By November, Malaysia will announce a new auto policy, which will enhance the competitiveness of national car maker Proton and help auto parts vendors expand business abroad, a senior official reportedly said in remarks published on Monday.
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According to Reuters, deputy international trade and industry Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said that the revised policy, which has been delayed twice, is being “fine-tuned” and will be unveiled by prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a few weeks’ time.
“We’re also looking at enhancing the domestic market and the industry as a whole,” he was quoted by state news agency Bernama as saying.
Reuters added that Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s biggest passenger car market, is mapping out a revised plan for cutting tariffs on imported cars after some local car assemblers complained of an uneven playing field – auto tariffs must be cut to 0-5% by 2008 for all Southeast Asian auto imports under a free trade pact.
It is also working on a proposal to turn itself into a regional hub for automotive production to rival neighbouring Thailand, Southeast Asia’s biggest overall auto market, the news agency added.
