Malaysian Automotive Policy Shifts to Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Production - Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- The National Automotive Policy has shifted to production of fuel-efficient vehicles to transform Malaysia into a hub that produces fuel-economy vehicles for the Asean region by 2020, a deputy minister told the Upper House of Parliament on Tuesday. Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Dr Mahathir said that to effectively implement the crucial policy, the ministry has drawn up workable strategies such as offering incentives for vehicle production with high added value. "This is to bolster Malaysia's status as the hub for manufacturing energy-efficient vehicles for domestic use and export," he said. Recent media reports had quoted Indonesia had overtaken Malaysia as the vehicle production hub in Asean, manufacturing 650,000 vehicles last year vis-a-vis Malaysia's 605,000, while Thailand produced 1.64 million vehicles. In efforts to realise Malaysia's aspirations to emerge as an energy-efficient vehicle maker, the government would venture into new automotive technologies and engineering, work on market expansion, human capital development, develop parts and components supply network, spare parts and vehicle safety. He said the government had also agreed to the inception of the National Automotive Council to closely monitor implementation of the National Automotive Policy and to ensure the industry's sustainability. "I believe these proactive measures will prop up Malaysia's standing as a leading car maker in the Asean region, particularly fuel-efficient vehicles, as Indonesia and Thailand are not giving emphasis to such type of vehicles," he said when replying to Senator Chin Su Phin during Question Time. Chin had asked whether the International Trade and Industry Ministry would review the National Automotive Policy in order to be competitive with other Asean countries, thus bolstering Malaysia's position as a car-making hub in this region. Mukhriz said Malaysia would enforce these well-thought-out measures through strategic investments and encouraging domestic automotive companies to embrace high technology to produce fuel-economy vehicles not only for the domestic market but also for regional and global. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Automotive Institute expects the automotive sector to contribute six to eight per cent to the national gross domestic product growth by 2020, with the implementation of the National Automotive Policy. -- BERNAMA