NATIONAL CAR MAKER PROTON SAYS LOTUS NOT FOR SALE NOW

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd reiterated Tuesday
that its wholly-owned Lotus Group International Ltd is not for sale at this
point in time.

The national car maker said Lotus would continue to be a strategic entity
within Proton and its technology catalyst.

Proton said this in a filing to Bursa Malaysia (Malaysia Exchange) in
response to a news report of a proposed 40 per cent sale in Lotus' stake to its
management team.

It said that it had over the years received several unsolicited offers for a
stake in Lotus and had taken cognisance of such offers.

However, as a pro-active business entity, it said Proton would continue to
initiate and consider viable business opportunities and arrangements which would
benefit and add value to the group's interests.

Proton would make relevant announcements at an appropriate time, the
statement added.

-- BERNAMA