Prime Minister Najib Razak wants national carmaker Proton to rely less on Malaysian buyers and build up a strong export programme instead.
According to The New Straits Times, Najib said that the government’s RM1.5 billion loan granted to Proton in April was not a bailout as it came with a few conditions, including finding a strategic foreign partner.
“We stepped in because the well-being of the people is always our first concern. We will never fail to support Malaysian workers and suppliers. We will always fight to ensure that no one is left behind,” Najib was quoted as saying during the official launch of the new Proton Perdana on Tuesday.
Moving forward, the government expects Proton to meet strict standards of professional management as well as to ensure that the company has a model for long-term sustainability, added Najib.
“The loan was not a blank cheque. The company must prove itself, both in the domestic and the international markets. Ultimately, Proton must build up a strong export programme and become less reliant on Malaysian buyers,” he was further quoted as saying.
On Tuesday, Proton re-entered the D-market segment with the launch of the all-new Perdana. The new Perdana comes in two variants: the 2.0- and 2.4-litre, priced at RM113,888 and RM138,888 respectively.
