[Malaysia] AP Issue: New Backer for Dr M's Call

Unlikely backer for Dr M’s call to reveal APs list
Jun 9, 05 Malaysiakini

Ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has an unlikely ally. Opposition party DAP has supported his call to the government to make public the names of those given approved permits (APs) to import vehicles.

“Whatever the reasons or motives behind his new found zeal in exposing the king of APs, the DAP is willing to put aside our past differences with Mahathir by fully supporting his call to publicise the list,” its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today.

“If a former prime minister, whose own son has also benefitted from the APs is concerned about this king of APs until he calls for the list to be made known, the time has come for the government to act by releasing their names publicly,” he pointed out in his statement, adding that this move will promote transparency and accountability.

Lim was responding to Mahathir’s expression of concern over the large number of APs issued to the extent of negatively affecting the sale of national cars. He also called on the government to disclose the names of AP holders

Proton, Lim said, has compromised on efficiency, high-tariffs on imported cars and taxpayers funds to boost production and sales resulting in the public losing out by overpaying for cars that are not value for money.

Mahathir is currently the adviser of Proton Holdings Bhd.

Rafidah’s response

Responding to Mahathir’s call, International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz said on May 31 that the list of APs would not be made known to the public as it has not been the government’s practice to do so.

She was also quoted by Bernama as saying then that when Mahathir was prime minister, he had never asked her to make a public disclosure of those given AP.

According to Rafidah, there were 66,277 units of approved AP last year. However, only 51,713 units were imported.

Rafidah also said that the approved AP should not exceed more than 10 percent of the local production.

On APs, Lim said the problem lies not only on the impact on Proton and other national cars. “The real problem with APs is that it is a form of patronage, easily tradeable, exchanged for cash without any need to work for it,” he said.

He claimed that the AP can be sold at a higher rate than the cost obtained from the government.