Third National Car Success Hinges On Suitable Model -- Technology Veteran

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s third national car project is a rational idea if it were able to boost demand for its sub-sectors, particularly electrical and electronics (E&E) components, but its success hinges on a suitable model, technology veteran Yoon Chin Leong said. He said the logical aspect of the idea was that it would be closely linked to E&E components, thus creating a new national car project would provide a market for the sector. “I didn’t say that local automotive players did not procure from local players, they did. However, most of the components procured were mechanical aspects and not electronics, whereby, nowadays, electronic components (in a car) have exceeded the mechanical components,” he told reporters after the E&E sector presentation at the E&E Seminar here Thursday. The seminar was conducted by Bursa Malaysia Bhd and AmInvestment Bank. Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof had said that the government was set to launch its third national car project by 2020 as envisioned by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad. The government believes that the project could revitalise the national automotive industry. Yoon, who is Penang Science Cluster director, said the government should look deeply into a suitable car model to ensure its viability. “And, if we have to build the third national car, it would be nice if we think of the model first. Should it be fully electric, autonomous and how much electronics need to go into (the car) to triggered a thoroughly modern vehicle,” he said. Responding to a question on the capabilities of local E&E players, he said that most local players were already supplying components to global automotive players, hence, their capabilities were not at issue. “They are supplying to automotive providers globally, be it best cars or even most cost-effective cars. We just need to integrate these skills, work together to build these capabilities and the ecosystem,” he added. Commenting on the fifth generation of wireless networking technology (5G), he said that despite uncertainties and issues surrounding 5G, Malaysia should continue with its deployment, but the government needed to look at the pros and cons carefully first. “If we don't participate, we will be left very far behind. Hence, banning 5G is not an option but the question should be on (the need to) consider delaying the 5G deployment due to certain issues such as privacy and data protection,” he added. Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, in October last year, announced that Putrajaya and Cyberjaya would become a testbed for 5G Network in Malaysia. This is aimed at exploring the practical uses and modes of implementation of 5G, as well as to learn and iron out policies, regulations and spectrum planning of 5G. -- BERNAMA