HANGZHOU, Aug 18 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed hope that the strategic partnership between Proton and Chinese car manufacturer Geely would accelerate the process of improving Proton cars.
The Malaysian prime minister noted that the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group had made tremendous progress in terms of producing quality cars despite entering the business of vehicle production much later than Proton.
“When Proton was first produced, Geely was nowhere around. We sent six Proton cars here (to China), and we were very proud of our achievement.
“But as you know, Geely has outstripped us in terms of quality and productivity of your industry. And I think Proton can benefit from working together with Geely,” he said after witnessing the signing of an agreement between Proton and Geely, at the Geely headquarters here today.
The Malaysian prime minister noted that the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group had made tremendous progress in terms of producing quality cars despite entering the business of vehicle production much later than Proton.
“When Proton was first produced, Geely was nowhere around. We sent six Proton cars here (to China), and we were very proud of our achievement.
“But as you know, Geely has outstripped us in terms of quality and productivity of your industry. And I think Proton can benefit from working together with Geely,” he said after witnessing the signing of an agreement between Proton and Geely, at the Geely headquarters here today.
(1) Why does he even care when he has already disowned Proton as being sold to a foreign nation?
In truth of course 51% of Proton is still owned by Malaysian interests, by Mahathir's crony Billionaire Syed Mokhtar Al- Bukhary.
But the probable merajuk-ness about Proton provided Mahathir with two excuses, (1) to blame Najib for non-patriotism, and (2) to start his new No 3 national car project.
(2) In ancient times there was a Chinese saying about Hangzhou, namely, "Heaven above, Hangzhou below" implying the beauty of Hangzhou was equivalent to heaven.
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Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔 Léifēng Tǎ) at West Lake, Hangzhou, reputed to the prison of Bai Suzhen, Lady White Snake on a visit to Hangzhou, kaytee was standing next to the tree on the right looking at the pagoda and blowing kisses to the spirit of Bai Suzhen, wakakaka |
Hangzhou is also famous for its legend of The White Snake, one of the Four Classic Folk Tales, meaning they were/are Chinese written works that have literary significance.
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Final battle between Bai Suzhen (白素贞) and Fa Hai (法海 Fǎ Hǎi) |
Virtually every Chinese (even Bananas like me) knows the legend of The White Snake. Mahathir should feel at home in that lovely city. Remember "Heaven above, Hangzhou below", wakakaka.
(3) His praise of Geely by contrasting its advancement to Proton might have been to mollify the Chinese, but was also an unwitting admission of his own failures with heavy technology back in Malaysia during his 4th Reich (Proton, Perwaja, etc).
Forget about Giant China - Look at the power house of South Korea where that nation produces Samsung, cars, trucks, tractors, electronics, aircraft carrier, fighter planes, battle ships, tanks, oil tankers, chemicals, etc etc etc, when its bad start to nationhood was only in 1950 with the outbreak of a horrendous war with North Korea.
At its hesitant modern beginning it was worse off than Malaya yet just 20 years later, from 1970, it overtook Malaysia, and today we are nowhere compared to the World's 11th economy, 2 spots above Australia's.
How does it achieve such a magnificent economy?
An Australian website CEBIT states: there are varying insights other economics can take away from Korea’s innovative landscape and apply to their own nations:
An Australian website CEBIT states: there are varying insights other economics can take away from Korea’s innovative landscape and apply to their own nations:
Collaboration is key: Government and industry collaborating on innovative ideas and projects leads to success.
Be open: Korea is open to learning from outsiders. 50% of faculty at top South Korean universities are have some training in the US or other nation. Many Korean students travel abroad. Large companies will hire foreign-trained talent.
Take a risk: There’s a high tolerance for risk in business, even in the big conglomerates. This separates Korea from many other conservative Asian nations.
Assess supply chains: There’s a strong manufacturing base in Korea. IDA found the control over vertical supply-chains enabled rapid innovation.
Education is necessary: High-quality education and an incredible literacy rate in the country contributed to it’s success.
I believe the last point, high quality education, is the MOST important factor.
The second is not in above because South Korea, unlike Malaysia, has one of the most homogeneous society in the world, and thus, does NOT discriminate against segments of its own people in education, jobs and other facilities and support.
I made the mistake of buying a Korean car back in 2008 .... it looked nice, but to be frank, after using it for 5 years, it was in mechanical and electronic terms, a lousy car.
ReplyDeleteNo better than a Proton , and not even having one advantage of a Proton, which is relatively low price and easily available spare parts.
I think they have improved a great deal over the last 10 years, but just to bear in mind, don't get over the top of praising the Korean economic "miracle" .
Wakakakakaka……
ReplyDeletecf Prime Directive!!!
"(S Korea) the most homogeneous society in the world, and thus, does NOT discriminate against segments of its own people in education, jobs and other facilities and support."
This moronic claim WAS/IS often used by the ketuanan freaks in a twisted form to advance the notion of single united country via assimilation!
Look back into history, the great prosperity of the Tang Dynasty in China was in part contributed by the ACCEPTANCE of the various cultures/values/technologies OPENLY from the West ( India, Greece) & the East (Japan).
Ditto with the The Islamic Golden Age, dated from the 8th century to the 14th century, during which much of the historically Islamic world was ruled by various caliphates, and science, economic development and cultural works flourished.
The rise of The Renaissance is a period in European history, covering the span between the 14th and 17th centuries. It is an extension of the Middle Ages, and is bridged by the Age of Enlightenment to modern history.
Can the historiography of a homogeneous society be the contributing factor to their rise?
A homogeneous society is only a small insignificant factor for the rise of a power (military/political/religious/trade).
This can be easily disputed by the disintegration of many club of doom basketcase nations where endless infighting happen across the whole homogeneous society.
Back to PD - know yr place in the scheme of thing & work to improve yr status.
If amongst the society, there r others who can bootstrapping yr efforts, takes them w/o any inferiority mentality. Least of all, erecting thousands of obstacles, under various excuses, just to syiok that ketuanan ego!
Duly when TDM tak peduli Proton 1.0 and want to start Proton 2.0 we complain complain complain. Don’t start another National Car we said. Proton 1.0 sudah cilipepe lah. Now when he peduli Proton 1.0 and want to see its success we also complain complain complain. So what is it we want?
ReplyDeleteIt may be possible China thru Geely and the 2 other China automotive companies help Proton finally to overcome it's lack of R&D, market accessibility, quality, productivity etc.
ReplyDeleteFinally, TDM realised his only way forward for his pet Malaysian car to survive future competition and denying one of his legacy project from disappearing is to seek China's help. For that, he must also thank Ahjib for opening up Proton to China companies JV either to spite him and his cronies or because of some shady deals again by his cronies just like the ECRL SSER projects.
Wakakakakakakaka