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6 SST-Free Bargains You Must Snap Up – Peroduas, Toyotas, BMWs, Volvos

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Buy a new car, save the economy. Who could argue with that?

Earlier today, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that as part of the PENJANA COVID-19 economic stimulus package, new car purchases are set to see between a 50% reduction and 100% reduction of their sales & service tax as a way to stimulate sales in the automotive segment. This announcement came as a welcome move by the automotive sector, who are now hoping that things really can go back to normal for them.

As sales tax has long been part & parcel of any new car, many Malaysians are unaware of just how much SST they pay for on a new car. For reference, all new cars are subject to 10% SST – therefore, the ‘discounts’ on a new car can be easily calculated at 10% for locally-assembled or CKD vehicles, while there’ll be a 5% retail price reduction for fully-imported cars.

To give you an idea of what that looks like, we’ve listed down 6 excellent cars from across the spectrum, beginning with everyone’s favourite Perodua Myvi, all the way up to the segment-leading & benchmark-setting Volvo XC90, as well as a reference in between of what a fully-imported purchase would feel like right about now too.

It’s worth noting of course that as SST is applied only to the nett selling price, the figures that we’re suggesting here are likely a bit hopeful – based on what we saw during the last ‘tax holiday,’ we should expect to see decreases between 3%-5% at the most off retail selling prices. But given the current situation, car companies would be remiss not to put their best deals forward to lure customers back into showrooms and into new cars, no?

PERODUA MYVI 1.5 AV – RM48,681 (RM5409 expected reduction)

The Perodua Myvi is a firm favourite for all Malaysians, with the B-segment hatchback racking up an average of 100,000 annual sales every year since its introduction nearly 13 years ago. With lots of space, punchy performance, and levels of safety & convenience kit that would put most of its competitors to shame, the Perodua Myvi is a tough car to beat, which is why it dominates the sub-RM100k segment almost entirely.

Watch our review of the Perodua Myvi here.

PERODUA ARUZ 1.5 AV – RM70,110 (RM7790 expected reduction)

The Perodua Aruz is another one of the Sg. Choh company’s runaway successes, though while the Myvi is famously known as the surprise hit, the Aruz was far more calculated. Dominating the sub-RM100k SUV space and taking the cake as Malaysia’s most popular SUV, the Aruz provides acres of space & practicality, and offers car-like usability & functionality despite the commanding ride height. And paired with traditional Perodua running costs, it’s no wonder that its Japanese sibling (which is built in the same factory with the same powertrain by the same people, mind) is failing to gain traction…

You can watch our review of the Perodua Aruz here.

TOYOTA COROLLA 1.8G (CBU) – RM132,893 (RM6995 expected reduction)

The Toyota Corolla is actually our only fully-imported example car we’re putting in the list, on the account of its great styling, amazing safety kit, and impressive performance. The Thai-built Corolla (now free of the ‘Altis’ name previous generations carried) is an excellent example of what we can expect to see from the Japanese marque going forwards – more engaging design, a more engaging drive, better technology, and the same tried-and-tested Toyota value.

(We haven’t reviewed the Toyota Corolla yet, so there’s no review to plug here…)

BMW 330i M-Sport (CKD) – RM264,420 (RM29,380 expected reduction)

The de-facto choice in the compact executive saloon space, BMW Group Malaysia was wise to quickly introduce the CKD version of this car when it did. Not only did it offer a massive saving over the fully-imported first batch of cars, but it demonstrated the excellent quality control measures implemented by the local assembly plant, proving that there’s literally nothing to lose.

Notably, the G20 3-Series is now a sharper drive than the F30 it replaces, which means it has returned to form as the driver’s choice in the segment. Not that the majority of its buyers seek it out specifically for that, in all honesty.

(We also haven’t reviewed the G20 BMW 3-Series. Do these car companies not like us?)

Volvo S60 T8 R-Design (CKD) – RM266,299.20 (RM29,588.80 expected reduction)

We threw this in here because it’s an absolute favourite of ours at MalaysianMotoring – with restrained styling, mind-bending performance, unbelievable (yet verified) fuel economy and standard-setting safety, the Volvo S60 is a very difficult car to fault. Couple that with a truly refined ride and the ability to outsprint a Mercedes-AMG C43, and this Swede begins to show its more brutish side.

This car is like Dwayne Johnson in a suit. Ever a gentleman, but still able to knock your jaw out at 20 paces.

(Do we not review enough cars on this website? Thank God we’ve already driven the next one…)

Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Plus (CKD) – RM368,899.20 (RM40,988.80 expected reduction)

Another favourite in the office, but also a favourite among buyers – in the 7-seater SUV space, the Volvo XC90 is not only the segment leader in terms of safety, performance and standard equipment, but it’s also the most affordable of the bunch, outpricing its nearest competitors by about 5-figures at the minimum. And it’s no Turkish prison either, with sumptuous Nappa leather seats, mesmirising Bowers & Wilkins premium audio, a solid crystal gear selector knob, and the sort of ride comfort that would shame everything short of a Rolls-Royce. The Volvo XC90 may have led Volvo’s transformation into the company we see today in the here-and-now, but it’s showing absolutely no signs of aging, or slowing down.

The Volvo XC90 was #Recharged for the 2020 model year – check out our review here.

So our advice is this – if you find yourself with money to burn, a secure job and secure income, now is the best time to buy a car. Not only will you be saving way more than any seasonal promotion, but you’ll also be directly helping our beloved local automotive industry and the millions of people that it employs directly & indirectly stay afloat.

And boy, don’t we Malaysians just love our cars?

  • The new Mercedes-Benz EQC makes its regional debut in Malaysia, alongside the new Mercedes-Benz S560e Plug-In Hybrid, as well as the Mercedes-Benz C300e Plug-In Hybrid
  • Mr. Michael Jopp, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, with the refreshed Mercedes-Benz GLC range featuring MercedesMe Connect

OP-ED: Hike On Public Transport Fares A Regression We Cannot Afford

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It is day 58 of the Malaysian Movement Control Order, a measure taken under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act of 1988 and the Police Act of 1967 in order to stop the continued spread of the much-feared COVID-19, which began on the 18th of March and is tentatively expected to be removed on the 9th of June.

I certainly hope that you are keeping well, safe, and at a distance from others. Truly, the fate of the nation and its people lies in our hands, so act responsibly.

In my role here at MalaysianMotoring as the ‘captain of the ship’ as it were, I have remained as apolitical & apathetic as possible to the plights of the Government of the day. You don’t come here wanting to read about politics, as you’d much rather get that from the more experienced and learned pundits at The Star, The Edge, the New Straits Times, or The Sun. No, you come to MalaysianMotoring because, as its name suggests, you are a Malaysian that is interested in motoring. And so that is the content the publication and I deliver.

A Sri Petaling Line train on the rails. The Sri Petaling Line is operated by Rapid Rail, a part of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad

But, things have changed dramatically since we began in 2015. Suddenly, it’s not all about cars anymore. It wasn’t that long ago that we were warned as children not to speak to strangers but today we willingly let teenagers leave the house and get into a car with a stranger at the wheel tasked to bring them to their destination, with the only recourse coming from a virtual button in an app. And so we have responded to that change by including industry & legislative news, as well as updates on public transport.

And it is on the matter of public transport that I am moved, or rather required by duty to the nation as a paid-up and ever-grateful citizen of a functioning democracy, to say my piece. I say this not only as an editor of a publication, but also as a public transport user myself: It is a known fact that I have been without my own car for about three years now, and I am heavily reliant on public transport to get around. I have a deep adoration for trains and busses and a fascination with rapid-bus systems like the Sunway BRT, but I will refrain from getting sidetracked.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during one of his daily media briefings

During his daily media address, which is limited to ‘official media’ only of which neither myself nor MalaysianMotoring belong to, Senior Minister of Security and Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob revealed that the Ministry of Transport is studying a proposal to hike the fares on public transport in order to stem its operators losses as a result of the ongoing pandemic. The media present were not genuinely given the opportunity to ask the Minister questions on the matter, but he said of his own volition that he doesn’t want to see operators shouldering heavy losses and that the matter would be discussed in some special jawatankuasa of some kind.

I say this without fear or favour, but our public transport system has been quite lacking for some time now. As a frequent user however, I can report that changes & improvements across all forms of public transport, be it KTM Komuters, LRTs, Monorails, and busses have been felt in more recent years. Frequency has been improved, security is now more robust, and their reach has also been subject to frequent audits & revisions to ensure that more and more people are covered by their service. This was in keeping with the former administration’s intent to ensure that urban Malaysians especially would always have a reliable and dependable public transport option to get them where they needed to go.

YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook during one of his famous impromptu spotchecks on public transport, during his tenure as Minister of Transport

One of the most lauded moves by the previous Minister of Transport, the honourable Anthony Loke Siew Fook, was to ensure that transport was accessible to all. To that end, he first launched the MY50 and MY100 monthly travel passes under Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (operators of Rapid Bus, Rapid Rail, and Rapid Ferry services) to boost ridership, encouraging the use of public transport as a cost- and time-efficient alternative to driving to-and-from work on a daily basis. He also went on to launch the KTM X20 card for KTM Komuter services, which added a 20% discount on top of the 20% discount offered by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad for cashless transactions, making a total of 40% off the going fare. These two initiatives practically halved the total cost of public transport for daily users, and increased the attractiveness of our public transport system as an alternative to private vehicle ownership.

The former Minister of Transport also took operators to task, conducting random spotchecks on facilities and services whenever his schedule allowed. The Minister notably chided KTM for its large number of inoperable ticketing & card-reloading machines, and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad for its much-delayed restoration of 4-car monorail sets. Since then KTMB has improved the quality & reliability of its machines, and Prasarana has returned some 4-car monorails back to active service in the fleet, among many other improvements to their systems overall.

Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, the current Minister of Transport

However, it seems that the current sitting Minister of Transport, the honourable Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong is looking to undo the work of his predecessor to boost ridership and improve the long-term sustainability of the public transport network by hiking fares. This announcement was made by Senior Minister Ismail Sabri, and was not accompanied by the now-normal social media flurry that usually comes whenever an announcement is made on behalf of a ministry. Perhaps I am indeed a millennial in expecting my elected representatives to be available for discourse & criticism in the most public of public spheres, but the Minister of Transport has been notably quiet.

The issue is simple: Operators are losing money due to low ridership during the Conditional Movement Control Order, which is understandable, given that our Prime Minister himself said less than 45% of the total workforce has returned to work. However, historically, our public transport utilisation has always been markedly low, with many Malaysians preferring to clog our burdened road network due to the perception that somehow taking public transport somehow makes them lesser people, no doubt the result of excellent marketing & communication on our part following the establishment of the local automotive industry.

It is a known fact that many of our public transport systems, including the MRT, will fail to break-even on operating costs for years to come if we were to believe the ridership projections wholesale. I invite you to do your own reading on the matter – it is really quite remarkable.

A fleet of new Scania busses, as operated by Rapid Bus, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad

As such, it is clear to intelligent people like you and I that the issue here isn’t with the cost of the service, but the ridership. At a time where the Government ought to be doing what it can to ensure that affordable, reliable public transportation is available to a wider network of people to boost ridership & usage as well to as offset the financial burden of private transportation, it is instead inviting people to consider the costs involved and make the obvious choice to use the cars they have, if they have them. There has been little concern by this administration towards the plight of those who have no choice but to use public transport, despite their posturing of Mak Cik Kiah and her husband being the primary drivers of their initiatives.

While many of you whom like myself take public transport by choice, and are afforded the option of using more costly e-hailing services from time to time, or are in fact car owners and merely use public transport as their primary commute option to pinch pennies, there are also many who are fully dependent on public transport because they have no other option. Raising public transport fares would make the M40 demographic (of which I believe I am part of) opt to simply take their cars to work because the nominal saving isn’t worth the hassle. Additionally, it would make members of the B40 category shoulder undue & unjust burden on top of the scuppering of day wages & trading opportunities as a result of this pandemic.

Riders queue at an information kiosk in Penang under the watch of a PDRM officer

It is my express opinion that the raising of public transport fares would only serve to prove how tone-deaf and out-of-touch this administration is with its people. While steering clear of the other mistakes made by the government of the day, this particular move will hurt far more people than it will benefit. And to my reckoning, the only benefiting parties are the public transport operators, who maintain near-monopolies on the industry with no major threat of competition. And in addition to that, aren’t essential businesses like public transport operators entitled to Government subsidies and backed loans should they fail to manage their finances prudently?

Is it not a greater priority of the Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong to ensure that the public continue to be connected from point to point by a reliable transportation network during this time of unparalleled economic & financial hardship, than it is to ensure that the salaries of people like Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Rahman continue to be paid, as the recently and hastily appointed chairman of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad?

Surely shareholder dividends and director emoluments are the lowest possible concern at this time, where Malaysians are digging into their already-tight pockets to ensure that other Malaysians don’t go hungry or uncared for when they are inevitably left in the lurch by the slow march of the bureaucratic machine as it responds to the greatest threat to public health and the economy that we’ve seen in a generation?

A Rapid Rail employee inspects a 4-car monorail to ensure it’s ready to take passengers safely

Surely, if the political appointees this Government has placed into countless government-linked companies donated their GLC salaries to the COVID-19 fund, there’d be enough slush left in there to ensure the people don’t get burdened unnecessarily?

Or, do the interests of the few outweigh those of the many in this “democratically appointed” Government?

The solution here is clear. Ridership needs to be improved and dramatically at that, and there is no better time to do so like the present. With Malaysians concerned over financial security and personal cashflow, it is the most prudent time to make our public transport system the viable, reliable, affordable alternative to personal travel that it should always have been. And if we take this economic regression and pandemic as an opportunity to shore up confidence in the public transport system, the benefits will be reaped for years to come.

The author, Aiman I. Abdullah, is a motoring journalist and editor with more than half a decade’s experience in both local & international automotive media spheres, and is an ardent supporter of affordable, accessible, and comprehensive public transport networks.

He can be found on social media @AimanIAbdullah on Twitter & Instagram, where he enjoys engaging in intelligent discourse in his personal capacity.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author; They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publication, its Affiliates, its Parent Company or its Subsidiaries.

Disclaimer: Any reproduction of this article or any of its contents are only permitted with the express permission of the Managing Editor of MalaysianMotoring. Failure to comply will result in legal action.

As always, MalaysianMotoring would like to remind its readers to be safe out there, both on the road and off it. Our success depends on our responsibility to ourselves and each other – our nation depends on it.We thank you for staying home, and staying safe.

#KitaJagaKita

Ministry of Transport Considering Raising Public Transport Fares – Report

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In his daily media address, the Senior Minister of Security Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob revealed that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) is considering a proposal put forward by public transport operators to increase fares to stem the losses resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It is said that the MOT will table this proposal during the next meeting of the Jawatankuasa Khas Menteri-Menteri (or ‘Special Minister’s Committee’) to be debated among the nation’s top lawmakers.

Ismail Sabri said that the MOT will consider the proposal as not to ‘subject public transport operators to losses.’

On a related matter, the Senior Minister also commented that school bus operators who have continued to charge for their services despite nearly 60-days of schools being closed will have their operating licenses reviewed, as school bus licenses are under the purview of the Ministry of Transport.

The Senior Minister continued that while he understood the ‘difficulties faced by school bus operators as a result of having no passengers to ferry,’ he did say that there may be revenue opportunities where school buses can temporarily make up the shortfall in factory transit busses, as the latter network is currently only permitted to carry about half the normal capacity, resulting in severe delays to the manufacturing sector.

Souce: BERNAMA

As always, MalaysianMotoring would like to remind its readers to be safe out there, both on the road and off it. Our success depends on our responsibility to ourselves and each other – our nation depends on it.We thank you for staying home, and staying safe.

#KitaJagaKita

UMW Toyota Restarts Manufacturing, Assembly Plant

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UMW Toyota Motor Sdn. Bhd. has announced that its subsidiary, Assembly Services Sdn. Bhd. (ASSB) which is wholly responsible for the assembly & manufacturing of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, will resume its operations in full compliance with the guidelines & operating procedures as part of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

They are doing so with the full approval of the Selangor state government, which has implemented a stricter and more comprehensive list of requirements with regards to the resumption of business as compared to the regulations stated by the Ministry of International Trade & Industry, and approved by the Federal Government.

ASSB suspended all operations on March the 18th, as directed by the Federal Government upon the announcement of the Movement Control Order.

“We are grateful to the Selangor State Government for its decision to implement the CMCO with customised details and understand that it is in the best interest of the state and people. With the resumption of operations, we hope to help in boosting the economy, and adding momentum to the automotive industry & business moving forwards.”

Mr. Ravindran K., President, UMW Toyota Motor

Federal & state legislatures demanded the adherence to strict standard operating procedures in order to obtain approval to resume business. These standard procedures include establishing a working distance of 1- or more metres between staff, regular temperature checks of all staff reporting for duty, the provision of hand sanitisers & face masks throughout the facility, as well as the complete sterilisation of critical areas around the facilities, which are to be conducted three times a day. Additionally, work flows & working hours have been adjusted as to ensure the safety & welfare of UMW Toyota & Assembly Services employees.

UMW Toyota Motor & Assembly Services will be resuming operations at full capacity, in adherence with the strict standard operating procedures as set out by both federal & state legislatures. ASSB is reportedly at full compliance, to ensure the safety of its reported 2,000 staff on site.

“Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is very serious about providing safe & healthy conditions for all employees. As a member of the global Toyota family, ASSB can therefore draw on healthcare advice & best practices from TMC regarding additional measures that can be observed here in Selangor.”

Akio Takeyama-san, Deputy Chairman, UMW Toyota Motor

As always, MalaysianMotoring would like to remind its readers to be safe out there, both on the road and off it. Our success depends on our responsibility to ourselves and each other – our nation depends on it.We thank you for staying home, and staying safe.

#KitaJagaKita

PROTON Brings N95 Filtration To X70 SUV – Standard On New Models, RM79 Retrofit

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As the nation continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic as we enter what hopes to be the final phase of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), the boffins at PROTON continue to innovate, with their customers remaining at the heart of all that they do. With many concerned regarding air quality and particulate filtration, it comes to no surprise that PROTON has met the challenge and has begun fitting all new X70 SUVs with N95-grade cabin air filters as standard.

The new system, called the PROTON Intelligent Air Purification System (P-IAPS) will be applied only to new X70s coming out of Tanjung Malim. However, existing X70 owners (CBU & CKD) can have the N95 cabin filters fitted at a PROTON service centre of choice as part of scheduled servicing, with the filter itself costing RM79 before labour & fitment charges.

“PROTON is constantly looking at ways to improve our offerings. The introduction of the N95 cabin filter is particularly relevant in today’s global environment and by improving the quality of air in the cabin, we hope to deliver a comfortable contaminant-free experience to our customers.”

Dr. Li Chunron, Chief Executive Officer, PROTON

The N95 cabin filters are technically capable of dealing with 95% of particles that measure more than 0.3-microns, and 98% of PM2.5 dust particulates. That means that smoke particles, dust, bacteria, and various other pollutants can be dealt with efficiently & quickly. Additionally, this filtration level is active regardless of the settings of your air-conditioning, so those who prefer fresh air intake and those who prefer recirculated air are equally well protected.

The P-IAPS system is more than just the cabin filter, however. The X70 has been available from launch with a High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter as standard, which is capable of dealing with 99.97% of all particulates that measure more than 0.3-microns. This also doubles up as an ioniser, discharging negative ions in the air and attracting positive ions into the filter, where activated carbon elements will remove odours, smoke, and formaldehyde.

For those looking to have the new N95 cabin filter fitted to their X70, PROTON will be offering a 15% discount (RM67.15 after discount, excluding labour & fitment charges) beginning from May 18th all the way to August 18th 2020. Service appointments can be made starting from May the 13th.

At the moment, P-IAPS is only available on the X70 SUV. However, the CEO did say that this may not continue to be the case for long:

“For now, P-IAPS will only be offered on the Proton X70 but our designers and engineers are working to fit the N95 cabin filter in our other models too.”

Dr. Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, PROTON

As always, MalaysianMotoring would like to remind its readers to be safe out there, both on the road and off it. Our success depends on our responsibility to ourselves and each other – our nation depends on it.We thank you for staying home, and staying safe.

#KitaJagaKita

Perodua Returns To Work For Its Customers – Service, Body & Paint Centres Reopen Across The Country

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In an announcement over the weekend, Malaysian automotive juggernaut Perodua has moved to reopen service centres across the country, in line with the rules & regulations set out by the National Security Council & the Ministry of International Trade & Industry. As Malaysia’s largest carmaker, controlling almost half of the passenger car market, the decision to reopen service centres as well as body and paint centres was one that was taken with extreme caution, keeping with their pledge to always put people first.

As it also operates the widest network of service centres, Perodua has provided and easy and hassle-free way to organise a service for your car. You can first check to see the list of participating service centres and body & paint centres by visiting their website here, which also includes the relevant phone numbers to set an appointment.

Additionally, you can make an appointment to have your car serviced via the UFirst app, which can be downloaded on the Google PlayStore and Apple AppStore. From there you can not only make your booking, but with the Passport system, you can collect loyalty UKoin points which can be used to later redeem items from the UFirst store. Owning and maintaining your Perodua has never been so easy, and so rewarding.

Perodua assures all its customers that it will follow the strictest and highest standards of sanitation & safety throughout the process. All staff will be screened for fevers and other symptoms, all cars will be disinfected before they are returned to customers, and there will be a limit applied as to how many customers are permitted in service centres at any given time. Additionally, customers are advised to observe social distancing throughout the process, and their details & temperature will be taken at the gate before being permitted entry into service centres. Only one customer is allowed per car.

As always, MalaysianMotoring would like to remind its readers to be safe out there, both on the road and off it. Our success depends on our responsibility to ourselves and each other – our nation depends on it.

Thank you. Stay home, and stay safe.

PROTON Shares Cabin Safety Tips To Observe During COVID-19

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​This is a message from PROTON Holdings.

In view of the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has implemented an extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of the virus. During this period, we are advised to practise precautionary measures like social distancing, maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding mass assemblies and to stay at home at all times.

However, there will be times when going out is still necessary, to replenish groceries or to tend to emergency situations. Besides that, for those who are working in essential services, work carries on as per usual. This is when maintaining the cleanliness of your vehicle is crucial for the sake of yourself and your passengers. Here are some tips from PROTON on how to turn your vehicle into a clean and healthy space, not only during the two-week MCO period but also for the long run. 

To protect, disinfect

First and foremost, surfaces you touch on a regular basis should be frequently disinfected. So this would be items such as the steering wheel, gear knob, door handles (both inside and outside), as well as the engine ‘push start’ button and your car keys.

Recent studies show virus can survive for up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless-steel surfaces[1]. This suggests that the virus might be lingering on any surface of your vehicle if not disinfected properly after human contact. Thus, it is important to wipe down all surfaces regularly, after purchasing your necessities.

The cleaning process does not end there though, as there are other areas within the vehicle that should also be thoroughly cleaned. For instance, if the audio system of your vehicle comes with a touchscreen, just like the Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) of the 2020 PROTON X70, the screen will be one area that needs regular cleaning. You can do so by using a soft cloth that has been lightly misted with anti-bacterial spray. Don’t overdo it though.

Apart from that, you should also periodically clean your vehicle’s seats. However, take note that leather seats might not be suitable to be cleaned with disinfectants. The harsh chemicals might ruin the material causing discoloration and breakage. Hence, you should look for appropriate cleaning solutions that are designed for cleaning leather seats, and make sure that your seats are completely wiped dry to avoid stains and cracks on the leather.

Hands-free, worry-free

At this point of time, everyone should already be familiar with the most basic advice on personal hygiene, which is to wash your hands regularly and minimise contact through gestures like handshaking and touching your face. This is because our hands are involved in most of the work throughout our day, from holding items to interacting with objects and people.

One way to minimise unnecessary hand-contact within your vehicle is to fully utilise the available hands-free functions such as voice command that allows you to control multiple things in the SUV, including what’s being played on the radio, stream music and the ability to navigate around town as well as utilising the power tailgate with foot sensor – all you have to do is to wave your foot under the rear bumper and it’ll automatically open as long as your key fob is in your pocket.

Clear the air and clear your mind

With an air purifier, harmful gases, bad odour and airborne bacteria are eliminated so that the air within your cabin remains fresh. Some vehicles, like the PROTON X70, have this built-in into the air-conditioning system. It is also wise to clear out any and all trash in the vehicle by giving it a thorough vacuum. This helps to remove dirt and bits of food that may attract pests.

As we face an extended MCO period, PROTON hopes that everyone practices good hygiene and most importantly, stays at home. However, should you be required to leave home, please take note of these tips above and drive safe! In these trying times, we have to stay safe and strong, Malaysia!

[1] “Covid-19: How long does the coronavirus last on surfaces?”, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200317-covid-19-how-long-does-the-coronavirus-last-on-surfaces

Perodua Contributes RM2-Million, Supplies Towards COVID-19 Efforts

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“This war against COVID-19 is a shared responsibility. The funds & items contributed by Perodua are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Malaysia will recover as fast as it can.”

Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President & Chief Executive Officer, Perodua

Malaysian mega-manufacturer Perodua has today joined the war against the Coronavirus that has swept the globe, today making a major contribution towards the COVID-19 fund set up by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

Perodua wrote a cheque for RM2,000,000 which was presented by President & CEO Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, and received by YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

In addition to the financial contribution, the Sg. Choh company also donated 150 mattresses, 200 pillows, 105 boxes of mineral water, 15 industrial fans, and 300 pairs of rubber gloves to the Sg. Buloh Hospital, to aid the ongoing fight against the global pandemic.

The NADMA-COVID19 fund was set up to assist people made most vulnerable by the current situation, including the unemployed and others. It was launched on the 11th of March, and has since been repurposed to help those who are most affected by the ongoing Movement Control Order, which came into effect on the 18th of March. It works to complement the Prihatin Rakyat stimulus package that was recently announced by the Prime Minister.

“We thank the government for these economic measures. Perodua, in solidarity with all Malaysians, hopes this pandemic will be resolved in the shortest time and with minimal infections & fatalities. To those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, we extend our most sincere condolences.

As for Perodua, we have directed all our staff, the greater automotive supply chain, and our authorised dealers to pay keen attention to their staff’s needs & welfare during this MCO. We are monitoring the situation closely to ensure that the livelihoods of our ecosystem, like wages, benefits, and especially employment, are not impacted.

We are committed to the social distancing measures enforced by the authorities, to ensure the spread of the virus is contained. And to our customers in particular and all Malaysians in general, please stay indoors and stay healthy.”

Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President & Chief Executive Officer, Perodua

We at MalaysianMotoring would like to thank Perodua for their generous contribution towards the nation’s fight against the Coronavirus.

Perodua Suspends All Operations From 18th March Onwards – Until End of Movement Restriction

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Malaysian automotive heavyweight Perodua has, after great consideration & deliberation, released a statement today announcing its compliance with Government directives to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus that is sweeping the globe.

               In a statement issued by President & CEO Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Perodua is to cease all activities at its head office, manufacturing facilities, sales & service centres, as well as body & paint outlets across the country between the 18th of March 2020 until the 31st of March 2020, “subject to any new announcements made by the Government from time to time.”

               “Due to this,” Dato’ Zainal said, “new vehicle deliveries, servicing, and Body & Paint services are expected to resume only after the Movement Control Order is lifted.” Dato’ Zainal continued by saying that related outlet personnel may be in touch with affected customers during this period, to provide more detailed & clear explanation of how Perodua is complying with the Movement Control Order.

               “We hope all Malaysians will cooperate with this Government directive, and limit their movements as much as possible to curb the spread of COVID-19.”

               It has not been clarified however if Perodua will offer any leniency on warranty coverage should affected customers with new, warrantied cars be forced to miss their scheduled service as a result of the Movement Control Order, which is a question several of our #MalaysianMotorists have asked us. However, should you encounter any issues with your Perodua vehicle, please do not hesitate to contact Perodua Auto Assist at 1-800-88-5555 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.