Proton open to strategic partnership

Proton Holdings Bhd is open to any form of strategic partnership for the benefit of Malaysian automotive industry, said Group Managing Director Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

"What is important, is not for Proton but for the industry, which is very strategic and considered one of the most important components in the manufacturing sector.

"We are already cooperating in our operations like vendor development and joint-sourcing of raw materials. But to undertake something like Malaysia Airline, it is really up to the government," he told reporters in Shah Alam today when asked if Proton and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) were looking to collaborate.

On Tuesday, AirAsia and MAS announced they had entered into a comprehensive collaboration framework, which included a major share swap and a collaboration agreement, to explore opportunities to cooperate on a broad range of areas.

Meanwhile, Syed Zainal Abidin, who earlier launched Proton's 1Malaysia Security Campaign, said the company expected the better sales momentum, seen in the first half of the year, to continue into the second half, driven by growing customer confidence and demand.

Proton sold 74,519 units in the first half and regained its position as the country's top-selling car manufacturer rivalling Perodua's sale of 62,584 units.

He said the national car manufacturer, which sold 157,274 vehicles last year, remained on track to clinch higher sales of between four and five per cent this year despite the amendment to the Hire Purchase Act 1967 which earlier slowed down sales.

Asked whether the company could overtake Perodua in total sales in the second half, he said: "To be number one is not our objective. Our priority is to introduce the best models in the market and provide good service." -- Bernama