DAP wants emergency Parliament debate on the Proton crisis and the test of will between Mahaleel-Mahathir and Rafidah-Proton Board

Media Conference Statement
by Lim Kit Siang  

(Parliament, Wednesday): I have this morning given notice to the Parliament Speaker, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah, to move a motion of urgent definite public importance in Parliament tomorrow on the Proton crisis and the test of will between the Proton CEO Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Ariff and the Proton Adviser Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed on the one hand and the Minister for International Trade and Industry, Datuk Paduka Rafidah Aziz and the Proton Board on the other.

My notice to move an emergency motion submitted to the Speaker this morning reads:

“That under SO 18  the House gives leave to the Ketua Pembangkang and MP for Ipoh Timor YB Lim Kit Siang to move a motion of urgent definite public importance, viz  the serious allegations by Proton CEO Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Ariff who  has been backed by  Proton Adviser Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed that government policies are hurting the national car firm.

“On  27^th June 2005, the Proton CEO in an interview with Oriental Daily, lamented that  Proton, a Government-linked company (GLC), was being treated unfairly under a government policy that was not transparent and discriminatory with Proton unable to figure who its enemies are.

“”On 28^th June 2005, the Minister for International Trade and Industry Datuk Paduka Rafidah Aziz said that Proton’s own ‘shortcomings’ were responsible for its decline in market share.

“On 29^th June 2005, Proton Board of Directors held an emergency meeting and asked its CEO to explain his Oriental Daily  interview in  questioning the government’s automotive policy.

“On Tuesday, 5^th July 2005, Tun Dr. Mahathir came out in full defence of Tengku Mahaleel Ariff  and elaborated on the government policies which hurt the national car firm, viz:

• Statements by top government leaders undermining public confidence in the national car;

• Irregularities and indiscriminate issue of Approved Permits (APs) to import foreign cars. Out of the 67,000 APs issued last year, only 12,600 were given to 82 companies while 20 companies received  54,400 – ‘which is not in the spirit of nurturing Bumiputera entrepreneurship’.

• Under-declaration of imported cars.

“Parliament must urgently debate the latest crisis in the 20-year-old Proton, not just on who is right or wrong, Mahaleel  and Mahathir or Rafidah and the Proton Board, but what is in the best interests of the nation and the 26 million Malaysians.”

(06/07/2005)