Proton Has No Preference On Strategic Partner

TANJUNG MALIM, April 7 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd has no specific preference on the suitor for its strategic partner as discussions with foreign carmakers Volkswagen and General Motors are still ongoing.

Proton's managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamad Tahir said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was still looking at the Volkswagen and General Motors proposals in relation to Proton.

Syed Zainal said while the decision to name the strategic partner should be made quickly, this should not be done in a hasty manner as it involved the future of the country's automotive industry.

"I think all stakeholders understand the importance (of the strategic partner). We are working on the deadline but decision is not a simple matter. I think our stakeholders have been consulted and the main issue is that the government and the country's objectives should be met," he said after the launch of Miyazu Malaysia Sdn Bhd here today.

Asked when the decision to name the partner could be reached, Syed Zainal said the government would announce it at an appropriate time.

"Let's not press the government," he said.

The government had missed its self-imposed deadline of March 31 to announce the strategic partner for Proton.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop was quoted as saying that the government was still evaluating the strategic partner for Proton.

Syed Zainal, however, declined to reveal the "sticky issues" that were probably causing the delay in finding Proton's partner.

He also dismissed a suggestion that similar "sticky issues" had caused the negotiations with PSA Peugeot to collapse last month.

-- BERNAMA

09-04-2007: Proton unit to localise automotive dies needs

Automotive dies and moulds designer and manufacturer Miyazu Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Miyazu Malaysia) expects to fully localise the automotive dies requirement for at least one car model within the next five years.

Proton Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamad Tahir said Miyazu Malaysia’s new plant would be able to manufacture and localise over 400 dies annually, and help reduce dependency on foreign expertise in terms of the design, engineering and manufacturing of dies.

Miyazu Malaysia launched its advanced automotive tooling plant on April 7 in Proton City, Tanjong Malim, with an initial investment of RM30 million, while further investments of up to RM100 million are expected in the coming years as the company anticipates future growth of the industry.

“A full-fledged automotive manufacturing company in Malaysia now imports 90% of its tooling requirement, which is equivalent to about RM250 million for every new-model development programme.

“Miyazu Malaysia, as part of the Proton group of companies, targets to reduce this by 60% by 2012. This amounts to up to RM150 million in import substitution with local components, per every new-model development programme,” he said in a statement.

Miyazu Malaysia is a result of a collaboration between Proton, Miyazu Seisakusho (Japan) and Sojitz Corporation, and the launch of its new tooling plant marks Malaysia’s entry into the highly specialised and technology-sensitive industry of designing, engineering and manufacturing of automotive tools.

Its chief operating officer Amrizal Abdul Majid said the company would be working together with the local toolmaker cluster to spur the tools and dies industry in Malaysia.

“Miyazu Malaysia’s position as an anchor Class A large dies and moulds producer will pave the way for the formation of toolmaker clusters. This in turn will result in the creation of an even bigger supporting industry such as casting, hard chroming, machining, production of dies components, logistics and calibration,” he said.

The 3,600 sq metre plant on a 4.2ha site houses state-of-the-art critical tools of design such as art design, engineering machining and finishing facilities to produce the dies and moulds for the production of automobile components such as roof, hood, fender, dashboard, door panels, side panels and other body panels.

Besides Proton, Miyazu Malaysia’s portfolio of clients include Perodua, Toyota, Mazda Japan and Takao Thailand.

PM to meet VW heads to discuss possible Proton tie-up

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that he will meet with Volkswagen's top officials in hopes of wrapping up talks on a foreign alliance for national car maker Proton.

"I am waiting,'' Abdullah told reporters.

"I am expecting (them) to come anytime.''

He did not elaborate.

The Malaysian government missed a self-imposed deadline Saturday to finalise a strategic partnership for loss-making Proton with a foreign company.

The government is in talks with Volkswagen AG and General Motors Corp., the two remaining foreign contenders after France's PSA Peugeot pulled out last month.

"At the level of the officials, (the talks are) nearing completion,'' Abdullah said.

"We want to conclude the talks as soon as possible.''

Malaysia's government owns around 43% of Proton through its investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, and has stressed the need for foreign expertise, preferably via a stake investment, to revitalise Proton.

Over the past seven years, Proton has seen its market share plunge from nearly 60% to 32% in Malaysia, Southeast Asia's biggest new passenger car market with about half a million units sold each year.

Proton, which has set its sights on becoming a significant exporter of cars, reported a net loss of RM281.5mil (US$80mil; euro 61mil) for the quarter ended Dec 31, 2006, from a net profit of RM86.5mil a year earlier.

For years, the company thrived in a protected environment, which included high taxes on foreign cars that made many Malaysians to buy Proton cars.

But the taxes have been slowly lowered in line with a regional trade agreement, and some Malaysians have sought out imported vehicles. - AP

Pasaran automotif lembap tidak jejaskan Pekema

KUALA LUMPUR 1 April – Jualan bagi kenderaan yang dibawa masuk menerusi permit import (AP) terbuka oleh Persatuan Pengimport dan Peniaga Kenderaan Melayu Malaysia (Pekema) tidak terjejas teruk, meskipun berdepan dengan kelembapan pasaran automotif.

Naib Presiden Pekema, Mohamed Jusoh berkata, ahli-ahli Pekema memberi maklum balas bahawa mereka masih berupaya mencatat jualan yang memuaskan, walaupun tidak sebaik pada tahun-tahun sebelum ini.

Beliau berkata, pasaran kereta Pekema tidak terjejas teruk kerana sasaran pasarannya berbeza iaitu mengimport kereta baru atau terpakai yang berkuasa besar dengan harga melebihi RM120,000 sebuah.

Katanya, terdapat sebilangan pelanggan yang cenderung untuk beralih selera daripada menggunakan kereta-kereta biasa kepada yang berkuasa tinggi atau mewah.

‘‘Dalam konteks ini, kita memenuhi permintaan kumpulan pelanggan tersebut,” kata beliau di sini, hari ini.

Mohamed mengulas kenyataan Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) pada 23 Mac lalu, bahawa jualan kenderaan pada Februari tahun ini susut 14 peratus berbanding bulan yang sama tahun lalu.

Katanya, Pekema masih berupaya mengekalkan jualan yang baik di sebalik hakikat berdepan pelbagai rintangan terutama berbentuk perundangan.

Menurutnya, terdapat 82 syarikat pemegang kuota AP terbuka termasuk enam syarikat yang menerima tambahan AP baru-baru ini, dengan jumlah kuota kira-kira 17,000 buah daripada jumlah keseluruhan 52,138 AP yang dikeluarkan.

Katanya, daripada 82 syarikat itu, sebanyak 40 peratus daripadanya menerima AP antara 13 hingga 100 unit setahun.

Hanya tiga jenama yang dipegang oleh syarikat automotif Melayu iaitu Fiat, Jaguar dan Lamborghini tetapi ketiga-tiganya secara kolektifnya menerima 300 AP sahaja setahun.

‘‘Syarikat francais Melayu dan pengimport bebas Melayu berniaga di pasaran yang tidak adil kerana kami dikenakan pelbagai sekatan import iaitu tidak dibenar mengimport jenama kereta yang sudah difrancaiskan serta jumlah AP yang dikurangkan dan beberapa sekatan lain.

‘‘Walhal dasar pemberian AP semasa mula diperkenalkan, dikhususkan hanya kepada syarikat yang 100 peratus dimiliki bumiputera,” katanya.

Mohamed berkata, Pekema telah mengemukakan memorandum kepada kerajaan menerangkan mengenai situasi semasa industri berkenaan yang membabitkan usahawan Melayu.

Katanya, Pekema juga meminta supaya dasar pemberian AP mengambil kira pelaburan yang telah dikeluarkan dan komitmen syarikat terhadap pekerja, kewangan serta kemudahan asas dan teknikal yang disediakan.

‘‘Kami juga meminta kerajaan menetapkan jumlah minimum 25,000 AP terbuka kepada syarikat dimiliki dan diurus sepenuhnya oleh bumiputera dengan pemberian purata minimum 200 unit AP setahun bagi setiap syarikat.

‘‘Ia adalah sejajar dengan pelaburan yang dibuat, selain memberi peluang kepada mereka mencatat pertumbuhan dalam perniagaan automotif bagi meningkatkan kemampuan bersaing di pasaran terbuka,” katanya.

Proton's Lotus Completes Recapitalisation Exercise

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Lotus Group International Ltd and its subsidiary companies, Group Lotus plc and Lotus Cars Ltd completed their recapitalisation exercise last Friday.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia today, the national car maker said the recapitalisation exercise, one of the elements in Lotus' business turnaround plan, was part of its continuous commitment towards Lotus.

A stronger balance sheet for Lotus Group is expected to follow the recapitalisation exercise which involved the capitalisation of certain inter-company advances of up to 45 million sterling pounds and a debt waiver of certain amounts owing by the Lotus Group to Proton and Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd of up to a maximum of 16.5 million pounds.

It also involved a capital reduction involving a 90 percent reduction in the par value of each existing ordinary share in Lotus, Group Lotus and Lotus Cars and the consolidation of the resultant shares on the basis of 10 ordinary shares into one ordinary share thereof.

The recapitalisation will also allow Lotus to execute its five-year business plan expeditiously, Proton said.

The exercise, however does not have any effect on the share capital and shareholding structure of Proton, nor will it have any effect on the net assets, gearing or earnings of the Proton group.

-- BERNAMA

PM to meet Volkswagen over Proton

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to meet top officials from Volkswagen over the future of national automaker Proton, a senior official said.

“A high-level meeting is expected soon. It is being arranged,” the official who is familiar with the talks on a possible tie-up said yesterday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting would take place here.

Abdullah has said Malaysia may allow Volkswagen to gain a controlling stake in Proton, a move that would help improve the fortunes of the company.

The planned meeting comes as Malaysia missed a Saturday deadline to name a strategic partner for Proton, whose controlling shareholder is state investment arm Khazanah Nasional, which holds a 42.7% stake. – AFP