PETALING JAYA: DRB-Hicom Bhd might consider moving some of Proton Holdings Bhd’s manufacturing operations to the latter’s Tanjung Malim plant in a bid to optimise its capacity utilisation.

“Future Proton models will be considered to be manufactured at the Tanjung Malim plant,” said Proton Holdings technical operations (Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim) sector head Abdul Rashid Musa in an e-mail reply to StarBiz.

The Shah Alam plant currently produces the Saga, Satria Neo R3, Exora and Inspira, while the Gen 2 (for export), Persona and Preve are manufactured at the Tanjung Malim plant.”

An aerial view of Proton’s plant in Tanjung Malim. The siteplant is five 
times bigger compared with the carmaker’s facility in Shah Alam.

He said the Proton cars that were currently produced in Shah Alam would continue to be produced there.

Abdul Rashid said the move would optimise the utilisation of the capacity at the state-of-the-art Tanjung Malim plant in order to achieve economies of scale, which is currently at less than half of its capacity.

“In addition, this will further enhance Proton’s operational effectiveness and efficiency.

“Compared to the Shah Alam plant, which sits on 250 acres of land and with no room for further expansion, the Tanjung Malim plant is five times bigger with 1,280 acres of land,” he said.

On Monday, Perak Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir Zambry said Proton would move its manufacturing operations in stages from Shah Alam to the Tanjung Malim plant.

This sparked speculation that DRB-Hicom would move the entire operations including Proton’s headquarters to Tanjung Malim.
TANJUNG MALIM: Five years from now, Proton City is expected to become an international standard automotive hub.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said with the rapid development and increasing population here, the aim to turn the place into an auto city was on track.

Muhyiddin stressed on the need to ensure proper facilities and infrastructure at Proton City and the surrounding areas of Tanjung Malim and Behrang to facilitate the auto city ambition.

Muhyiddin taking a closer look at the assembling of a Proton Pesona 
during his visit to Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant.

He added that a RM40mil secondary school would be constructed in Proton City as well.

“Construction is expected to start next year, and it will be completed in two years. The school can take 1,200 students,” he told a press conference after his first visit to Proton's plant at Proton City here yesterday.

He added that the management of DRB-Hicom and Proton had requested the Education Ministry to construct a secondary school at Proton City to enable the children of the staff to study there.

“I was told that they now travel about 10km to go to school,” said Muhyiddin.

Present at the function were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Proton executive chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil.

Muhyiddin also said a RM2.5mil religious school would be set up in Proton City.

“With the schools built here, and other facilities and infrastructure planned, I don't see why this southern part of Perak cannot expand,” he added.

Earlier in his speech, he also announced a new minimum wage scheme for Proton staff earning less than RM900 a month which would be implemented by DRB-Hicom and Proton beginning this month.

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton has acquired all engine technologies and knowledge developed by Petronas since 1997 through its technology commercialisation arm, Petronas Technology Ventures Sdn Bhd, for RM63mil.

Proton chairman Datuk Seri Khamil Jamil said the national car maker will have immediate ownership of a more powerful yet fuel efficient family of naturally aspirated and turbocharged 2.0L engines, as well as a 2.2L turbocharged version to complement its existing Campro engine line-up.

"Proton and Petronas initiated the engine technology exploration in 1996. So, it is time now to take over from Petronas, since the company decided in 2010, to exit completely from all engine development activities.

"Proton Holdings, through Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, is taking over seven engine technologies with 117 technology patents from Petronas," he told reporters after the Assets and Technologies Acquisition Agreement signing here today.

The exchange of documents was witnessed by the advisor to Petronas and Proton, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
 -Bernama
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)