‘Third national car will not be like Proton’
> Miti deputy minister says PM’s vision for the new project is to propel the automotive industry into something more sustainable and green
KUALA LUMPUR: The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), which is confident of completing its review of the National Automotive Policy (NAP) by year-end, assured that the third national car mooted by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will not be like Proton, according to Miti Deputy Minister Dr Ong Kian Ming. He said Mahathir’s concept of the national car project is not about going back to Proton, but for energy efficient vehicles (EEV).
Ong said the NAP needs to look at new mobility pathways, trends in driving patterns, and be adjusted with the improvement in public transportation and vendor development in the ecosystem.
“There are many things that can be updated in terms of how we want to make the aspiration of Dr Mahathir to propel the automotive industry into something more sustainable and green.
Inputs from the industry and stakeholders are important to help Miti shape this NAP. We hope the public do not think that Dr Mahathir’s intention is to revive Proton as Proton 2.0. There are many more ideas that he has,” Ong told reporters at the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce-Shell Premier Luncheon: Sustainability in Business, yesterday.
He said the third national car project will be open to all inputs and ideas of cooperation.
“Dr Mahathir has spoken on the possibility of having an Asean car with cooperation with Indonesia, so there is opportunity to explore with other players, but looking at the angle of how the NAP is going at an international level, moving towards electric cars and EEV, and the value chain that comes along it, which includes electronics, artificial intelligence, internet of things – that would be part and parcel of the ecosystem.”
On the matter of free trade deals, Ong said the government needs to decide on the ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) first before it can discuss on free trade agreements (FTA) with other countries, but remains committed to the existing FTAs.
“We’re already negotiating RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) and is part of the countries negotiating it. Whatever happens to CPTPP will not affect our direct participation in RCEP at this point in time,” said Ong.
Earlier at the event, Ong spoke about the government’s short term priorities in reforming for sustainability, which are to reduce and restructure national debt, put in place institutional and policy reform and design new narratives and strategies for investment and growth.
He said ministers will need three to six months to get a complete grasp of their respective ministries.
Its long term priorities are to realign the country’s fiscal structure and priorities, reform institutions for sound leadership, policy and justice, as well as to change the underlying structure of the Malaysian economy. This will take two to five years, before the 15th General Election.