LOTUS AND MV AGUSTA WAS NOT A MISTAKE.

Image from Malaysia-Chronicle

I read with interest Mohd Khairil Azman posting in FMT at HERE that had gone viral and I made references in this article to his 3 questions but first let us go back to the fundamental of the national car project.

It is interesting to observe how Malaysia national car projects had evolved from first the Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Berhad, PROTON in the early 1980s and then Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Berhad (Perodua) in 1992. Both national car projects were mandated to achieve 1 clear objective; to be able to design, develop and produce our own car as part of our industrialization program to achieve the vision 2020.

Proton's journey has always been in that direction, Perodua which was also Tun Mahathir's project that was approved by cabinet in 1992 was given the same mandate as Proton. This was clearly stated in Tun Mahathir's speech as the Prime Minister then, when he launched Perodua manufacturing plant in Rawang; 2 years after the cabinet approves the 2nd national car project. Tun Mahathir's speech can be read at HERE.

With both Proton and Perodua non-competing in different category, there were sufficient sales volume for both companies to slowly acquire technology and engineering capability to achieve the government's vision and objective. With the proceeds received from those sales, Proton reinvested by acquiring technology through Lotus and MV Augusta and build its RM1.8 billion Tanjung Malim plant.

Proton acquired Lotus in October 1996, a year before we were hit with the worst recession in 1997 which halted whatever plan Proton had for Lotus. When the economy recovers, Lotus engineering has been part of Proton cars ride & handling but not many had driven the lotus to actually feel it in Proton. The Lotus engineering too is the catalyst behind the new engine nicknamed Volcano that was recently launched in January this year. (More information at HERE). Lotus was acquired for its engineering capabilities as well as support and it has contributed to the development of Proton cars. Whether Proton did have a turn around plan for Lotus cars itself remain unknown when the architect of its acquisition, Tan Sri Yahya Ahmad died of helicopter crash (more information at HERE).

FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM FROM DATO SRI SYED ZAINAL ABIDIN TO ALL CITIZENS OF PROTON

Well what can I say? The time has come to be separated from Dato Sri Syed Zainal. The following final words from him was translated from "Pesanan & Amanat Terakhir Dato Seri Syed Zainal", a humble man with a strong passion. During his tenure, Dato Sri whom always referred me as bro and preferred me to refer him also as Bro too never failed to aspire every individuals whenever he speak! He would hypnotized every members of the audience with his passion. His farewell speech was in Malay and I could not help but to translate it to English (dont laugh) to share his final words of wisdom with my readers. Of course, the translation would have been far better if Dato Sri were to translate it himself but nonetheless.....

**********************************************************************************

Good day, Salam 1 Malaysia and Peace be upon all citizens of Proton that I cherished. I hope this writing meets all of you in good health, joy and aspiration in carrying out our daily tasks. As all have known, I have given up my position as the Group Managing Director of PROTON effective on the 4th July, 2012. Taking into account the balance of my leave that I need to utilize, today which is Thursday 31 May 2012 will be my last day with PROTON. 

My dear brothers and sisters, 

It was very heavy for me to write this letter as a closure to more than six (6) years of my service in PROTON. I spent days staring at a blank computer screen as it appear, there are no words that can translate what I am truely deeply feeling in my heart. How could I leave something that has such a deep and meaningful impact in my life? How may I shake the hands and say goodbye to people whom I have regarded to be a member of my own family? There is no vocabulary that can express and extend my gratitude to everyone that has worked so hard in helping me performing my duty for so long. I have nothing to offer and I cannot afford to repay all the sacrifices, hard work and time that was devoted by all parties in your effort to realize the dream of PROTON without any remorse. 

DATO SRI SYED ZAINAL ABIDIN, PROTON MANAGING DIRECTOR (RETIRED)

When Dato Sri Syed Zainal first came into PROTON on 1st January 2006 taking over the  hot post from Joint-MD Dato Kisai Rahmat and Dato Kamaruzaman Darus, he called upon PEDA and the dealers to support him against 45,000 unsold stocks, the worst level of stock holding in the history of PROTON. Dato Sri Syed Zainal too inherited the burden to consolidate more than 400 over-congested showrooms in the sales network and took over when PROTON lost its no 1 position as Malaysia best selling cars.

In contrast to all previous Proton Managing Directors that would dictate on policies for PEDA and the dealers to swallow, when Dato Sri Syed Zainal was first appointed, he called and met PEDA to asked for market feedback and inquired on the network's problem. There were no PROTON EDAR Chief Executive Officer then, for more than a year. The communication was a direct channel between Dato Sri Syed Zainal and PEDA. Most of the public outcry and the dealer's issues pertaining to the low quality of cars were addressed, slowly resolved and mitigated. At this juncture, Dato Sri Syed Zainal even answered to various complain in Cyberspace and internet himself as the Managing Director. He personally attended to all the complains and directly commented on various blogosphere and cyberspace. He was also the first PROTON Managing Director that extended the manufacturer's warranty for all cars to a good 5 years (from previously only 2 years).