NOT until Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Dr Ong Kian Ming explained it, the idea of a third national car was hardly understood by most Malaysians.
If it is about producing electric cars, then we should give it our full support, provided Malaysia is able to attract a good Japanese investor seeking to expand its Asean market.
This should have been Proton's strategy a number of years ago when it started to develop the electric car (or hybrid) engine.
However, to make the third national car viable, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should put in place the infrastructure to produce these cars for the Asean region as well.
As we all know, Malaysia does not have such a huge market as Thailand or Indonesia.
The third national car should put its focus on exporting the electric cars to other Asean countries, capitalising on the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) that was signed in 1992.
It is no longer about national pride, but what makes economic sense, so that Malaysia will no longer be burdened by another loss making industry.
The government should no longer be involved in such businesses, but allow the private sector to champion it, or else, abandon the idea.
Stephen Ng
Kuala Lumpur
If it is about producing electric cars, then we should give it our full support, provided Malaysia is able to attract a good Japanese investor seeking to expand its Asean market.
This should have been Proton's strategy a number of years ago when it started to develop the electric car (or hybrid) engine.
However, to make the third national car viable, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should put in place the infrastructure to produce these cars for the Asean region as well.
As we all know, Malaysia does not have such a huge market as Thailand or Indonesia.
The third national car should put its focus on exporting the electric cars to other Asean countries, capitalising on the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) that was signed in 1992.
It is no longer about national pride, but what makes economic sense, so that Malaysia will no longer be burdened by another loss making industry.
The government should no longer be involved in such businesses, but allow the private sector to champion it, or else, abandon the idea.
Stephen Ng
Kuala Lumpur