools will believe that we are hi tech just because we have a car manufacturing industry. Note that i use car manufacturing industry instead of automotive industry.
   Automotive industries are Mercedes, Chrysler, BMW, Fiat, Honda, Toyota, Kia, Volvo, GM and whatnot. They start with a small and humble beginning, some even from garages or makeshift garages. Not freaking Proton. If you consider Savvy a car, you must be insane. Even WAja is copied from VW.
   If indeed the purpose of Proton back in the 80’s was to ensure that people had access to cheaper cars, i would concede. But if it was for the purpose of glorifying Malaysia as one of the Asian Tigers (obviously those were the days long gone), i have to say that what you did was unjustified. We have no right to be over our heads. This is already acting sombong.
   Look at Thailand and Indonesia, we know that get their shitty designs from Toyota and rebrands them but they dont call it an automotive industry, they’r just locally manufactured imported cars. Why cant we do that? Why go the unjustified extra mile?
   Malaysia was just like China during its failed revolution, forcing its way to an industrialised nation with no skilled manpower. The difference is we didnt starve to death. However, we are still plagued by the fact that we do not have enough engineers because our tertiary education sucks and people are just not motivated to get a degree. That is the attitude of Malaysians (dumb people are generally easy to command for the purpose of running and staying in power, no offence but its true, dumb people follow the smart one leads).
   Now Najib wants to encourage people like me to come back to Malaysia and contribute to society by giving us tax breaks and on top of that we can buy not one but two locally manufactured cars without being taxed. That is sooooooooo much better than native rights. I love you Najib you gumby.

7. Salam bahagia Tun.
   There is some hint of protectism of the national car. Like for example when the MIDA insisted that a cheap Thailand made Toyota Vios is to be priced at RM78K rather than its original intended selling price of RM55k. And how about Hyundai Elantra, which initially was to be priced at RM50K but was asked to sell at RM75K? It is to protect the national car from a direct confrontations of these cheaper and better built imported cars. Cheaply mass produced Hyundai cars were “dumped” into Malaysia market but priced at a premium with many dealers profiting well from the sale.
   Folks rather buy these cars although much expensive, in a believe that it is much more reliable than local made ones. And proton credited themselves on this.
   Proton have failed to lift itself out of the infancy stage, but its vendors has thou. Much of its vendors are already getting pretty rich, driving posh cars, and a couple even owned big Mercedes sedans.
   We have to admit and be honest to ourselves that Proton have failed to practice good business management. It lacked urgency, self reliant, and politically bound.
   Its very existence were politically initiated, where politicians milked it on a daily basis, in the expense of the Rakyat.
   Don’t be a blind supporter because this will only made Proton even worse. It means you have accepted that the quality as such, and in the interest of the nation, you are willing to accept inferior products and having rebadged japanese cars as our own national car? If so, why bother with the rebadging?
   Might as well just continue with the aging Saga with its many inferior quality components.
   If we continue to be ignorant, and does not admit to our flaws and work to improve it, I doubt we would be successful in this life time.
   I would dare to say that you will be angry if your newly purchased LCD TV developed poor picture just after a month, right? For just RM1,399 for a 32″ LCD TV, it may be cheap to you and therefore just like Proton, any flaws, you just accepted it as fate?
   Come on, wake up and start living. Don’t be a blind supporter just because one wants to be patriotic. This is not the way to build a quality nation.
   Salam bahagia.

8. Proton now is only protected by people in the low-middle income range. These people are protecting Proton because they cannot afford to buy foreign cars. Proton sells cars to Malaysians at exorbitant prices. In fact Proton sells their cars overseas at half the price the sell to the local Malaysians. Because Proton is artificially made affordable in Malaysia (by doubling/trebling the prices of foreign cars), the burden of subsidizing Proton falls on the low-middle income earners. People who can afford to buy foreign cars do not directly contribute to giving free cash to Proton. The difference between the taxed price and cost price of imported cars goes either directly as tax to the Government (import duties/tax) or into the pockets of very happy AP holders.
   If it is national interest to protect Proton, then the whole country should be involved in protecting Proton. Proton buyers should be given tax refund for half of the price at which they bought the car. If a Proton buyer pays RM70k for a Proton car, then he/she should be refunded RM35k via tax refund. The tax refund should be carried forward year by year until he/she is fully refunded. This should be so because a Proton buyer does not normally pay RM35k in annual income tax. The refund will come from the Government, which is funded by all taxpayers (including Petronas). This way, the whole country gets to participate in subsidizing Proton. Proton still gets to sell their cars at exorbitant prices, but at least it will paid by everybody rather than just the low-middle income earners. In fact their sales would increase tremendously and they would gain much market share if this scheme were to be implemented. Many would be encouraged to buy Proton. It would be a win-win situation. Protectionism lives. Everybody will be happy.

9. Tun,
   Malaysian income per-capita is RM22,000, translated to RM 1,800 per month based on below,
   http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Malaysia_spercapitaincometomorethandoubleby2020/Article/
   A decent proton variant probably cause about RM60,000. That is about RM 700 a month for car loan and with housing monthly installment of RM 700 for a reasonable apartment, then what is left?….
   Not only that car prices is expensive but the purhasing power of the population is low. That is why we see a lot of small cheap perodua kancil running around in the country but these are not decent car and the safety features are bare minimal.
   We should raise the income per capita. PM Najib target to double the income per capita by 2020. That should be about roughly 12% increase per year to 2020 which I doubt very much that we can achieve.
   About Proton, the fact is that our car is not at par with others in terms of quality, technology and comfort. I do not think that the excuse that the car is design as such in order to sell it cheap to the population.
   I agree with you that protectionism is necessary but the car delivered by Proton to the masses should at a reasonable quality. If Proton produce a sedan comparable to a BMW or at least a Hyundai, I doubt that there will be any complain. At the moment however, the current price of Proton does not reflect a good value to buyers.

10. Dearest Tun
    1-If Proton must go then it must go.The 50,000 people who are dependent on the car industry will find new jobs.They can also create new jobs if they can’t find any.Otherwise there are jobs available in Singapore or Australia.They will survive that’s for sure.Unless they are too choosy.Anyway that’s not your problem anymore.At least you have given them jobs for the last 25 years.
    2-If we do not enjoy the economies of scale our cost will always be higher.If our car is more expensive than the more established models, who would buy our cars in the export market?Even domestically if our Proton is more costly than a Honda or a Toyota of the same class ,I doubt I would take the Proton.Unless of course apart from a better design,I am also truly convinced the quality is at par if not better than the foreign makes.
    3-Even if our quality is as good as many in this blog actually believe I still think it is not going to be easy to convince the World, looking at just how difficult it is to even convince our very own people.Will Proton be willing to commit to a 5 year guarantee for all its new cars?Now if they dare that would surely help to associate quality to our cars but are we ready to deliver that?
    4-Therefore unless we can stop globalization from eventually affecting Malaysia it looks likely that Proton will be history sooner or later.Maybe we should let it happen willingly when we can still reap the best from the negotiations rather then see it happen later on when all the best opportunities now still available have already been fully grabbed by other countries.
    Thanks Tun

11. Hahaha…why waste time and money on proton. Perusahaan Rosak Otomobil Nasional. Basically banyak rosak.
    Anyway I’m very proud of the structure and concept of Perodua. If cannot do, just admit. At least got tranfer proven and quality technology & models.
    What is campro versus DVVT?
    What is Inspira versus Daihatsu?
    Even i Japan Mitsubishi behind Toyota. As for Proton is just Lancer-Ciplak.
    I’m proud Perodua make it most practical & profitable company. In fact lurves the designs.

12. It’s just struck me long time back when i drove along the highway,despite the high numbers of Proton cars on the road,why is it that I noticed it’s the expensives cars that’s always seems to break downs on the highway?

13. Protectionism has brought Proton to its knees. It cannot survive without the government. Its like a child who has been kept in diapers for the rest of its life. Helpless and weak. It lives inside a bubble, kept away from harm but when the bubble pops, it will soon find the harshness of reality.
    Every form of protectionism, be it with cars or human, will pay the ultimate price sooner or later. At least a car company can be wound up but for humans, its the inevitability of colonisation. The world one day will soon return to the dark ages as resources are scarce and the human population booming.
    When that time comes, no human values will redeem them. Its only hardwork and resilience to ward off competition. Be the best or parish and be forgotten.
    Enjoy yourself for now.

14. Don’t be like britain, over privatisation and no protection to their motor industry. end up all their motor industry gulung tikar.. such as austin, rover, jag, lotus. all belongs to foreigner now. so they can leave britain at anytime.
    because of the automative industries is no longer belongs to britain, the engineering courses in britain is also become less attractive. heard a few uni did not run this engineering courses due to less student.because britain require less engineer.
    Now britain is more on services industry. may be you are not aware, this services industry is very fragile. when come economic crisis this industry will collapse by itself.
    Basically, britain has very less economic fundamental to stand the big wind of economic crisis. they are geared for doom. well may be i am wrong.
    compared to germany, their automative industry is very very strong. from this they can create a lot of economic oppurtunity from supplying pin, carpet, glass to the engine itself. This has create a lot of job oppurtunities and the requirement of engineering for new material/ design/product will mushroom. indirectly universities need to produce more engineer to cater for this demand.
    Malaysia, we only have proton. we need to protect proton so that the chain of economic due to proton car is not collapse. if collapse, a lot of people jobless and ragut cases will be increased.
    in life, Tak semua benda free, you need to pay sometimes. in this case we have to pay for our next generation kesenangan as what was done by our previous generation before.
    well i am not alway right, but atleast i am ok to pay for it and it is part of my social obligations.
    wassalam.

15. TUN,I RESPECT YOU,AND VERY MUCH SECURE OF HOW UMNO,
    MALAYSIA RULING PARTY RULED MALAYSIA.
    I DID NOT SEE MUCH OF OUR GOVT TAKING ADVANTAGE,FISTS IT,S PEOPLE.
    NO DOUBT LESS CORRUPTIONS AS COMPARED TO MODERATE NATIONS LIKE,PHILLIPNIES,THAILAND.
    SINGAPORE THE GOVT DON,T NEED CORRRUPTIONS,
    THEY HAVE MADE THINGS LEGAL FOR THEMSELVES.
    I,M TOUCH OF HOW JPJ,CURB CONGESTIONS.
    BY RULING HEAVY,COMMECIAL VEHICLE ARE RESTRICTED CERTAIN HOURS IN A RESTRICTED AREAS.NO CASH INVOLVES.MAKE SENSE.NOT DOLLARS.
    IN SINGAPORE,THEY IMPLEMENT ERP,MEANING EVREY RULES IMPLIMENETED
    IT,S ABOUT REVENUE MAKING,INSTEAD OF UPHOLDING WHAT RIGHT THING TO TO PUT RIGHT.VEHICLES THERE PAY SO MUCH,ON ROAD AND ALSO NOT ON ROAD,DAY PARKING,NIGHT PARKING EVEN AT THEIR OWN HOME.
    IT,S 24HR PAYING.
    EVEN PAYING THE ERP SO MUCH,THE CONGESTIONS IS AT LARGE.
    SO IS IT OF MAKING MATTERS RIGHT,SOLVING PROBLEMS, OR A GREAT REVENUE.
    AND THEY TERM IT OH,IT,S THE LAW.
    AND YOU DON,T GO AGAINST THE MAN MADE LAW,YOU GET POORER,TILL FLAT.

16. Dearest Tun
    Sta has got a point there ‘ look at our useless proton still rebadging lancers after 20 years’.At least when we were rebadging the Sagas in those days the Mitsubishis `were not sold here.We have more pride then.
    I think going back to rebadging after coming so far is totally unforgiveable.I think Syed should resign for his lack of creativity and over simplistic leadership learnt from his many good years at Perodua, but a something any form 3 guy could also suggest is the easier and safer way of making money for the vendor supplier.A totally original Inspira may risk not being saleable.No sale, Proton bungkus.Proton bungkus Syed also bungkus.So play safe lah just rebadge an already selling car.Vendor supplier is happy,Syed is happy who cares about sta?
    Protectionism should be focussed towards the car industry not the vendor suppliers who are I think are mostly URCs(UMNO related cos).The more we want to protect the car industry the more we should be stringent with the suppliers.Do not protect those who are compromising quality.Get MACC to investigate and punish wrong doers severely as we would traitors.
    I love my country very much and I only want Proton to succeed.So protect it by getting rid of those quality compromising parasites if any.Do not forget to replace Syed too for that terrible crime after 20 years.Proton needs someone who loves the country more than his own backside.
    Thanks Tun

17. Dear Dr M
    Below is an article that appears in today’s issue of Singapore’s Straits Times written none other by the same author who wrote a book accusing you of corruption. The Straits Times carried the negative article with a half-page carricature of yourself in order to attract readers. He must have tried very meticulously to pinpoint whatever mistakes that he could derive in order to show that your autobiography contains so much inaccuracies and distortions that even a typo error in spelling the name of President Sheares was considered one of the cardinal errors in the book. Singapore’s Straits Times certainly has its own hidden and mischievous agenda in getting it published since the sale of your book has reached 40,000 copies after 3 weeks of its launch.
    Wassalam
    Mahathir Mohamad a polarising figure ?
    An Unbalanced and Unreliable Memoir
    Barry Wain – Straits Times | April 05, 2011
    Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has always been a polarising figure. He expressed strong views and adopted contentious policies during his 22 years in office – dividing Malaysians into blind believers or instinctive opponents – and he has continued to do so in retirement since 2003.
    The publication of his memoirs will only deepen those divisions. Nearly nine years in gestation, A Doctor In The House arrived with a thud: 843 pages – inside hard covers, with a jacket bearing a recent colour photograph of a beaming and youthful-looking author – weighing in at 1.7kg.
    In keeping with his theme song, My Way, Tun Dr Mahathir, who will be 86 years old in July, uses the occasion to discuss his life and career entirely on his own terms.
    He sees no reason to reassess most of the major political controversies associated with him: among them, the dismissal and prosecution of his deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; the sacking of Lord President Salleh Abas; and the campaign to oust his hand-picked successor, Tun Abdullah Badawi.
    He makes an exception of Operation Lalang, which saw the detention without trial of 119 people amid rising ethnic tensions in 1987.
    Yet even while conceding that his government’s response was ‘excessive’, he tries to shift the blame to the police for recommending the crackdown.
    Dr Mahathir simply brushes aside or ignores much of the specific criticism directed at him and his ambitious projects over the years, not even bothering to mention some crucial events in which he figured.
    A bold leader with big ideas and no time for critics who carp about details, he occasionally peeks in the mirror and recognises reality. Marina, the first born of his seven children, ‘turned out to be a lot like me: argumentative, stubborn, opinionated and always believing she is right’, he says.
    It should also be acknowledged that the book goes some way towards answering one question that has long puzzled political scientists: Why Dr Mahathir, a self-proclaimed ‘young Anglophile’ at 20, later developed a lifelong, virulent hostility towards British colonialism.
    He explains that his political awakening made him realise, ‘looking back’, that he had been ‘brainwashed’ to the point where ‘I forgot that I was one of the natives’, triggering a feeling of humiliation. ‘It was then that the decolonisation of my own mind and soul began,’ he says.
    Dr Mahathir might have been expected to take this opportunity to clear up certain personal issues that have long been the subject of intense gossip and speculation, such as his ethnic origins. Rather, he repeats without comment several stories that circulate about his father’s ethnicity and religion.
    He then adds: ‘I admit that some Indian, or more accurately South Asian, blood flows in my veins, but from which part of the Indian subcontinent my ancestors came I do not know.’ Also missing is any admission that Dr Mahathir concealed various important policy initiatives and developments while he led the country.
    For example, he verges on the misleading when he writes that ‘nothing of significance resulted from’ his first visit to the United States in 1984, when he met President Ronald Reagan.
    As I revealed in my political biography of Dr Mahathir last year, he approved the innocuous sounding Bilateral Training and Consultation (Bitac) agreement, which was, in fact, a secret security pact. Without informing Malaysians, he threw in his lot with the Americans, agreeing to naval ship visits, ship and aircraft repairs, joint military exercises in Malaysia and close cooperation between the two militaries.
    It would also have been fascinating to get an authoritative insider’s account of the long-ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno), whose history has been described by one former minister as ‘a mixture of political subtlety and crudeness, ethical practices and greed, fair play and foul… occasionally expressed with sheer ruthlessness’…….more.
    (The writer, who is writer-in-residence at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, is the author of Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times, published by Palgrave Macmillan.)

18. Dear Sir and Che Det bloggers,
    My dream cars are Ferrari and Lamborghini, both created by Italian car lovers of the same names. They don’t sell very many, but their cars are so very expensive, half of it the cost of the brand, half by the real hardware. Yet they are the dreams of so many around the world, not just me alone. And yes, they break down too, and suffer mechanical failures.
    I have also owned Volvos, BMW and Mercedes, and they are quite expensive, but to me affordable. They break down too, and their parts and services are very specialized, which means they are not cheap. But when driving these machines you get a real pleasure which many car lovers can’t really explain very well in simple words.
    The point is, all cars break down, so stop complaining about Proton cars breaking down. But we get angry about Proton cars breaking down because they are Malaysian cars and as Malaysians we are supposed to get angry with lousy Malaysian manufacturers. And also because we have heard about the management problems Proton had been having especially during the time of that intellectually senile Pak Dol.
    Apart from the comfort, performance, safety and other technical and aesthetic features of expensive European cars, there is also the factor of “snob value”. This snob value is most useful to be expressed against your former boss, that menyampah nitwit useless idiot who made your life miserable for a long time, or against former colleagues who collaborated with your former boss, who can’t go beyond second hand Honda. The Chinese use these expensive cars when getting married for feng shui reasons.
    Nevertheless, we hope that all our complains about Proton will make Proton to better themselves, so that one day Proton can be at par with big car names – Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Honda, Kia, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc, and we can be proud of Proton again. But for now, if you don’t have enough money, please buy Proton. Work harder, find more money and you can buy more expensive cars. Believe me, they will break down too.
    Owning expensive foreign made cars have the unspoken added advantages that will add up many years to your life, trust me. Nothing beats achieving a dream. Life is meant to be well lived and life well spent. I hope I will have enough money to buy the cars of my dream, the Ferrari and Lamborghini. But when I go the local surau, I’ll drive my Proton. Why? Well, you know why.

19. Saya amat menghormati Tun. Saya dah guna 3 proton. Wira, Perdana V6 dan Waja 1.8. Waja 1.8 hampir membangkrapkan saya. Saya tiada pilihan selain menggunakannya. Tak ada orang nak beli. Masaalah demi masaalah dan memerlukan belanja ribuan ringgit. Saya dah bayar lebihkurang RM 50,000 dari RM 77,000 harga kereta. Nak tahu berapa saya belanja untuk repair ? RM 45,000.
    Yang tak tukar cuma body, gear box dan enjin block. Setiap kali saya pergi ke Proton Edar untuk servis dan/atau repair, saya dapati banyak pengguna Proton merungut tentang kualiti.
    Apakah Proton tak pernah memantau kereta-kereta yang sudah habis warranti? Atau adakah Proton menggangap bahawa kereta mereka perlu lancar setahun sahaja ? Pemegang pintu kereta lain tahan bertahun-tahun, kereta saya hanya 18 bulan. Komponen lain lebih buruk rekodnya.
    Dudah 2 kali saya menulis tentang ini tetapi tiada jawapan dari Tun. Boleh dikatakan dalam tulisan Tun, Tun tidak pernah tackle masaalah ini. Kenapa ?

20. There is this movie called “Bedtime Stories”, starring Adam Sandler. It’s a nice movie. My son, my wife and I loved it very much. It shows that if you work hard enough, your dream will come true in the end.
    There is also a character from the movie that I am constantly being reminded of when reading some of the comments posted here. His name is Sir Buttkiss.
    I hope that people will continue to work hard so that one day we can afford to not buy a proton (or perodua), which I am also currently guilty of.

21. Salam Tun.
    During the last score the US has established herself as the undisputed & unrivalled grandmaster of hypocrite. They created a list of world order such as human rights, international terrorism, market forces, self defence, all with the intention of having the upperhand to scare other nations, even Russia and China.
    The word suspicion will suffice for israel to do a holocaust to Mavi Marmara in self defence, since the brilliant jews claimed cement can become a major component to make explosives!
    Saddam Hussein (related to B. Hussein Obama?) was suspected of stockpilng WMD, so israel instructed the US “kill Saddam and also 1million Iraqi Muslims in self defence of israel” which the US willingly obliged. Thus ‘shooting ducks to dead’ to 35,000 fleeing Iraqi soldiers, bombing crowded marketplace & overflowing hospitals are all in a days work! The US even allowed their sexy & curvy blondies to teach the world how to enjoy torturing Muslims at Abu Gharib!
    When that allround maniac Anwar told Soros “I’m the MOF, take all the share script you need from our banks, sell them and let’s us watch Dr. M’s looks when the index nosedived from 1200+ to 200+”. IMF then told Dr. M, without anybody asking why, “Those are market forces”. Fortunately Dr. M retaliated well, way beyond the thinking of the so-called economic experts, to save Malaysia and indirectly helping to rescue the other Asian countries.
    After Dr. M’s reign, that no quality Pak Dol PM5 & sil team realised that the best shortcut to make Malaysia very successful is to follow Singapura’s footsteps, that is being a ‘pariah’ to the US. However Pak Dol is shortlived, and sil to follow suit. Ikan yu’s(kuanyew) wide opened mouth salivating profusely in anticipation to gobble up Malaysia do not become reality.

22. Tun…Assallam!
    I clearly remembered in one of your speech (during our economic crisis in 1998) where you mentioned “Apabila kita di serang musuh dari luar, kita rapatkan barisan kita supaya kita teguh”
    Admittedly, our cars are cheaper than those local cars in the foreign land. We must appreciate the Government effort for this,if not,afresh graduate starting work will never be able to afford a new car if solely depending on imported cars. My salute to the governmentfor this. However, approaching towards a Developed Country status, we must work towards improving the quality of our products for local consumption.
    Imagine this.. a foreigner bought a proton in his own country ( with high quality standards) comes to visit Malaysia and sits in our local proton car….Boy!! He is in for a great surprise!!
    My greatest respect for you whom I grew up in your era as PM. Apart from Rasullah SAW, you are next being the person I respect most in this life. Wassallam.

23. Salam to Tun,
    While I agree that all countries in this world need a certain mechanism to protect their local industry or national interest, it is sad to see that many Malaysian are still very upset and have little confidence in Proton for whatever reasons. My suggestion to Proton is forget the local market,perhaps Proton should concentrate on building cars for international market following international specifications and standards. Compete with the likes of Toyota, Honda, Hyndai or even the so called luxury cars from German. Go and build your factory overseas if you need to (so that those 50,000 workers in Malaysia can go there and work – maybe it’ll do them some good and open their eyes a bit).Buy engines from other manufacturers (so what? almost all carmakes are doing it these days/ it’s just so expensive to produce one anyway), just focus on exterior design, safety and other gadgetry. Put Proton cars in every Hollywood movies (do you notice that there is always at least one Prius in many Hollywood movies) and major sporting events.
    Knowing Malaysian mentality, I’m sure Proton will win their hearts back. Maybe, if Proton is financially stonger it will help the Government in turn.
    Thanks

24. 15 years ago hyundai and kia were making lousy , fuel inefficient cars, barely better than our protons.
    just this year , hyundai has launched the Equus.
    a 7 series and S class competitor, with 5 series/E class pricing.
    using their home made 5 liter v8, and 8 speed gearbox.
    now look at our useless proton.
    still rebadging mitsubishi lancers after 20 years.

25. Dear Tun,
    Selamat Berbahagia Tun.
    The topic of this entry may be about Protectionism…But since you also included Proton, allow me my perspective to this discussion.
    I believe the main gripes about Proton are;
    1) The issue about Quality. There seem to be much comments on this. We believe Proton are working hard on this negative aspect. Perhaps some in the know can share with us what Proton is doin about improving the quality issues. I personally can see that the latest models far surpasses the older generation model, borh in terms of looks and performance.
    2) The issue of why customers in Malaysia have to pay a higher price for the Proton cars as compared to some other countries who import Proton and are able to sell them at lower prices. Again perhaps someone in the know can share with us if this is due to Proton’s marketing strategy, the importing countries policies or other factors. Lets not spam Proton for its sake. I personally can see that more Malaysian can now afford cars when before owning a car was like a distant dream…
    As for Protectionism…well that another kettle of fish all together..
    Proton need to get their act together faster…Tun if need to we should do a Nissan and get a Professional tested and proven CEO (Carlos Ghosan who is not Japanese) to lead Proton.

26. Dear Tun,
    Cakap tak serupa bikin, this is my first reaction to your Proton article.
    Ever see any of our leaders drive Proton (other than the official government owned Black Proton Perdana) as their personal ride? Answer is NO. Even if there is, out from those hundreds parliament representative and politicians, I don’t think not even one willing to drive the crippling Proton cars (maybe exception of few of less than 1%! As second car though).
    They say, “Kepimpinan Melalui Tauladan, Malaysia Boleh (rather TakBoleh), Ubah Gaya Hidup, naik basikal (yes, your best friend PakLah said that) and recently 1Malaysia, Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan (another piece of ‘action drama’ to blind the eyes and ears of Malaysian folks). You expect the rest of Malaysian to drive the problematic Proton cars and in the same time our leaders (with their so called prime examples) driving their huge Beemers, Mercedes, Maserrati, Porsche (ehem, terbatuk bila sebut Porsche, paham-paham sendiri lah Tun) and all those expensive cars. Heard that some politicians/Datuks are given free APs (correct me if I’m wrong) to own these premium cars?
    And US rakyat??? We have to owned some shitty quality cars made from “Tin Milo” manufactured somewhere at corners of the earth namely Tanjung Malim. Slapped with expensive local cars price tags, slapped with 5 to 9 years absurd bank loans, deal with the absurd quality/maintenance issues, slapped again with hideous income tax and ‘harga barang naik’, don’t forget recently “harga minyak” RON97 “naik lagi” (is this a sign of RON 95 going up soon?) and then slapped again for NOT being “A supportive Malaysian towards local products”? After 50 years, we have enough of your crap and Barang Naik government crap.
    Sarawak state election will seal the fate of Barang Naik government. The rakyat from East of Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah) have joined the “Sepak Barang Naik government” club! Let the “cleansing” commence! I say pack your bags and boxes and clear the office for the new government elected by the “rakyat”.
    End.

27. but at least can proton fix the power window?
    20 years in the industry but still could not have a functional power window would be a shame …

28. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Minta pendapat Tun,
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5t6A9wSMWo
    Terima Kasih.

29. Dear Tun,
    For the past 3 day, I have been trying to post some comments in your blog but each time I tried I have been blocked by Malware Virus. Just now, I asked my son to bypass the Isreali or Pakatan Rakyat blockade of your blog. He took 10 minutes to circumvent the virus blockade. This son of mine is a graduate of Imperial College London in BioMedical Engineering. He obtained Msc from King’s College London in Intelligence system. Currently he is lecturing in Numerical Methods in UiTM Shah Alam.
    amin tan

30. Dear Tun,
    It is heartening and enlightening to read the reasons for protecting our Proton. When we protect local industries, we are protecting jobs and incomes of those in the industry. However, Tun only explained part of the story. There are two issues of contention Tun did not explain.
    Firstly, Tun said we intended to tax big cars only up to 300%. I beg to disagree. Our small c.c. cars are more expensive than in England. Brand new car of 1000 c.c. on the road we can get for 5000 pounds in England which is equivalent to roughly rm25000. Similar car costs around rm40,000, the Iswara or proton saga, in Malaysia. Generally, people in England earn more than the people of Malaysia and they have higher purchasing power than people in Malaysia. Small cars is a necessity for most people in Malaysia because public transport is not comprehensive and efficient. This transfer of income from average citizens to the government is indeed a burden to the poor. On top of the high price, the interest rate is exorbitant, at least 3 times higher than that in England. We are supposed to be a muslim country, but our interest is very Jewish.
    The most untenable discrepancy is AP. Bluntly, AP is a gross abuse and it amounts to hugh cash hand out to certain individuals and definitely unfair. It amounts to corruption by the government, an unmitigated crime disliked and hated by most thinking citizens of malaysia. It shows badly on the government that introduces the current AP system to make certain individuals filthily rich at the expense of government revenue which otherwise, the billions could have been utilized to upgrade public transport. Small unconnected Bumiputra car traders are not getting any AP at all. The government is still perpetuating this illegal cash hand out in such hugh amount that it is day light robbery of the government revenue. If this huge amount of money instead is utilized as scholarships to deserving poor students, it would have endeared the people to the government. The giving of AP is like openly stealing the money from the government.
    This is one clear instance where the government is like an ostrich, burying its head in the sand and offering its backside to the opposition, some of whom are known sodomites.
    amin tan

31. Tun, I came from a poor family. My father was a car salesman and before the inception of the Proton project, he had to hop from car company to company like UMW Motors, Tan Chong and other companies selling Toyota, Nissan, Daihatsu, Mercedes and many other brands from time to time. Time was bad as car sales were hard to come by until 1985 when my father was among the very first batch of salesmen to be invited to join EON and my family was able to enjoy a better living as the sales of Protons were brisk and when I did my tertiary studies from 1986 to 1990, my father was able to pay for my expenses from the savings he made from the commissions he earned from Proton and from my loan from Kok Foundation, to both of whom I am indebted deeply. I am not interested to debate on the suitability of protectionism either for esoteric thrill or to feel trendy to beckon on the onslaught of globalization or the foreign industrialists under the cloak of fair trades like a hard up for money whore with a pair of unfolded arms to welcome her clients or to play to the gallery of people like the “have-gun-will-travel” Barry John “Wayne”, the rapid fire crackpot. I only felt compelled to state the above for otherwise I would not be able to fend off the accusation that I am an ingrate.

32. Dearest YAB Tun,
    I also believe that there’s nothing wrong for the Government to PROTECT PROTON. It’s like parents protecting their child. It’s so natural.
    I am proud to be able to contribute to the country by driving a Proton car. It’s ok to pay for something that will benefit the country. At least I am supporting our automotive industry and that’s the least I can do as a Malaysian citizen.
    Thanks so much Tun for your BRILLIANT IDEA AND VISION.
    ** May Allah SWT bless Tun & family **

33. Salam Tun.
    When the Japanese cars first entered the American market in early 1960s, the US carmakers dismantled all parts of every Japenese car model and made a stunning discovery; Japanese cars are basically motorcycles on 4 wheels! (Arthur Hailey’s “WHEELS”)
    The Japanese however have 2 distinct advantages:
    1. Thier cars were proven to be cost & fuel saving.
    2. Patriotism. They did not stop the US & European cars competing for Japanese market, but they just refused to buy them! The same patriotic sense were evident to all Japanese expatriates/diplomats throughout the world.
    Next, the Japanese just concentrated on improvement and customer satisfaction, which eventually made them a world leader and this has created the wrath of US who retaliated by introducing protectionism (the hypocrite!).
    In contrast, Dr. M’s grand idea on Proton did not earn a single encouragement, with MOF’s KuLi leading the smear campaign. Nevertheless, Proton was born.
    The Malaysian oppositions & anti-Mahathir morons are not interested that Proton has earned RMtrillions saving on foreign exchange, provide jobs and other related business opportunities, because all that they care is Malaysians must take note of their “we are the tong kosong club, please hate us” grouses.
    Note the disparity shown by Malaysians toward Proton as compared Japan’s Toyotas & Hondas:
    1. T’ganu showered Mercs to thier excos, DBKL tried to hide the Volvos accorded to the department heads.
    2. Affordable Malaysian companies/individuals/alibabas insisted that Proton Limo/Executive/Perdana don’t have ‘ummpph’ to enable them to show-off thier extravagant.
    3. Pak Dol ‘no quality’ PM5 was most upset when Dr. M interfered just after he finalised the list of potential buyers for Proton’s public auction!!
    4. Ingrates such as Ir. Syahriral never feel tired with the non-stop & same repetitive negative remarks on Proton (memalukan engineer aje).
    Proton must take drastic measures and sack the irresponsible QA/QC personnel, and appoint ‘kubakoya'(31/3/11,11:39am) as the new QA/QC director. Kesian lah sikit kat Ir. Shahrizal tu, dah bebuih mulut dengan komplen tapi takde tindakan!

34. Assalamualaikum Tun…
    Tun..saya sokong dengan Tun..kadang kala untuk menjaga masa depan anak bangsa kita..sesuatu perkara mestilah di kaji dahulu sebelum bertindak…walaupun pahit untuk ditelan…
    Sekarang kita boleh lihat berapa banyak syarikat kepunyaan orang Melayu atau bumiputera di Malaysia ini..terlalu sedikit kalau nak di bandingkan dengan syarikat swasta yang majoritinya dipimpin oleh kaum bukan Melayu atau bukan Bumiputera…
    Saya ambil contoh syarikat swasta di Pulau Pinang..pihak pengurusan saja saya boleh katakan 90% kaum bukan Melayu atau bukan bumiputera dan mungkin hanya 10% sahaja kaum Melayu atau bumiputera….itu kiraan saya secara rawak…itu hanya kemungkinan..mungkin lebih dari 90% kaum lain di syarikat swasta tersebut berbanding kaum melayu atau bumiputera..
    kalau ada kaum Melayu atau bumiputera sekali pun..mereka tidak mampu bertahan di dalam syarikat swasta yang mempunyai persaingan yang sengit..dan tekanan dari pihak pengurusan seperti diatas..
    Jadi bagi saya, di mana lagi syarikat yang membolehkan anak anak Melayu berteduh dan mencari rezeki dan belajar cara untuk menguruskan syarikat kalau bukan di syarikat syarikat GLC seperti Proton.
    Bagi saya, kalau mereka itu (kaum bukan melayu) boleh menjaga dan mengekalkan kuota majoriti atau hak mereka di syarikat syarikat swasta, mengapa kita tidak boleh berbuat demikian. Biarlah kaum lain nak menuduh saya perkauman di sini sebab saya sudah muak dan meluat dengan dasar tutup mata atau buat buat tidak ada masalah dengan dasar perkauman di Malaysia ini.
    Ya Tun, memang saya menyokong slogan “1 Malaysia” yang di laung laungkan oleh Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, mantan Perdana Menteri kita yang ke-6, tetapi ada sesetengah di kalangan kita rakyat Malaysia terutama bangsa tersebut hanya berpura berpura menyokong slogan itu tetapi pada dasarnya amat membenci slogan itu. Kalau tidak masakan terjadi masalah masalah peniaga di P.Pinang. Orang kata cinta itu tidak akan berputik kalau kita hanya bertepuk sebelah tangan.
    Jadi bagi saya, orang Melayu di Malaysia perlu sedar akan keadaan ini. Jangan nak jaga periuk nasi sendiri, periuk nasik bangsa sendiri dihapuskan demi kepentingan diri. Bangsa lain hanya mampu ketawa melihat telatah kita mengutuk syarikat yang majoritinya mempunyai bangsa kita sendiri.
    Mereka ini lebih suka GLC di hapuskan supaya tiada lagi Melayu/Bumiputera cerdik pandai dapat menguruskan syarikat. Jadi lebih senang mereka hendak memonopoli dan menyerang institusi politik dan ekonomi kita di masa akan datang.Fikir fikirkan lah masa depan anak anak dan cucu cicit kita. Mereka itu amat memerlukan GLC dan kerajaan untuk membantu mereka di kala ekonomi Malaysia sedang dikuasai oleh bangsa asing.
    Jangan fikir diri sendiri sahaja. Banyak lagi kaum Melayu/Bumiputera yang tidak bernasib baik dan masih memerlukan bantuan kerajaan dan syarikat GLC seadanya. Fikir sebelum bertindak..itulah jawapan saya kepada saudara saudara saya sekalian…..terima kasih Tun kerana sedarkan saya tentang perkara ini….
    P/S:
    Kalau kaum lain kata..bangsa Melayu masih memerlukan tongkat untuk berjaya..saya kata..mereka pun diberikan tongkat cuma bukan kerajaan yang memberikan tongkat tersebut kepada mereka atau mereka sudah lupa atau buat buat lupa dengan tongkat yang diberikan oleh kerajaan kepada mereka sebelum mereka dapat tongkat dari tempat lain.
    Bangunan mana yang mampu berdiri teguh sebelum diberikan simen dan bata untuk di jadikan tiang. Walaupun bangunan tersebut telah siap sekali pun, bangunan itu masih memerlukan penyelenggaraan sekiranya rosak atau perlu di naik taraf. Bagi GLC, kerajaan lah tempat untuk menyelenggarakan syarikat tersebut. Bagi syarikat swasta atau MNC mereka mempunyai pelabur luar untuk menyelenggara syarikat mereka. Tidakkah itu “Fair & Square” wahai kaum bukan saudara ku…

35. Dear Tun,
    You and your family are driving Proton cars or Imported cars?
    Because a lot of Malaysian peoples saying that your family double standard. Your family driving only luxurious foreign car like Porches, Jaguar….. Because your family despise low quality locally made Proton car.
    Thanks.
    Best regards,
    Malaysian People.

36. Salam Tun & fellow bloggers,
    To critisice is easy and cheap but to have a constructive critism need knowledge and that what a few commentor protrayed themselves… lack of knowledge but more based on emotion. Taking plus & minus, it is a fair picture that make proton proud. Compared proton to other cars in the industry, we have to accept the fact proton is still realtively, young. What they need to do is not to sit still but to innovate & develop. Proton despite a few negative comment should be a natioal pride. But people like Lionelchee who definitely must have other personal problem, pick proton to drown his frustration by writing such creative comments. He should not only complain but complain loudly he must, through all available media. Because that was NOT done I wonder whether what he described was true or just his imagination.
    All in all I wish to say that we Malaysian should be proud of having Proton and feel blessed but not to completely run it down. Emulate the Japanese & Korean for their patrotism and national pride that lead to their success. That should be the least that everyone should have, NATIONAL PRIDE.

37. SALAM KASIH DAN SAYANG
    AYAHANDA RAKYAT TUN
    Izinkan,
    …
    BE PROUD of what one has, and not compare with what others have.
    Dear Tun Mahathir and Tun Hasmah
    We are very proud of you [and PROTON also. We have another besides the Satria], Live Long And Prosper.
    Best wishes
    ALPHA TANGO And Family.
    Sdr. ALPHA TANGO..we TANGO 2 with your comments..
    Have a nice weekend with the family.
    ALFATIHAH, AMIN

38. Salam Sejahtera Tun.
    Jangan hiraukan manusia sebegini Tun, orang saperti ini mana-mana pun komplain.
    Kalau tak buat kereta mereka kata kita mundur dalam teknology pembuatan kenderaan.
    Satu saja ungkapan saya kepada mereka ni, HATI BUSUK, Suka sangat melihat Melayu dan Malaysia mundur.
    Saya telah menggunakan kereta Proton bertahun tahun,sileh berganti, tak ada masaalah pun.Agak nya yang pakai proton yang ada masaalah ni ganas sangat kot.
    Sekurang kurang nya tak pernah pun Proton di panggil balik saperti kereta Eropah dan Jepun.
    Tak Tau lah Tun manusia berhati busuk mana mana ada Tun.Jangan hiraukan mereka.
    Terima kasih Tun, May Allah Bless You.Amiin

39. In this fast changing world that affect our daily life and knowledge-base has left people ignorant of many things. World views need to change. Games people play getting complex. To stay on top if not in the pecking order the end is more important than the means.
    Ignorance led us to say that we do not need protectionism or subsidy. That is what ill-intended parties drum up to confuse us but they themselves do otherwise. We are to be blamed if we failed to strategize and counter their economic psych-war. There is no end to cunning.

40. Salam sejahtera Tun dan seisi keluarga yang dikasihi,serta juga semua para pejuang Che Det.
    Ramai warganegara Malaysia berhati busuk kepada negara sendiri.Mereka bangga bersikap demikian,kononnya merekalah warganegara yang bijak.Ramai juga dari mereka ini berada dalam jabatan kerajaan,amat malang sekali.Jika inilah sikap mereka,maka sebenarnya mereka ini hanyalah warganegara pada kad pengenalan sahaja,bukannya di hati nurani.Mereka bukan rakyat sejati,mereka adalah musuh dalam selimut yang tidak berselimut lagi.Golongan ini tidak ada negara sebenarnya.Mereka ini tidak sesuai mendiami negara membangun seperti Malaysia ini,patutnya mereka pergi ke negara maju sepertimana yang mereka idam-idamkan.Golongan ini hanya akan merosakkan masa depan negara.Politik terlalu memberi muka kepada mereka.Jangan lupa kuasa sebenar adalah kami yang akan mempertahankan tanah ibu pertiwi ini hingga ke titisan darah terakhir.

41. Dear Dr Mahathir,
    Sorry, this time I disagree with some of your mentioned ideas.
    You have mentioned that cars are heavily taxed to reduce import of petrol.
    The question is why the government wants to reduce petrol imports? Answers are obvious such as cost, environmental issues…etc.
    The question follows, so what did the government do to reduce Petrol usage & what infrastructure the government have developed?
    The obvious answer is building more highways and roads which caused the killing of many Malaysian because of fatal accidents, which have been sky rocketing in the past years. In addition the highway infrastructure have forced people to pay more money & put more financial pressure on low & medium income Malaysians because of the expensive tolls the government is charging.
    The Malaysian government ignored developing & financing public transport till the government realised that the population in Klang valley will be 10 million by 2020 which suddenly makes the government decide to build new rail system to relief the pressure. In other words, the government acknowledged the fact that using personal cars will paralyse the transport in Malaysia and affect the economy growth.
    With the absence of government investment on public transport, Malaysians have no choice but to rely on personal cars to reach their workplace.
    If reliable public transport is available and developed by the government, 50,000 Malaysians will not be thrown out of work. This can be seen in many developed cities in the world, like in the UK, Germany, Australia…etc.
    Developing public transport can bring more benefits to the country & Malaysians than taxing imported cars for many reason:
    First, public transport will bring money to the government.
    Second it will reduce significantly green house gas emission and protect environment.
    Third it will reduce importing petrol.
    Fourth it will reduce the terrible traffic jam which caused a lot of stress and accidents to Malaysians, and most importantly it will significantly reduce the fatal road accidents and protect people life.
    So why the Malaysian government continued to tax imported cars & not investing on public transport (which has much more advantages than importing cars)? The obvious answer is there are some top government officials benefiting from importing cars & making significant fortune. Those officials are holding cars import licences & their whole aim is to make more money. In addition, their aim also to make Proton cars fails so that it will not compete with the imported cars.
    Proton cars overseas (in some countries) are soled at least 25% cheaper than Malaysia & exported Proton cars quality are much better quality than Proton cars sold in Malaysia.

42. Q : Why is the government protecting PROTON?
    A : Why not?

43. Tun,
    I was fortunate enough to be a speaker at the ASLI Automotive conference in KL. I was on stage with Tengku Mahaleel and your son Dato Mokhzani.
    Tengku Mahaleel invited some friends, and decided he would not only moderate the session, but also he would become a speaker.
    He said how cheaply one can enter Motorsports at a grassroots level.
    Personally, he had borrowed his grannies car, added a guard underneath and drove it around his family estate (Not residential, rather agricultural).
    I politely kept quiet, I had no mike. But I must say, when I first came to Malaysia in year 2000 (working for Lotus Engineering) the one thing that was far more expensive than anything in Europe or America was cars.
    Even second hand cars were unbelieveably expensive.
    I realise I was sharing the stage with two very wealthy gentlemen, how a normal working Malaysian can buy a 5 year old car on an eight year loan and then race it, particularly in a Rally is beyond me.
    Grass roots for some people is very different from others.
    I don’t come from a privileged background, so obviously this colours my view.
    Most people need cars just to shop, work and get their Kids to school. For others they are a luxury and a hobby.
    Having said that, I think the skills and technology that come with Motorsports should be nurtured and taught widely.
    John Mansfield

44. yes, true indeed….i hope this answers the question posted by the inquirer/complainer……and if still not satisfied, please dont stay here anymore…..go migrate somewhere else (which i’m sure you’ll not welcome too!)

45. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    No doubt about protecting our business as others also protect theirs. 100% agreed. I support the vision to have our very own cars and technology. I have several locally produced cars like Proton and Peroduas. I think our complain most is about the shabby work and the quality of our own product.
    We should attain certain standards. The nation is not young any more. We MUST and constantly remind the consumers not to compromise with quality and standards. That is the pride of any nation.
    Allow me to relate one report in Australia many many years ago where consumers boycotted locally produced cheese because the cheese company exported a higher quality cheese.
    Protection yes, No to sub-standards
    Terima Kasih dan salam sejahtera Tun

46. Dearest Tun
    1-Is it so hard to ensure quality in our local cars?Not hard at all if there is a political will of our one Malaysia Najib.A true independent audit on quality can be done from time to time.But if Najib is still the I help you you help me guy now that will surely not help.
    2-What if the component supplier happen to be owned in proxy by this powerful UMNO chap or that powerful MCA chap that our Syed himself cannot do anything about unless of course he wants to be sacked like Tengku Mahaleel?To maximise profit you must reduce the cost and the cheapest of cost is of course the low quality made in China inputs in these components.
    3-To prove to you about the quality of our Malaysian cars all you’ve got to do is just station yourself near the Toll Plazas and observe the people who would rather open their door instead of unwinding their window screens to pay their toll.
    4-Majority I believe will be owners of Malaysian cars of both makes Proton or Perodua 5 years onwards whose auto window screen operator has already malfunctioned and become unpredictable,it works as and when it wishes.
    5-Both of my Peroduas bought brand new share the same problem,one is now a 8 year Kenari and the other 5 year Kelisa.The latter just developed it very recently.
    5-My sons have lived with the problem though. Not really a big deal as they have now learnt to accept the Malaysian mediocrity as a way of life.’What do you expect this is a Malaysian car,so don’t worry be happy.At least the engine still work..lets count our blessings’.They would further remind me ‘the minds on its own can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven…’
    Thanks Tun

47. Tun
    Your site has some serious malware / virus.
    Please have someone look into it ASAP.
    Thank you
    ALPHA TANGO

48. Dear Tun
    When reading the NST’s Cars Bikes & Trucks, there would always be at least a comment by a reader complaining about being deprived of buying a non-National car because of the so-called protectionist policy favoring PROTON. We find this rather annoying.
    I have traveled to most parts of the world repeatedly and staying in countries and cities for a few weeks each time I visit. In my line of work then, I had to study and know the local government and business policies as well as the peoples’ cultures, ethics, etc. One would be amazed at their high cost of living, high prices of necessary goods [foodstuff and groceries] and exorbitant cost of luxury products. My conclusion is that even though I love visiting these countries and staying there for a few months, I do not relish living there.
    This is because after considering everything, Malaysia is like “Heaven on Earth”, probably with the exception of its hot and humid weather ! But then, an American friend once said “You cannot have everything”.
    When I was in Seoul, Pusan and other South Korean cities, the only non-Korean cars were the odd Mercedes-Benz and Lincoln Continentals. Odd because they were very few, and I was told by the local populace, such cars are owned by conglomerates or the gangster chieftains !
    I am sorry to say but it is also similar in Japan, albeit with more choices of foreign cars but still at very exorbitant prices.
    The protectionist policy in Indonesia left us with no choice but for Protons to be used as taxis [I do not know of the current situation with Proton there now]. Yet, a lot of Indonesian-assembled cars are allowed into our country.
    The same goes for Thailand although Protons are now “freely” available but only recently. Almost all pick-ups and some passenger cars sold here are imported from Thailand. People saying Protons are expensively-made for sale into those countries are gravely mis-informed.
    I believe Sri Lanka does not have local assembly. But to give an indication, Protons sold there cost over 3 times more, with hire-purchase interest rates at an average 12 % flat annually and limited to a repayment period of 4 years. BTW, their fuel is over 3 times more than ours ! I have to say that the ordinary Sri Lankans must be very rich to own these cars.
    What Tun says about the other countries are true, I have been to most of those countries and especially familiar with their foreign import policies.
    To those who gloat, saying things are better [and cars are cheaper] in other countries, there are many options available to them.
    Granted cars sold in Britain are relatively cheap. But then, they no longer own any British car marques. Tata owns Land Rover, Bentley is under Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce is by BMW and etc. Lotus is ours [a former colony !]. For Protons to be saleable in UK and Australia, its FOB prices have to be very competitive in order to “overcome” the import duties and local taxes imposed there.
    Under Tun’s forward-looking vision, leadership and many other positive and favorable attributes, we cannot forget that we have benefited a lot.
    Under its present management, the quality and beauty [especially with the Waja, Gen2, Persona] of Protons have improved tremendously. As testament to its build quality, the Proton Satria 1.3 Manual which I bought for my eldest son when he got into UTP as a Petronas scholar some 9 years is still performing admirably. “BAMbee xxx” [the only BAMbee in UTP] was then used by his 2 younger siblings immediately after they received their driving licenses and is still being used daily. With proper, regular servicing, the Satria still does not even need a top-overhaul !!
    Malaysia is still “maturing” and needs to maintain its current business and automotive policies to protect her interests. So long as the playing field is still not level, we also must play by our own rules – Malaysian rules.
    We now have more choices in cars, both foreign and domestic. Bottom line is that if one has the money and ability, go for the BRABUS. If not, keep quiet and just get the PERODUA. One should buy within one’s means. Likewise, one cannot go to ARMANI’s and tell them to lower its price because one wants to buy an ARMANI jacket !!
    BE PROUD of what one has, and not compare with what others have.
    Dear Tun Mahathir and Tun Hasmah
    We are very proud of you [and PROTON also. We have another besides the Satria], Live Long And Prosper.
    Best wishes
    ALPHA TANGO And Family.

49. Sorry. I made a mistake in my earlier comment. The price of proton in bahrain was 4.5 thousands dinars, not 45 thousand dinars.

50. I just returned from Bahrain. I had been staying there for two and a half years, during which I bought and used an imported car. As the cost of petrol is very cheap over there(~RM0.60/l), the car I used had quite a big engine (3.7 l). Had I bought this car in malaysia, it would have been 3 times the price i bought in bahrain. Petrol in malaysia is also 3 times the price in bahrain. Over there, this car is seen as a family car. Mothers drive their children to school and soccer practice in this car. But in malaysia it is seen as an exclusive luxury car. It is a luxury car because i’ve seen people sit proudly on the passenger seat while being driven around by their chauffeurs.
    There was a proton showroom in bahrain. They sell waja and gen2 models, both at the same price. The price was even cheaper than the family car that I had. It was 45 thousand bahraini dinars (this roughly translates to RM36 thousand). Nearly half the price that proton is selling the same models to the malaysians in their own country. But i discovered this a little too late as my contract has already ended and i was about to leave bahrain. If i had more time i would have bought a brand new proton in bahrain and bring it back to malaysia (tax free for returning malaysian expats). I could have then sold it back to the malaysians in malaysia at a handsome profit.

51. Nothing wrong with Proton in fact without Proton many of us will be without cars. Now, ‘cos of Proton many houses having more than one car. In some cases there are more cars than the number of people in a house. And we know that the Europian countries are also very protective and won’t allow not only Protons but other brands from Asia including China and Japan to invade their market.
    Proton models have improved so much as compared to the first model. The country need Proton.

52. I always believe, and I have written in my blog @abchek.blogspot.com, ie don’t push Mahathir to the corner. He definitely will crush you to the wall.
    (2) Tun, facts prevail. Your Nation Building interest surpassed all those shallow minded criticism. What wrong with protecting our interest? Is it bad to fence up your home, so that the thieves and robbbers can’t just walk in free?
    (3) Please don’t always dance to academic notions. Worst if we being too much influence by especially the West. What is that so great about Free Market, if the proponents are the only one who benefited. Why only attacked Proton, why not the same applied to soya bean, sun flower oil, corn oil? Dare the West openly make their market free for oil palm oil inflow?. If they dare, then we can stop subsidizing Proton!

53. Assalamualaikum Tun.
    Arghh…Tun sembang je lebih.Kalu Proton tak kena protek mane saya nak beli motor modenas dengan instalment rm105,kurang rm35 dari motor EX5?
    Sebab Proton kena protek la ramai orang yang tak mampu boleh beli kereta.
    Kalu tak mau saya pi raya rumah Tun tempoh hari?Arghh…Tun jangan nak sembang la…
    Terima kasih Tun.

54. Salam tun..
    Somehow, there are reporting your website as a potential threat to computer, as soon as I upgrade my Mozilla Firefox. And they seem to be a problem with staying in your website. An adobe form keeps on coming out, once you click ok, the site restarts. Thus, I think your site might’ve been hacked.
    Take care Tun.
    Still missing you a lot. ( And my mom too )

55. Dear Tun,
    Thanks for your enlightenment. I would like to relate my story when I got my new 1.5GL Proton Wira about 9 years ago. The car cost me about RM52k. My wife was excited and we waited for the brand new car to be delivered to our house. The salesman passed the key to my wife and my wife test drove the vehicle. The whole car was shaking and we believed it was the problem with the tyres. We returned the car and had the car back within 2 days. My wife took the car to the petrol station to fill up the tank. Unfortunately the petrol gushed out the moment she tried to fill the tank. The car was again taken to the authorised workshop and they found the mechanism in the petrol tank faulty. We waited for a week for the replacement of the tank. A week later, we found the sunshade was not working and again we have to send the car back to the workshop. Within a period of 3 months, the temperature meter, hand brake indicator and rain water started to seep into the boot of the car. During that period we have made numerous visits to the workshop and they changed the dashboard. As for the rainwater problem, I drilled a hole through the floor board of the boot. I gave up drying up the boot every time it rains. For the price of RM52k, this was the most expensive car in the world if we compare the value against the quality. After six months of using the car, I bought myself a Japanese car. Until today, this Japanese car is still serving my family with trust and reliability. As for the Proton Wira, my family use it as a spare when we send our Japanese car for servicing. We dare not take the Proton Wira for long drives because one may never know when it will break down.

56. You dont have to go the long and roundabout way to maintain/raise government revenue.Just stop all the corruption of the polititians,especially of the ruling UMNO and you will be surprised by how much will be saved.The duties on cars,or whatever is needed to maintain government revenues will be min iscule by comparison!Whatever you have stated of the other countries may be true but do they have corruption on such a massive scale as in Malaysia amongst the administrators,polititions and those in power?No doubt there is corruption at5 the lower levels of society but the quantum is miniscule compared to those in power.Do something about it and you will find all your answers there!

57. Ayahanda Tun,
    1. Not only Proton Group benefits, those AP importers also benefit from earning by earning more revenue before tax to run their automotive trading business by marking the imported cars’ unit price higher.
    2. Why these people complained?
    3. They complained because they like to talk rubbish, and they assumed all of US like to listen to craps so that they can get lobby costs or be lobbiest by some big guns.
    4. Furthermore, by talking rubbish, they have nothing to loose wat because they prefer to listen to rubbish may be due to some break down in their personal lives, contohnya berhutang banyak.
    5. Even media publishers loves rubbish writing just to ‘tangkap muat’ so that their essays look long and their papers look thick and worth buying with the price of RM1.30 – RM1.50 only, efficiency in cost and revenue in negative zone because people deny rubbish reading?
    6. News on Anwar has made their circulation broke record in the past, but not today because we have other material to read.
    7. Anwar is good in rubbish politicking through Reformasi, not Transformasi, and this kind of policticking is oledi outdated since 1998, did he do it, does it matter?
    Good day, Ayahanda Tun.

58. Salam,
    What an amazing lesson of economics in a nutshell. However, only one who is totally oblivious to whats really going on in the real world would accept it as the truth.

59. What people feel sad is not only about tax structure in Malaysia.
    It’s about Proton policy & strategy which move backward.
    After introduce Proton Gen2, Proton said they are in 2nd generations where they design their own car from scratch to the final products. That why that car name Gen2. Although that car not a perfect car, but actually they make Malaysian feel proud with their own product. Mean that Proton not copy or just rebadged other car anymore.
    However, recently after govt protection for more than 25 years; Proton move backward in term of their business strategy. They make “collaboration” with Mitsubishi to make Inspira. Unfortunately, this so called “collaboration” just a rebadged of Mitsubishi Lancer. It’s not about transfer technology how to make engine or transmission. In other word it mean a copy.
    We compare with Lancer; there is no development, it just cosmetics change (bumper).
    Last month, Proton make agreement with Nissan to make new Perdana. Unfortunately, it will be a rebadge Nissan Fuga.
    Yes, Mitsubishi Lancer & Nissan Fuga are good car. But it being design by Malaysian. That’s why Malaysian sad.
    In term of Proton cars quality. It already improve but still not on par with Japanese car (even as a rebadge car). For an example many Proton Inspira had defect compare to Lancer. as a prove we all can see in Inspira & Lancer club forum; where total car complains in Inspira forum since launch more or less same with Lancer forum although Lancer had been there since 4 years ago in market.
    Car tax structure in Malaysia could be lower further & rearrange to help rakyat.
    In Langkawi & Labuan, Proton Inspira sell price is higher than Mitsubishi Lancer. Is it not fair for rakyat to pay higher price for local product.

60. SALAM BUAT TUN BERDUA MOGA DIRAHMATI ALLAH S.W.T
    1) SEMUANYA TERPULANGLAH KEPADA TUAN PUNYA YANG MENCIPTA KERETA INI. KALAU DIA RASA HARGA INI BERPATUTAN DAN ADA ORANG YANG MEMBELINYA TERUSKANLAH. BIASALAH SEMUA ORANG AKAN KATA MAHAL WALAU PUN WANG TELAH DIKELUARKAN KERANA TANGGUNGANNYA YANG TERPAKSA DIHADAPI TERUTAMANYA KALAU BERHUTANG.
    2) TETAPI NAK KATA ORANG YANG KATA HARGANYA TINGGI SALAH TIDAK BOLEH JUGA KERANA RESIKO YANG TERPAKSA DITANGGUNG SEMASA TEMPOH BERHUTANG.
    3) SEMUANYA KENA ADA SIFAT RAHMAH. MAKSUDNYA SESUATU PERKARA YANG MEMUDAHKAN ADALAH JALAN YANG DAPAT MELARISKAN JUALAN. ADAKAH ‘MURAH’ SATU PERMINTAAN YANG SALAH ?. MURAH ADALAH SATU SIFAT YANG ADA PADA ALLAH S.W.T. TERUTAMA MURAH DALAM BENTUK PERCUMA DAN MAHAL PADA PAHALANYA.
    4) MURAH DAN MAHAL BERGANTUNG KEPADA KADARNYA. BAGI UMAT ISLAM KADAR YANG DITETAPKAN DALAM AL-QURAN ADALAH YANG BENAR. SEBALIKNYA YANG TIDAK MENGIKUTNYA ADALAH KEUNTUNGAN YANG BERLEBIHAN YANG AKAN MENJEJASKAN PAHALA DAN DOSA.
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    6) CONTOH LAIN DARI SAMAN YANG DIKENAKAN. DULU RAKYAT TIDAK MERASA BEBAN SAMAN RM 30 TERHADAP KESALAHAN. RAKYAT SANGGUP MEMBAYARNYA MALAH PIHAK YANG MENGELUARKAN SAMAN DAPAT JUTAAN KALAU RIBUAN PENDUDUK TERKENA SAMAN. KINI RM 300 BEBANNYA PADA RAKYAT MENGUNTUNGKAN PENYAMAN BERBILLION. TIDAKKAH INI SATU TINDASAN KEMANUSIAN.
    7) KEMALANGAN MASIH BERLAKU JADI MENAIKKAN HARGA SAMAN BUKAN JALAN PENYELESAIAN MENGAJAR PENGGUNA INSAF MALAH JALAN MEROSAKKAN KEHIDUPAN MANUSIA TERUTAMA KOS KEHIDUPAN MALAH LEBIH ZALIM DARI HUKUMAN PENJARA YANG MEMBERI PELUANG MEMBETULKAN AMALAN DIRI.
    8) KERETA CIPTAAN MANUSIA YANG DIBELI CARA TUNAI SATU KORBAN WANG KEPADA PERKARA WAJIB LAIN YANG SEPATUTNYA DI DAHULUKAN DAN KALAU HUTANG MENJADI BEBAN SERTA DITAMBAH LAGI SAMAN ,INSURAN, CUKAI TIDAK MENGIKUT KADAR YANG DIBENARKAN HANYALAH UMPAMA MAINAN YANG DI NILAI OLEH HUKUMAN MANUSIA SAHAJA.
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    10) SEBAGAIMANA SEORANG NABI MUHAMMAD S.A.W (ISRAK-MEHRAJ) MEMINTA ALLAH S.W.T MENGGURANGKAN BILANGAN SOLAT SEHINGGALAH KEANGKA LIMA, BEGITULAH KITA MANUSIA MEMERLUKAN PEMIMPIN YANG SANGGUP BERJUANG MEMPERTAHANKAN HARGA PERCUMA DENGAN KADAR TETAP DAN TIDAK MENERUSKAN CIPTAAN YANG DIREKA SEBAGAI SATU JALAN UNTUK MENAIKKAN HARGA YANG ASALNYA PERCUMA DARI ALLAH S.W.T.
    WALLAHUA’LAM

61. Dear Tun,
    Thousand thanks on your Proton brainchild or else many Malaysians would not have afforded the luxury of owning and driving cars. It was a step on the right direction. On the contrary, if we do not develop our national/local cars, our roads these days would be inundated with old/second hand foreign cars as many can’t effort to buy new ones. Malaysia too would lose out in our foreign exchange and employment not to mention technology and design transfer.
    The Proton story is a good success story except that the AP holders are enriching themselves with government handouts(spelled licences) much to the disappointment of those estranged group (out of favor group) who could not secure AP permits.
    This is one field area that I raise my hand in saluting you, Tun. But changing the Malay rustic mindset and feudalistic culture is something I found that many of my Malay leaders have failed miserably.

62. From point 7-17, none of those points explains why the people of Malaysia have to pay double the price for foreign cars. These points shows what the government do to support their own industries yes, but not by making the imports more expensive that they have to buy inferior home-made products.Some of the points like point 7 and 12 is not relevant at all. What cars aren’t imported into Singapore? And in Germany,financial tariffs are given to people to scrap old cars and buy new one, what the hell it got to do with this topic. Is it such a torture that they have to sell their old car and get incentives to buy a NEW Volkswagen.. “Ahh this is crazy..i could’ve bought me a Toyota or a Proton if it wasn’t for this stupid incentive. Instead i end up with a Volkswagen”.

63. US and Japan protect the natioanl car companies after they protect the people. The quality of the cars are made as maximum as possible since it directly impact their people safety on the road. As you said, one defect harms its users, the company producing the defective car has the possibility to be closed.
    Tell me about Proton safety measures? I still can’t understand why their SE edition prefer skirtings than 6 airbags? If it is not because the main objective is to sell cars for profit, not to provide Malaysian with safe and reliable cars, then what is?
    Every cost cutting jeopardized people life, people who are not as wealthy as YB’s who drives Mercedes. Or who cannot afford even Honda City.
    In order to achieve your goal to have national car, later to protect the company, you allow cheap cars to be produced with minimum safety requirements. While to fulfill Europe standard, Proton Gen2 sold in Europe with full specs at lower price.
    I well understand how the business run, how to fit in every country’s market, how to keep the supply and demand balance, how to raise profit for the nation, but was it the best to do?
    After I finished my study, I got PTPTN to pay, with INTEREST. Then, I work for foreign company who cares only the RM, I was TAXED. Then later, I buy a national car because I cannot afford to buy safer imported car .The government TAX the car, price like hell.
    I bought the National car with bank loan money, it comes with 4% INTEREST, so the price is not cheap anymore. Plus the INSURANCE that raise money from statistic that in 2005, out of 15,000,000 insured cars, only 300,000 cars involve in accident. 14,700,000 paid money for to the big fish for nothing. To have the car without airbag, the life INSURANCE company need less words to promote their package.
    So now to buy house in KL?
    You should try to remove the Malaysian dependent mentality on cars, and concentrate on public transport. Open the car market, let the material price take control. Over time, we have extra steel to recycle and extra trains for traveling across Titiwangsa.
    So the people don’t have to borrow money from banks to own depreciated assets, but to own land, houses and business that appreciated over time.
    You have to keep us rich, we keep the government rich (not UMNO).

64. Dearest Tun
    1-We want Proton to stay.Yes do whatever is necessary to keep it going.Being a car maker makes us feel like a great developed country.I understand that there’s just eleven of us in the World.
    2-All we want is better quality car that can also sell in other countries.Like the Korean cars.In Malaysia we only have Kia,Hyundai and Rexton but in other countries they also have Samsung and Daewoo cars.The Korean cars today look even better than the Japanese cars.Why can’t we we do the same.I thought Malaysia Boleh?
    3-Instead of making us proud to do things like that exporting originals to the World ,under the new CEO Syed he brought the great Perodua technology into Proton.A great thing called rebadging that has recently delivered us the Inspira and I believe more of these advancement is coming.Aren’t we proud of Syed, Tun?
    4-My wife’s 2 year Proton Saga is making a lot of funny noises now.Last week the main door handle of her car just got loose and appeared like its falling off, a truly strange phenomena for any new car I have had owning new German and Japanese cars.
    5-Somebody is definitely cutting corners Tun and this is the thing that Tun could possibly do to help our car makers.Somebody is surely making money delivering us cheap things in our components and I think Tun it is not too difficult to do something about.If only you want to,you’ll know just what to do.
    6-Just my opinion.Thanks Tun.
    Thanks Tun

65. Tun. I dont really care how much tax imposed on foreign car. seems like all malaysian could afford a BMW nowadays.
    I am more concerned on Proton. I bought a proton and would like to support proton all the way. but seems like proton dont want to help itself. from the quality of car proton produce, each car is overpriced.power window until today is crappy.cant a proton even have a decent power window? then the display panel such as FOC indicator and such. not to mentioned the overpriced proton service centre.i just couldnt believe my eyes they charged me RM150 for an ATF. I heard all sort of dodgy things happening in proton. vendors charging way higher for crappy quality parts. All this fact, maybe I’m wrong, maybe you could shed a light to it. The CAMpro engine, the body and handling got really big improvement. kudos to that and i am really proud of it.
    If proton want the people to support them, then proton should support the community back, by not linching away our hard earn money. i dont mind spending more on quality. from what i heard, the americans and japanese pay way cheaper for their owned produce car and we commonly know how high the quality these country produce car.why cant we be that way. All i’m asking for a better quality. Throw away all these crony vendors all i can assure proton quality gonna shot over the roof.

66. Assalamualaikum wr wb,
    Dear Tun Mahathir,
    I support your views regarding the political economy. ASEAN cannot afford to arbitrarily open its market to giant Western corporations while its own industries are still small and struggling to survive. The West and Japan has the advantage of technology which we in ASEAN do not – or at least not yet.
    ASEAN should rely on import substitution until its own industries can compete with Western ones.
    In the meantime, indigenous industries MUST try their very best to climb up the technology ladder. We cannot pretend that trade protectionism is forever – because it isn’t. We can only buy some time so that our own local industries can catch up technologically.
    If Malaysia’s economy is dominated by giant Western corporations, then Malaysia – in particular the Malays – will lose political autonomy ! If Western corporations control the economy and the Overseas Chinese in Malaysia look up to the West – then what future do the Malays have ?
    Tun – the Malays in Malaysia do NOT have a sense of urgency regarding this matter. Here in Singapore, the Singaporean Malay is very worried about this. We (i.e. Singaporean Malays) know that our future depends on the future of Malaysia. Malaysian Malays cannot afford to fail. So please urge the Malays in Malaysia to close the technology gap.
    Wassalam
    Dr Syed Alwi Bin Ahmad (Alsree)

67. /// 6. Is the Government doing something that other Governments are not doing? I list below the measures taken by other countries to protect their economy.
    7. Singapore : Buyers have to pay a high price for a certificate to import cars. ///
    Yes, Singapore has one of the highest, if not the highest, car prices. However, the taxes are not to protect the economy, or even the local car industry. It is to control the number of cars so that the roads are not congested.

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