Proton does not cut throats. It produces cars at such high costs that only idiots like you buy.

I never owned a Proton in my life. I once owned an Opel (Manta), Chrysler(Alpine), a Ford(Belina), a Honda, a BMW (5-series) and Merc in that order. Merc was my first used car – cannot afford a new one since Proton made its debut in the mid 80s.

Malaysia should never have gone into car manufacturing. The domestic market is too small and production costs too high. It was a political decision – and like all problems political, the solution can only be a political one.

“A certain Mr. 10% was once rumoured to get a royalty of RM15K per unit sold.” Wits0

The suggestion that it is a contributing factor to a project doomed from the very start because it goes against the laws of supply and demand shows the depth of ignorance of what matters and what does not.

This is an accurate made by a well-informed commentator on another website about the man at the helm who did not have a clue what he was talking about!

“The record will show that you (Tengku Mahaleel) took many other risks, and failed in the marketing and sales aspect. Making a car is the easy part. Getting people to buy it in sufficient numbers is the difficult part. You need to create brand loyalty. Brand building starts with deliverying quality – exceeding customers’ expectations, to repeat the cliche.

When it comes to that the record shows an amateurish CEO who did more to destroy the Proton brand than to build it.

Your whole attitude was wrong if there is an “export” quality and a domestic quality in your cars. That means local consumers (who pay more for the cars, by the way) can be pissed on.

The money you spent on acquisitions could have been better spent on improving the quality of what you are already making.

Personally I think your conduct whilst in the drivers’ seat in Proton suggests you have an attention deficit disorder with a hyperactive element. This being the inability to identify and focus on what you had to do.”

The measure of the man and his condescending attitude is obvious with his oft repeated remark about the sale of MV Augusta for 1 euro:

“”I am willing to pay 2 Euros for Augustas or Rm1 for Lotus in case it is for sale in future.”

Of course he knows that for a agreement to be legal the sale has to be for the nominal sum of a unit of any currency. He thinks we are all stupid!

“You sure have a strong dislike, if not hatred, for Mahaleel.” Godfather

I make no apology for that. Mahathir made some bad choices. This is one of them.

But Mahathir is the kind of man who, if you are completely loyal to him, will stick with you through thick and thin – right or wrong. On the other hand, if you’re less than completely loyal to him, he has the memory of an elephant and is vengeful when he decides to act. He never forgives. That’s the mark of the man – a character trait found in individuals like our Info Minister. Call it racial profiling if you must but I’m not a racist.

Mahaleel should stick to playing his role as base guitarist of some band, and playing badminton – and improving his driving skills over the weekend. He has no business being a CEO of any company less so of a company like Proton. The stakes are just too high. After graduation he should stick to his marketing job with Shell, a position he wouldn’t have got but for the NEP.

What drove me over the top was when he ‘chastised’ the new management for selling MV Augusta for 1 Euro! How else would a buyer be able to assume the massive liabilities of the loss making venture but for the nominal sum of 1 unit of the currency??

When I was an undergrad at UM, roti canai costs only 10cents. How much does it cost today in Rajoo Restaurant in Jln Gasing?? Thanks to Proton.

What has roti canai got to do with Proton?? Everything.

“I have no comment for Malayawata, but for Proton: no, in fact, I think government protection is necessary… ” Tokmoh

Proton would not survive without government protection. No one can disagree with that!

Ergo if we were right about going into the manufacturing of cars rather than buying what are being assembled locally (CKD/CBU), how do you justify protecting an infant industry past its infancy? It would be another matter had it been a private venture – but this is a public venture with massive government protection at every level including the financial level. Don’t you think it is a case of gross misallocation of our limited resources? Twenty years downstream the motoring public is still being made to pay for the high cost. Whatever justification that may have existed prior to this had long ceased to be applicable and we are today left with an inefficient industry that is costing Malaysian taxpayers millions of ringgit every year – do the maths.

Then putting a man like this Mahaleel in the position he was, was a big mistake! Knowing the guy, I’m sure he did not listen to his advisers and made numerous flawed decisions along the way. The corporate management culture within Proton under him was just wrong. His style of management was autocratic and is a reflection of the arrogance of the man. It is easy to see how this guy just made a bad job of a bad idea.

It is true the cost of operating and maintaining a car in the U.S. is much higher although it is relatively cheaper to own one. But that does not mean that Malaysia should experiment with an industry the comparative advantage of which does not lie with her to begin with.

“…VW may finally be on its way to forming an alliance with Proton, by either acquiring a 20 per cent stake in Proton or forming a joint venture company which would include Proton assets.” Bernama-Oana

Would foreign makers of automobiles be interested in Proton without the government protection?

In short, it would be in the long term interest of the motoring public in Malaysia and Malaysian tax payers to see the removal of tariff barriers and the freeing of the domestic market to foreign competition. In short, the standard of living of Malaysians could only rise as a result.

Tokmoh, your comments are about micromanaging a problem. My position is about the issue of why are we forced to micromanage a problem at all.