Proton to be overhauled

Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah

PETALING JAYA: Proton, which confirmed Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah as its chief executive officer, will be overhauled.

“We want to make cars people want,” said Proton chairman Tan Sri Khamil Mohd Jamil.

In speaking broadly about Proton, Khamil hinted that part of the revamp would continue to focus on improving car quality and safety.

Khamil said that over the past two years since DRB-Hicom Bhd took control of beleagured Proton, much effort had been spent on lifting the quality of the cars it made by cutting down on defects and improving safety.

Since then, car buyers have voiced fewer complaints about Proton cars, said Khamil.

He said because of the longstanding negative public perception, Proton is open to suggestions from the public on how it should improve itself.

“We will be working towards changing the perception of Proton to one where Proton is a good car and, change the minds and hearts of the public towards our cars.”

Khamil said the management team would review products, quality, cost, delivery and safety.

He said Proton would continue to export its cars amid a landscape that is seeing increasing competition.

Khamil said Proton had no choice but to make the cars it sells affordable and competitive.

“It will be a holistic plan that will look at products and markets. We ... also cannot ignore China,” he said.

“Proton needs to prove it can compete with international OEMs (original equipment manufacturers),” he said after a ceremony to send two graduates from its International College of Automotive (ICAM) to a Volkswagen plant in Portugal for training.

Khamil said future ICAM graduates would also be sent for overseas training at plants of its other partners in Japan and Europe.

He said the company hoped the graduates would return with the knowledge and experience and share them with other workers in DRB-Hicom’s plant in Pekan.

“It’s a good milestone for students at ICAM and they will be exposed to international standards,” he said.

ICAM is working towards achieveing university status by the end of the year.

Khamil, in response to backlash over a report that questioned why Malaysians were not supportive of Proton, said the company was appreciative of public support and would strive to make cars that Malaysians actually wanted.

“Those comments were taken out of context. We are appreciative of support from the public, without which Proton will not be where it is now,” he said.