M’sia-Indonesia to revive car-producing joint venture
JAKARTA: The Government has identified the companies to revive a joint venture collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia to produce cars.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a joint venture project to manufacture cars between the two countries was proposed in 2015 but did not take place because he became persona non grata to the previous Malaysian Government.
Proton and PT Adiperkasa Citra Lestari signed an MOU three years ago which stated the two companies would conduct a feasibility study and explore areas of cooperation.
Dr Mahathir, who was Proton chairman then, said the joint venture could be expanded into producing an Asean car.
Yesterday when asked if it would be a governmenttogovernment project, Dr Mahathir replied it would be taken up by companies which had been identified.
During his bilateral talks with President Joko Widodo at Bogor Palace yesterday, both leaders agreed that the joint venture project should be revived.
“The JV was stopped because I became a persona non grata. Now I am not a persona non grata and the person who made me a PNG himself is persona non grata now.
“I hope this project could be revived,” he told the Malaysian media at the end of his twoday official visit to Indonesia.
He also said Jokowi responded positively to
The JV was stopped because I became a persona non grata. Now I am not a persona non grata ... Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
the possible revival of the joint venture.
Indonesia is the first Asean stop for Dr Mahathir since he became Prime Minister on May 10.
Earlier yesterday, Dr Mahathir was accorded a state welcome by the Indonesian government at Istana Bogor.
It was a repeat of the state welcome he received 24 years ago when Suharto was president, but this time the person welcoming him was Jokowi.
Dr Mahathir and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah were accompanied by the Calvary Brigade Detachment of the Indonesian army when they arrived at the Istana compound. They were greeted by Jokowi and his wife Iriana at the main building.
Dr Mahathir then inspected the guard of honour mounted by the presidential security force and was later invited by Jokowi for what had been termed as a “verandah talk” – a media photo opportunity.