With a model that has been around for some 20 years ever since the infamous Proton Sakwa was launched in 1987,  one wonders whether Proton's success story is in fact a success story at all. Back in the early 1990s, when sales of Proton cars went skyrocketing like Levi's jeans sold at jumbo sales, you could see a new Proton Saga car appearing weekly in practically every neighbourhood. It was the pride of the country and the Malaysian Proton owner must have been very happy with his new car. Not until after a few years later when the results came through and to the horrors of those who had bought the car.  The unlucky ones who had bought their Proton Sagas produced in the mid 1990s discovered holes sprouting through the paintwork and from all the four doors and roof of the car. A good friend of mine had owned one such car. What a saga ! Just looking at the holes tells you that the body was so thin that it could literally have been made from condensed milk tin cans. In fact that was what Japanese cars of the 70s were famed for. People used to joke that Japanese cars had bodies made from milo tins. That was why they were so light. I have seen four people lift a Sakwa out of a ditch. Now try lifting an old Volkswagen beetle out of a ditch.

Aha....but then we all know now that it was our govt's protectionist policy of tariff barriers that had made Proton a success story for the past 20-odd years. Now that AFTA has been implemented, it is now an arduous task for Proton to survive the competition. Whatever happened? Why couldn't the Proton CEOs see the challenges that lie ahead?  Why were there no new models coming up?  We only see “cosmetic changes”…the so-called new-look aerodynamic front and tail lights and a fuel-injected engine instead of the carburetor-type engine. The fact is the Proton Sakwa is still a Sakwa today 20 years later. How could these Sakwas survive?  Hey has anyone bought the latest 1.3 Proton Saga aeroback?  Only RM27,000 promotional offer. The good news is that with so many of this Saga model resting in their warehouses, the price might come down further. So wait a bit longer and get the better deal huh? RM 20,000?

Our ex-PM Dr M had forwarned the Proton CEOs of the challenges that lie ahead once AFTA came into operation….…but they had an attitude I guess. They had probably reasoned....aiyah......Khazanah or the govt will bail us out so why worry???  the govt can tax the people more….cigarettes and liquor were raised year after year....international passports charges raised to RM300, toll-rates go up year after year despite the exponential increase in the number of cars on the road.  Surely the govt must bail us out so relax man. Dont worry be happy.....remember that song?

But now the Proton dealers are crying foul and asking the govt to relinquish control of Proton with international partners like Volkswagen, Ford, Citroen or Peugeot. Just 1% more control to the foreign partner will do.

We need to close the deal fast or we Proton dealers will have to declare bankrupt soon....they are now pressuring our govt to take drastic action.   How could these foreign partners who were pioneers in making cars decades ago, allow Proton engineers to tell their foreign engineers what to do? These foreign car manufacturers were already making cars some 60 years or more ago.  And now you Proton which is actually a car assembler in most respects, want to control us in a partnership?  And come to a board meeting and vote all our ideas and policies out!  Fat hopes. Either we tell you what to do or you die a natural death.

Well,  Malaysia has pride itself in some aspects in achieving world recognition for accomplishing world feats. Like climbing Mount Everest, swimming across the English Channel and sailing solo around the globe. But these were feats already done by others many years ago. And now ladies and gentlemen, we are going to space soon just like China. If China can do it,  so can we!  Only difference is we take the short cut. Just hitch a ride on board the Soyus rocket and spacecraft.  Then tomorrow's news headlines will be:

First Malaysians fly into space.

Morning news, afternoon news, evening news, TV3, 8 TV, RTM1, RTM2....all flashing the news for the next 2 or 3 days. What an achievement for Malaysia. Then some Malaysian political genius says "I think we can start supplying the Russians with Made-in-Malaysia rocket parts".  Which isn't hard to make really. Ah you see.....we are now a developed nation !  2020 is just too far away.