Posted by wies > 2014-05-27 11:58 | Report Abuse

Dear Mr Khoon,

The economics behind is actually sound however as always the implementation of it leaves much to be desired.

Lets take a look at the Singapore side to try to understand the correlation. Though it is not exactly apple to apple the principle is very similar. Lee Kuan Yew was complaining in the 60s that Singaporeans were spending their discretionary income on Japanese akai radios, mercedes etc resulting in huge outflow of sing dollar that do not remain in Singapore domestic economy and benefits only Advance countries that have the technology to produce them. As a result to limit the outflows and to increase gov coffers to build infrastructures CPF was created and later COE for cars. What this does is instead of feeding fat cats from other countries the money remain within the country.

That is where Singapore got the money to build so many HDB at below market price early on and able to provide homes to almost everybody who...can work.

Malaysia was greedy and much corruption has seeped in the system. As you said Mr Khoon blind nationalism and racialism. Singapore use the money gained to further strengthen their economy, human capital, education, tech etc. Malaysia got AP Kings, monopoly kings that collects the rent and into own pocket.

Posted by mmtalents > 2014-05-27 17:47 | Report Abuse

always all is about Pride and Ego when come to people running this country.. malay said maruah, Chinese said must have face.. but our pocket got big hole, every month pocket kosong, when some people left pocket in, right pocket out, my salary already kosong before come to my pocket, income tax took it, house loan took it, car loan took it, credit card took it...........

Posted by jolie2 > 2014-05-27 20:12 | Report Abuse

old man try to act young. Pls admit you are already senior citizen and you should show good example to your grand children (if you have any).

Posted by gymkhana > 2014-05-27 20:31 | Report Abuse

fuh... deep inside... btw facts

Posted by sunztzhe > 2014-05-27 21:09 | Report Abuse

What happened to MH370 was indeed very unfortunate and tragic.PM Najib stated that it ended its journey in the Indian Ocean. Tun Dr Mahathir has a different opinion. Where is MH 370? Where are the passengers? We do not really know and Only god knows what had happened. Our fervent prayers go to all the unfortunates onboard.

Now let us focus onto you as a car consumer living in Malaysia. As a car consumer living in Malaysia, have you compared the prices of Proton cars and other car brands in the Malaysian market? Have you researched and obtained price info of the other car makes(Proton equivalent or near equivalent) in USA, Japan and Germany?

Do u notice any difference in quality cum technical specs between Protons for Malaysia market versus Proton for overseas market? What is the price to consumer of Proton in Malaysia and in overseas market?

Do u see any difference between the car price of Proton, other brands in overseas markets? Do u also see any price difference between Proton and the other competitors in the Malaysian market? Is there any difference in technical car specs in Malaysia compared to the overseas markets such as USA, Japan and Germany?

Having done all that and taking a position of an average wage earner and a car consumer in Malaysia":

Is the average Malaysian car consumer earning an average income which is much lower than the average incomes in USA, Germany and Japan financially better off with Proton or financially better off without Proton?

Posted by kmohan62 > 2014-05-27 21:23 | Report Abuse

Dear Mr Khoon,

I can't agree more with your opinion and your diagnosis and prognosis of TDM and his perennial antics to be forced appointed as Proton Chairman!But what I am sure to happen in weeks or perhaps months to come is that...our `beloved' ex PM will find ways and means to force potential car buyers espcially the middle class to buy Proton...he will find ways and means to circumvent whatever trade agreements we are party to i.e. AFTA and force the prices of foreign marques to go up one way or the other...thus forcing locals [ those low and middle income earners] to revert back to buying the so called national cars..My 2 cents worth of advice to those planning to buy a foreign model soon...rush to your nearest dealer and sign in the dotted line..

Posted by TengkuAnyok > 2014-05-27 21:48 | Report Abuse

Mr Koon,

I 100% agreed to your very detailed article above. Very pertinent remarks,sensible,apprehensive,very appropriate. Constructive and thought provoking to intellectuals who is forward looking.
This article is tactful and served to widen the narrow visions of most malaysian who had been economic/financial victims for more than 20 years due to the ego of an ex-Pm. Keep it up and perhaps translation into BM and chinese language will see the message reach a wide readership.

Posted by NNNN > 2014-05-28 15:01 | Report Abuse

I believe Dyana Sofya is a good example of young Malay generations who no longer tolerate with this kind of governments old fashion- own benefit policies.

Posted by sunztzhe > 2014-05-28 15:07 | Report Abuse

The young generation of Malaysians are much more open minded and liberal compared to their parents. The move towards liberalism is an irreversible trend and surely it will gain more traction with time.

Posted by ikan bilis > 2014-05-28 22:23 | Report Abuse

!st that doctor is old d, 2nd he is outdated , 3rd what the heck he knows of car ? engineering? design? 4th he belongs to hospital / clinic NOT automobile company!!! gv me back my tax monies !! don't spend my tax monies on his salary !!!! nia mar....

Posted by sunztzhe > 2014-05-28 23:07 | Report Abuse

Every Malaysian car consumer will definitely want to stretch their disposable income $$$$$$$. Anything that increases the cost of purchase and deprive them of their choice of selection is certainly not welcome by everyone concerned

Why should one man decide what car and what price an average Malaysian car consumer should pay for? Did all Malaysians give him the exclusive right to decide for ALL?

Posted by ruslimz > 2014-05-28 23:08 | Report Abuse

Proton and Kia started manufacturing cars at the same time....Kia now is the world brand.......proton....kampung brand..build low quality cars..

Posted by ruslimz > 2014-05-28 23:20 | Report Abuse

it is very easy to sell more proton cars......enforce yearly mandatory inspection of cars of more than 10 years.....DRB is lobying all out for goverment to enforce this.....rakyat all out objecting ...may be new chairman can help proton on this matter........

Posted by up41 > 2014-05-29 13:31 | Report Abuse

Mr Koon, Yes it is bad taste to compare to MH370. And thumbs up to you when you promptly apologized. It takes courage to apologies.

Do you or anyone knows about this privatization of Proton in details especially the loan guarantee part. Is the government meaning we tax payers, guarantee the loan Proton owes to banks and what not. And, who fund the future expansion ? $ from EPF ??

It may be possible to turn Proton into profit but not from selling cars. The lands in Shah Alam is worth billion I suppose. Just move the whole factory /operation to Proton city in the North ( which is under utilized, I guessed), then the land could bring in a lot $$$$ for proton. But why let Proton made the $$, the land could be sold to............... Just kidding

Posted by Yin Mei Kuen > 2014-06-06 16:47 | Report Abuse

good article mr koon!

Posted by johnny cash > 2014-06-06 18:35 | Report Abuse

this ma...thir is a purest anti western type..

Posted by kk123 > 2014-06-06 21:15 | Report Abuse

Lastly , dr m shld come up with concrete plan on how he intend to turn around proton .. apart from getting loans from the govment , from the rakyat/taxpayers
Nowadays rakyat more smarter than those days when he rule with cronisym & almost 90% majority in parliament
Now BN has slim majority and any hanky panky can result in even lower majority

Posted by Barbarian > 2014-06-06 21:20 | Report Abuse

Feels like dr M is the PM again. He seem to be the one to issue critism or praise a leader should. like the critism levied on Jais and MH370 Boeing .......when Najib was only quiet

Posted by sunztzhe > 2014-06-08 21:01 | Report Abuse

After almost 30 years of existence and protection, What has PROTON got to show to all Malaysians about its real achievement in Malaysia and overseas market?

PROTON had achieved nothing to date that merits commendation and it still want more protection to survive??

Does Dr Mahathir still think that Malaysians can still be fooled by more protection for PROTON is good for you, the Malaysian consumer??

Posted by Nancy Tang > 2014-12-08 21:50 | Report Abuse

Proton is his baby ... if bankrupt ... he loose face big time , so what do you think he will do ?!!!

Posted by Farhan Azrayl Zailani > 2015-02-12 18:34 | Report Abuse

I don't care who their leader is. All I know is I'll will now start buying car parts from http://ikutkiri.com since I found them last week. Other places keep trying to raise their prices