KUALA LUMPUR – The contribution of Proton and Perodua to the local automotive industry has enabled both companies to remain treated as national car manufacturers.
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, however, said the two car companies need to ensure that the criteria as outlined under the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP 2020) are adhered to.
“With the criteria laid out under the NAP 2020, any company other than Proton and Perodua that can meet those criteria is also eligible to be considered as a national car project and be given similar treatment,” he said in a question-and-answer session at Dewan Rakyat today.
He was answering Lee Chean Chung (Petaling Jaya-PH) who asked why Proton is still given special treatment despite it no longer being considered a national carmaker.
Liew said that among the criteria for a Malaysian vehicle project are majority local ownership, a focus on developing the local supply chain, conducting local research and development activities, and providing job opportunities for the local community.
He said Proton has provided 8,500 job opportunities – 99% of them from the local community.
“Proton also appoints more than 180 Tier-1 local companies in its entire supply chain and the average value of local procurement is between 75% and 80%, especially for models that are fully developed locally,” he said.
Therefore, he said his ministry will constantly monitor Proton and Perodua’s compliance with the criteria and will update the policy periodically in line with developments in the global automotive industry. – Bernama, March 13, 2023
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