ZAHID: NO STAND ON 3RD NATIONAL CAR PLAN YET

More details needed before we support or oppose idea, says opposition leader

THE opposition has yet to decide whether to support or oppose the third national car project. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said various factors needed to be looked into before the opposition took a stand on the project, which was expected to be rolled out by 2020.

“We have to be fair to the government. We cannot be hasty in making a stand before getting details on what has been planned.

“Right now, it is just an idea. There is not even a working paper (on the project).”

Zahid added that the opposition needed to know details, such as the amount of investment needed for the project, the number of vendors which would be created, domestic market for a new car brand and export potential of the vehicles produced, before making a stand on it.

On PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s statement urging the government to reconsider its plans for the third car project, Zahid said it was the latter’s personal opinion.

“He may have his reasons for rejecting it.”

On Monday, Rafizi, along with MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, joined the chorus of objections to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s proposed third national car project, saying that Malaysians would suffer if it got off the ground.

In separate statements, Rafizi and Wee urged the government to reconsider the plan.

Rafizi said the project would cost a lot of taxpayers’ money to implement and Putrajaya could not start something the people did not want.

He questioned if a detailed study had been done before the announcement that the third national car project could be launched by 2020.

Wee said if the government revived Dr Mahathir’s “old dream”, it could lead to skyrocketing imported car prices.

He said the previous government had put in place unfair policies to restrict and heavily tax imported vehicles and their component and parts to protect Proton, the national car project started by Dr Mahathir during his previous tenure.

He was also quoted as saying that “reality and post-mortem” reveal that a third national car would not have a bright future.