Well, actually, the national car industry began losing its way soon after the launch of Proton itself. Instead - as dreamt by Mahathir - for Proton to make cars for the people of Malaysia (Read: low cost), its price started to spiral up where it is now beyond reach of many a Malaysians.
What Proton should do is to start from scratch again: Design good and efficient cars within the reach of the lower income. But it is also not good to do so if the quality is shoddy. Even Proton's top range models cannot compare with a medium range foreign car. Proton seem to reserve its best only for the export market, when it is the local market that supports it. This seem to be the prevalent view of the locals and I am no exception.
In justifying its cost and survival to the local vendors, I would dare say Proton is not tellling the truth. Yes, many vendors rely heavily on Proton. But at the
same time these vendors are also fighting to survive. Proton, it seems, has a policy where vendors would be favourably sought if they lower their product costs to Proton each and every year. It has come to knowledge that some vendors - in trying to keep to this policy - has lowered the quality of their product/s; a certain item which should contain 30% of Grade A plastic and 10% of Grade B, is now the reverse (10% Grade A and 30% Grade B). But it seems it matter not to proton as the price for their makes keep rising and rising. With the drop in quality, the very safety of passengers and drivers of Proton should also be mentioned.
But, if it is any consolation to Proton, it is not them to be fully blamed. It is the whole mental attitude of those in power. I say this not because I dislike them, but it is the whole truth.
Each and every time the government announce a project of any magnitude, the first beneficiaries to such
project mentioned would be the tourist, or the tourism industry. it would seem that Malaysia and Malaysians are born to be nothing but slaves to the tourist, much like the sex-slaves of certain countries. But where these countries once heavily depended on the money brought in by the sex-tourist, they are now less dependant on it and are making headways into industries which Malaysia once pride itself in. And Malaysia, well, we seem to be heading the opposite direction.
Dear people of those-in-power, when you do things, do it earnestly and honestly for the people - your people! Do not let your people be the humiliating subject of picking the crumbs, not on the table, but from the floor of passing tourist. Put pride in your people and not take it out of them. Put humility in yourself and not self-bravado which leads to nothing but bruised ego and self-humiliation.
Raja Petra Kamarudin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Car industry has lost its way
BY NIK KHUSAIRI IBRAHIM
The Star
Malaysia has lost its direction in the automotive industry, former Proton chief executive officer Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff said.
Instead of becoming a car exporter, Malaysia was reverting to a labour supplier in the industry, he said.
Tengku Mahaleel: Says Malaysia is reverting to a labour supplier in the industry
Expressing frustration over the fate of local carmakers, Tengku Mahaleel said the national car faced competition even in its own homeland with the emergence of âpseudoâ national cars.
âSome local manufacturers use local logos for imported cars. How can such cars be truly national cars, when the content of imported parts and components is high?â he asked.
âI am frustrated with this development. I am frustrated for Malaysia,â he told reporters after giving a lecture on Governance and Transparency in the Automotive Industry at Universiti Sains Malaysia here yesterday.
Tengku Mahaleel also questioned how many of the 17 automotive factory operators were car exporters.
âWe are importing more than we export. When we import more, we are spending more.
âThe duty imposed on some of the cars is so low that the Government loses billions in tax collection,â he said.
Tengku Mahaleel also urged the Government to formulate the Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3, 2006-2020), adding that IMP2 ended last year and that it was tough for the industry players to embark on strategies without a direction.
âWe are bound to suffer losses amounting to billions of ringgit because we do not know where we are heading,â he said.
--
Posted by Raja Petra Kamarudin to MT-news at 1/19/2006 01:15:35 PM
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