Proton Edar’s Proton Exora teaser page reveals how the Exora’s seats and seating configuration looks like. The seats are in the typical three-row MPV 2-3-2 order for 7 seats, and Proton claims them to be suitable for full adult seating.

From the looks of it every seat (wrapped with leather) has its own headrest, and Proton says there are also individual air conditioning blowers for each row. From the details revealed at the Proton Technology Week, it is revealed that the dedicated air conditioning vents for the 2nd and 3rd rows will be located at the ceiling of the Proton Exora MPV. The 2nd and 3rd row of the Proton Exora can also be folded in 6 flexible configurations, and it looks like the 2nd row’s middle seat can be folded down as an armrest. There will be a total of 10 cupholders in the MPV, which is more than 1 for each seat, so there should be more than enough space to keep one’s drinks on a road trip.

As previously revealed, the steering wheel will feature audio controls but there is no mention yet on what the phone button is for. The Proton Exora will have an overhead LCD player that can read VCDs and DVDs along with a variety of other storage devices such as devices using USB input, and a memory card slot that supports SD and MMC. This will likely be available only in the high spec model.

Speaking of specification levels, Proton has also revealed tentative prices for the Proton Exora on its booking page. The tentative pricing are RM 72,000 for the M-Line model with an automatic transmission, and RM 76,000 for the H-Line model with an automatic transmission. This is well under the RM 80,000 maximum figure previously quoted. So far only prices for automatic transmission models have been revealed but if the automatic M-Line is 72K, a manual transmission M-Line could go under RM70k if Proton decides to make such a model available. But I feel manual is a must for the Proton buyer segment, and I am pretty sure their product team knows this too.

Bookings for the Proton Exora just opened yesterday and Proton Edar reported over 350 bookings. Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal hopes to achieve between 4,000 to 5,000 bookings before the April launch date, which gives them roughly over a month to go.

There have also been other details on the Exora revealed over the past few months, please read our previous coverage on the Proton Exora to find out more exclusive details!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Fine, I am a nationalist but who in the right mind approved of this vehicle? Has anyone ever wondered can a 1.6 litre engine pull of a task similar to a Japanese MPV which actually utilises a minimum 2 litre engine!

The people at Proton really lives up to the Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia Can Do It) motto huh? I can’t wait to hear the first batch of the Exoras to be recalled for some ‘technical’ error like most of Proton’s earlier models.

Don’t get me wrong, I support local products but a 1.6 Campro engine will not suffice. At first when all the hype about Proton will be producing an MPV, rumour says it will run on a 1.6 turbo charged Campro. Now that is something else. A friend of mine installed a turbo kit on his Gen-2 and achieved 168 brake horsepower and generating 260Nm of torque. THAT can work on an Exora!

Then there was another rumour of it will be produced with a 1.8 litre Campro. That may help a little if not much. I wonder, when will Proton actually produce vehicles worth our hard earned money? Or will Perodua come to our rescue? I wonder…

It makes me wonder, do we need all that in the current state of global economy? With the S80′s, are we able to solve more crimes? Imagine a chase scene where it involves an S80 patrol car and a cheapo stolen getaway car. Would anyone in a right state of mind will execute the ‘pit manouvre’ (where the chase car nudges the back corner of the getaway car to actually make it spin to a stop) in an S80? Now who would be paying for the damages on a VOLVO? Obviously the same money they used to purchase it that is OUR money!

Come on, use the people’s money for the good of tomorrow and not because we want to look flashy amongst the other police force worldwide. Just because Americans use some Corvette or Japan uses Skylines or even Italy uses Gallardos as Police cars we want to also. Look at their road system…which is FAR BETTER than what we have and obviously they need big, brutish ultra fast cars to actually chase speed demons.

Most of Malaysian ‘speed demons’ are on two wheels and not four! Now these ‘mat rempits’ are a nuiscance and you don’t need Evos or S80s to chase them because they retaliate by throwing rocks and spark plugs back at the cops! Well, that’s just my two sen!

Those who want to read and see the article on Paul Tan’s blog, click here

Dear Tun,
To help everyone – here is what Hanan wrote;

By Hanan on January 24, 2009 12:53 AM
Dr. Mahathir,

Very well established a logical basis leaning on an ex Reagan administration that is having microphones and cameras in the Bush administration, Mr. Paul Craig Roberts. You are always collecting the facts not from the first source just from the second hand washed cloth. Of course an anti Jew will look on anti Jew information. You may refer to Al Qaeda humanitarian organization for more information, they have plenty of it.

You are saying:
“1. I would like to have the Malaysian Armed Forces attack the United States and Israel.”

Oh, great hero. You had the chance to do it while you were the PM in service. Why didn’t you tried out the strength of the Malaysian army and its skills? You had a good chance to become the Muslim hero committing Jihad on the apes and monkeys. To become the Salah ed Din of the modern times. How could you miss that opportunity to demolish both, America and Israel and leaving Iran to do it solely? Oh great rhetoric, do you know how a war looks like?

You care about the babies of Iraq, Palestinians, etc… How lucky we are you don’t need to care about the Jewish children suffering daily rockets from Hamas who is a Muslim charity organization. Oh, their 8 years of rockets in a quantity of thousands were full of candies ammunition that was spreading sweets to the children of Sederot and the Negev.

Since Jews are controlling everyone by proxy, I’m not sure you, Dr. Mahathir are not controlled by them as well. You’ll say that you are not controlled, but I can assure you that I’m controlling you. Can you deny it? Even Malaysia is manipulated by Jews, that’s why they are not attacking the US and Israel. You should check very well among your government ministers and officials and find the Trojan horses there.

You hate Israel not because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but you hate only because the hatred of Muslims against Jews, the apes and swine. Your hate is not political, but religious. You are just sinking into the modern era darkness.

You said once in one of your speeches that Muslims should use their brains to get rid of 13 Million Jews dominance among 1.3 billion Muslims. Are you a role model? Do you have the wisdom to do it? Do you have the power to do it? Do you know why your plan is not accomplished? It is because it is not true, not logical, unjustified, not because the Jew are controlling the world by proxy. History is stronger than any empire, leader or people. The Jews survived more complicated events then you are planning, so don’t be hoping too much, we survive your approach as well.

Shalom from Hanan, a Jew, Israel.

HANAN…

By
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
on January 27, 2009 5:40 PM

(On Jan 24, 2009, Hanan commented on Boycott – this is my reply)

Dear Hanan,

1. I agree entirely with you that building a great nation doesn’t only take brains, but as you said it sure does help.

2. However brains alone without a heart (feelings) can produce a monster.

3. Israel is undoubtedly a great nation, becoming great through the brains and the numerous achievements you have listed. Yes I have used Israeli originated products like Microsoft Windows and Pentium chips (made in Malaysia) by Intel, an American company.

4. In fact I owe my life ultimately to Israel because there must be something invented by Israelis in the numerous instruments used in heart surgery. However most of the products used were invented and produced by Japanese.

5. I am amazed at the number of Nobel Laureates Israel has produced. I admit we have not produced even one.

6. But when the brain is without a heart it does not care for the misery resulting from the products of the brain.

7. The atom bombs which killed 100,000 men, women, children and babies are the product of Israeli (Jewish) brain. Most of the diabolical weapons now being used to kill millions of people are also the creation of Israelis on Zionist Jews. The depleted uranium and phosphorous shells being used in Gaza are also the product of Israeli brains.

8. The current financial crisis which is destroying the economies of the U.S. Britain and in fact all the countries of the world is due to manipulations of banks, financial institutions and the monetary system by Jewish supporters of Israel.

9. The negation of the freedom of speech when it comes to the alleged killings of Jews in World War II are also inspired by Zionist Jews.

10. But worse of all is the seizure of Palestinian land to create the state of Israel. Not content with the area given to the Jews by the United Nations you have seized more Palestinian land, built settlements on many parts of Palestine, disallowed the use of roads built on Palestinian land to the Palestinians, erected your own check points at the borders of Palestine with Jordan and built your version of the Berlin Wall through Palestinian villages on land that is not part of Israel.

11. Before the creation of Israel, the Jews and Arabs in Palestine lived in peace. Historically Jews had always sought refuge in Muslim countries when the Europeans conducted pogroms against them. This only stopped after the U.S. offered asylum.

12. All the terrorism that we see today, whether state initiated or by irregulars, started after the U.S. backed Israel against Arab attempts to regain their land through conventional wars. Because they were outclassed in terms of weapons by the U.S, / Israel, alliance, then only did the Arabs resort to what is called terrorism. The Israeli response have always been with greater terrorism as is seen in Gaza.

13. I have asked an American what he would do if Texas was given to the Jews to create the state of Israel. He did not answer. But I believe he would fight to get back Texas, employing all the weapons at its disposal.

14. Yet had the United States been willing to create the nation of Israel in the lands under U.S. control or in the U.S. itself, there would be no terrorism in Palestine or in the Middle East. There would be no terrorism in America either because Israel would be wiped out by the U.S. forces. The world would remain peaceful.

15. The brutality committed by your forces in Gaza is out of all proportion to the puny rocket attacks by Hamas. That attack was the result of Israel and the U.S. failing to accept the results of a properly conducted election.

16. Hamas could only establish their Government in Gaza. But you blockaded Gaza, denying them food, medicine, power, fuel etc. If you had not done that I doubt that Hamas would fire rockets at you.

17. Malaysia is well aware that total boycott of Israel is not possible. We are in fact boycotting American products which is an even more impossible task. We would not be able to bring America or Israel down.

18. But what we aim to do is to demonstrate the disgust and the anger that we feel over the inhumanity of the brainy but primitive peoples of Israel and America.

19. You can collect Nobel prizes and other prizes but the world will look down upon you as very primitive people who robbed land through terror against perfidious British and subsequently used your control over the world’s greatest military power to oppress the people whom you had robbed.

20. You have nothing to be proud of, unless of course you take pride in being heartless, in being primitive brutes.

21. The only mitigating factor is the presence among Israelis of a small number who are ashamed of what you have done to the people of Gaza.

Before:

After:

High-performance models are nothing new to the PDRM and even as far back as the 1970s, the force had a fleet of 2-litre Alfa Romeo Alfettas, the first police force outside Italy to use the Italian cars. Marketed by City Motors at that time, they were assembled at the Swedish Motor Assemblies plant in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Later on, during the 1980s, the police also purchased a small fleet of Ford TX3s which were used for undercover operations. The cars were unmarked and little was known about them other than that they existed. Around that time, other government agencies like the Customs also used models like the Citroen BX and BMW 318i in order to pursue criminals who had fast machines.

In the 1990s, the Highway Patrol got the powerful Volvo 850 T5 stationwagons which were ideal for use on the North-South Highway. The station wagons served for some time but today, the Highway Patrol uses Mitsubishi Pajeros, Nissan X-Trails and some Proton Satria GTIs.

The PDRM will be sending its Evo drivers for special training courses so that they will be able to make full use of the car’s performance so illegal racers had better think twice before trying to accelerate away when they see flashing blue lights behind them. The police also say that the cars may have other roles that require high-speed escorts.

As these are government vehicles, the cost would be about half the showroom price of RM324,000 since they are purchased tax-free. Also, the Evo’s 295 bhp engine is a thirsty power plant but since the police also get tax-free petrol, that should not be a worry either! ~ Motor Trader dot com.

WoW! Just what we need in our times of financial difficulties! Spend our money on cars that is unnecessary so that we can show off to our neighbors that we too can use some muscle when chasing criminals and illegal racers in Malaysia!

Not that I feel we do not need fast patrol cars, but just imagine this scenario, here you are in an Evo 10 patrol car patrolling the North-South Highway and suddenly one Lamborghini Gallardo and one Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M with our neighbor’s license plates on them zoomed towards Kuala Lumpur, anyone with the right state of mind knows that no matter how or what you put in the Evo 10 can actually chase these supercars!

Ok, I may have been a bit extreme. Let’s just say a Nissan Skyline R-34 GTR V-SPEC and a BMW M5 owned by friends of mine are illegally racing down the Sepang highway, you think with 600 plus horses under each hood are a match for the Evos?

I remembered I think it was somewhere last year somewhere near the second link where our boys organized illegal races you see similar in the Fast & Furious franchise. All the Cops did was blocked each end of the highway with trailers and buses and they had nowhere to run. There, you didn’t need any fast cars then and you guys need 25 of them now?

For what is my question?

To escort our VVIPS? In which earlier this year just because some VVIP is accessing the private road with an entourage, a man lost his live just because he was startled and slammed the brakes when he was ordered to the side of the road? Sometime it makes me wonder, why all the precautions? Has any political or corporate figures been assassinated in public roads before? Were there any car bombs placed by the roadside to bomb some VVIP? I guess its just for show right? I believe Malaysians do not resort to violence unless provoked. Oh, let’s get back to the topic.

Yes, until I find some explanation on why do we need Evo 10s as patrol cars, I shall always wonder why are we just wasting tax payers money. Just like the Scorpene submarines we bought. Are we using them to scare the Abu Sayaf pirates of Sabah and Sarawak’s shores? Are we at war with Singapore so we can sneak up and fire torpedos so that Singapore sink faster? Are we even prepared to lose our boys as submarine accidents do happen. Look at the US, they even lose nuclear subs whenever problem arises under sea and are the Scorpenes any match to the nuclear subs?

Let us ponder….

UPDATES : 05 March 2009

view the latest pictures of RMP Highway Eagle (evo10)

PETALING JAYA: The funeral procession of A. Kugan, whose death in police custody has galvanized civil society, began at 11:45pm Wednesday as the body left the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) mortuary here.

It would proceed to Subang Jaya and then on to Puchong where the suspected car thief will finally be laid to rest, leaving in his wake disturbing questions about police abuse.

Five men have also been arrested. First, police detained two men who tried to get through a barricade at the UMMC despite orders to disperse.

Enough already with all the processions or Tunjuk Perasaan thingy. It won’t work. First of all, condolences to the family of the late A. Kugan. What I am trying to say is, we do not achieve anything by organizing processions which will later lead to clashes which will lead to either arrests or hospitalization.

As we all know, racial issue is a no-no here in Malaysia and no one ones to dwindle on that issue for long for fear of racial conflicts. So, lets not touch on that. I guess it some propaganda has to be in play here as in local TV news last night said something about the procession got to do with racial issues as well.

At about 1:25pm, FRU officers came to the front of the mortuary and forced press photographers away from the scene.

See? Once these guys are on the scene, you are no longer an innocent bystander. I remembered one time ago, a Reformasi procession was taking place at the High Court in KL. Me being naive and not interested in political turmoils back then was having a date at the Sogo Mall with this hot chick. Ok lets not dwell at the hot chick. Me and my partner was prepping to get on my ride when all of a sudden there was this tidal wave of Reformasists running helter skleter down the road with FRU spraying the itchy green water. Damn! Even I got sprayed and man I was in agony the next few hours! so back to the topic.

His uncle, Ravi Roy, 42, had earlier told the media said that the family was not blaming the police force for Kugan’s death, but was merely seeking the truth.

See? They are not blaming anyone, but there are some parties that would benefit by blowing this issue out of proportion! These unscrupulous parties love to gain from other person’s agony (did I say that right?).

While initially saying no foul play was involved, police have now reclassified the case as murder for the purpose of investigation, at the urging of the Attorney-General.

One other perspective is there could have been a fight in the lock up, which I myself have encountered once while making a report on being in a fight with a US Marine back during my bouncer hood days. God knows what the fight was all about it just created some drama most of the on duty boys in blue dashed to the lock up to break up the fight.

What ever the reason is, as youth of today and leaders of tomorrow, I urge all Malaysians to stop or refrain from organising such Processions where race could be an issue. Do we want to live like how they do in Thailand? Or in Pakistan? Or like what the Serbs did to the Bosnians? No, we do not need ethnic cleansing. We need all races in Malaysia to unite. Together we can be stronger!

I went to Bangsar TM point with Ben. The moment I step in already had a bad feeling. I know somehow they gonna screw my request. The counter tix shows no sign of my number moving towards the counter. First bad sign. Only one counter to server Streamyx user. The other counter was empty and I have to wait for it to clear. Not relevant at all wasting such resources.

Alright, at the counter. Manage to ask the lovely lady to tell me how to change the phone address and how to get a new number. First thing would be hoe long will it took to connect me back to the internet. That’s life for me. The lady said. It will took a week top. Relief with a false promise to make me happy during the moment.

I don’t only request a new line to the new home, I’m also asking to change my current package to be the Streamyx combo. Guest what, no problem to them. Just fill in the form and we will do the rest. I said OK!

Two weeks pass by and still no phone or internet. My previous account is still active and I have to pay. Well in my case I don’t. I’m waiting it to complete then comes the money for them. Only by third week I manage to get a phone line. Yet still no internet. I don’t really understand how their work flow works. It seem so sluggish to me. I know that TM is the only ISP capable bringing affordable internet connection with higher connection capability to a home user like me. No offense to Wireless Tech. Still need more R&D.

If they going to be a monopoly of the market, be a great one. Alright the next week I got the internet. That was after long hours of calls and push me to the gut attitude I gave them on the phone. Have to pay all the previous bills then. 4 weeks to get me an internet. Lost money a long da’ way.

Today on 29/11/2008 – Got the TM bills. Now RM404.59. I admit there’s some old bills need to settle. My fault. But lets look at the new ones. Did I not mention that I ask them to change the package to The Streamyx combo which is suppose to be RM8 lesser than what I usually pay. Not yet change. Why? I don’t know.

Back to my bills. I understand the the monthly payment for it which is RM88. Fine! Tax 5%. Fine! Phone Line RM29? Include Rm3 for Shows caller number and RM1 details for calls.  I don’t even use the phone. Only use for calling TM number which is 100. Despite that there is this Credit & other charges for about RM11.04. What for?

I’ve filed a complaint trough email. I can’t get them through phone. Can only call them during office hour. Lazy people. Only them the ISP. Making them a big headed cooperation. Where is the customer support? Before emailing them I’ve tried to use their complaint form in their site. After finishing the for did I realize it doesn’t work. Why even bother to show something and not work. Are their webmaster stupid or something? If you want to look cool with web 2.0 style, make sure it works. Else just run it on your local box or machine. Spend almost half and hour to fill that. Outrage begin to struck when finishing it. Making me type a long complaint and after all that it does not work.

If there are readers out there from or related to TM. Forward this to them. We are trying to help locals company establish locally. If they put up this kind of attitude that all Malaysian have to have them. Maybe one day when there is a new company offering similar services, user might look elsewhere. Customers are king. Without them you would earn less.

If you have the chance to hold tight then do it. Don’t tie to many loose ends. They might end up broke up.

Before I go on, I remembered when I was younger there were a lot of bus operators such as Bas Mini, Seri Jaya and Metro Bus (which nothing to do with Metrojaya…LOL, lame joke). At one time these buses were the kings of the tarmacs! Imagine a long bus weaving in and out of the traffic. It was because they relied on the ticket sales. The bus which gets the most ticket sales gets the most commission. Gone are those era and replaced by one consolidated bus company which bought over all the other bus companies and became RapidKL.

They, as is RapidKL, now do not depend on ticket commissions but the drivers are paid a fixed monthly wage. So, they now are in control. They can just pass you waiting at the bus stop since 6 PM and now it’s freaking 8 PM just because the idiot wants have his dinner! I mean WTF? Why be a bus driver and not doing your job right? Some errand bus drivers will just switch off the interior lights and also the LED number display so you think that this bus was on its way to the depot but actually the bus just didn’t want to make the stop to pick up passengers as the bloody selfish driver has made plans to meet up with another driver for teh tarik! Call me a liar? Go to the first pick up point at Taman Seri Manja in Old Klang Road and one will see at one time 5 buses are in line with no drivers and passengers are confused which freaking bus is going to actually move.

Before I go on with my rantings and ramblings let just get back to the horrifying ordeal I went through this morning. I was at the first stop as that was on the way to the baby sitter’s place. After a short and brief goodbye with the family, I noticed there were two buses with the engine running but the drivers were having breakfast at Restaurant Le Hud just behind the bus stop.

Five minutes went by after I got there, nothing happened. Fifteen minutes, and they were having cigarettes now for the umpteenth time. Ok, after 20 minutes of waiting one of them got up and walked towards his bus. And being Malaysians, passengers are gathering in front of the door without queuing. Weren’t you idiots thought on how to cue during your school days? What were doing then? Oh come on stop all these shoving and can’t you all see I have a laptop bag? Freaking idiots!

Finally I got in after all the shoving and pushing. Paid my two bucks and found a seat. After a few stops, the bus getting packed. And just before entering Old Klang Road, a blind man got in. What the hell is wrong with Malaysians? Aren’t we all supposed to be full of politeness? Aren’t we known for it? Well probably it died along with the dinosaurs! (either that its gone or it never existed). And I realized my seat was just facing the row of seats for privileged passengers (disabled, pregnant women, nursing mothers, mothers with children, and old folks). The nerve of the bastards sitting on those seats! One suddenly is in deep slumber, one pretended to be SMSing someone and another just looked like he either had a joint earlier or his mum fed him space cakes for breakfast. Just were just ignorant piece of trash. As the bus moved, this blind old Chinese man almost toppled and no one tried to help. I got up to catch the man, poked the idiot who pretended to be asleep and told him off. I gave the blind man my seat.

This Indian man whom pretended to be asleep awhile ago is now giving me the eye and he thought with his five four inches stature scare the bejezez out of me? Please dude, I used to throw thrash like you out of clubs ok? After two stops, the Devdass wannabe got off. Imagine, he was only on the bus for four stops, and at the second stop he fell asleep? Duh!

After he got off, I realized now the bus is full of foreigners! That explains the extremely foul body odors! Don’t this people shower or heard of deodorants? And, why the f*** 70% of the bus are full of foreign construction workers? Am I in Malaysia? Or am I in Nepal? Am I in Myanmar? or I suppose I must be in Jakarta this morning, Damn, I deviating again.

At the stop where the Devdass wannabe got off, there were seven Nepalese wanting to get on. I am a six feet two inches and 115 kilo dude (yup you guessed it, Devdass realised that he just under my armpit then!) and that makes me a toweing giant in the bus. Behind me was this cute and petit girl already squashed in between me and several other passengers. I had two main concern, one was no to break my laptop’s LCD screen from all these squashing and number two was to make sure that this petite girl look like a pancake when she get off as she was actually and literally squashed at the moment.

The dirty seven decided to board this bus and two actually managed to get in. The remaining five was pushing and kept on pushing and telling us, “sikt lagi masuk dalam, sikit lagi, sikt lagi” or “please go in a little bit more, just a little bit more”.

The girl is already shrieking as my elbow is crushing her bosom and my laptop was crushing against the railing next to me. Finally I couldn’t take it. It was either let these blokes in and kill the girl behind me and break my laptop in the process or these blokes have to get off. Imagine, I couldn’t even move my arms now. I gave a short but mighty shove towards the people in front of me, and all five toppled back outside. They fell on the pavement and apparently pissed off. That was only when I heard voices from all around me telling them off.

Now the bus driver has no other option but to continue on with the journey. Finally, I arrived at my destination in one piece. I wonder, with Pak Lah wanting us Malaysians to utilize the public transport. That experience I just shared was just riding a bus. Don’t let me start on the behavior of our well renowned over charging blood sucking outrageously rude taxi drivers and “so-very-on-time and adequate in numbers” KTM commuter trains.

Instead of improving our public transport services, we send a man to ISS, buy submarines and fighter planes (as if Singapore is going to invade us next week!). I seriously hope the Malaysia tomorrow will be a better Malaysia or I might move to Iceland.

The build quality and cost of maintenance of the Perdana V6 Executive was questioned following a controversy in July 2008 on a move by the Barisan Nasional-ruled Terengganu state government to purchase 14 Mercedes-Benz E200 Kompressors, which were intended to replace existing 2004 Perdana V6 Executives as part of their fleet of state government cars. Terengganu State Secretary Mokhtar Nong argued that the decision was made as a result of the Perdanas’ lack of reliability, explaining the Perdanas often require costly maintenance, especially on the gearbox, when used for continuous, long distance journeys. Two of the Perdana V6s in particular needed cumulative repair costs of RM175,229.97 and RM132,357.76 respectively since 2004.

Proton denied the allegation of high maintenance costs from Terengganu state government, citing the regular maintenance (motor oil and oil filter replacement) for the Perdana to be around RM200. The controversy has raised suspicion of maintenance fraud by the state government of Terengganu, as the regular cumulative maintenance costs of a typical Perdana V6 for the same period is far lower than the claim by the state government and also due to the fact that there was no such warranty claims being made by the state government since October 2004 for one of the defected cars.

Under the guidelines of Malaysia’s automotive policies, cars for use by federal and state governments are required to be of national makes.[3] As Proton is the only purely local carmaker to produce cars large enough to qualify as upper-range vehicles, the Perdana, along with the Waja, is favoured as a government car for high-ranking government officials, including the Prime Minister. With the exception of Sarawak, the Proton Perdana V6 Executive is currently the standard Perdana in use for such purposes.

Strong as steel? Are you sure?

The Proton Waja is a saloon car designed in-house by Malaysian automotive company, Proton, first released in August 2000. The Waja is the first Malaysian-designed car, with a chassis derived from a Mitsubishi Carisma and a Volvo S40. The name Waja, which means “tough (as steel)”, reflects the strength of the steel used for the Waja compared with the previous models. The name was chosen partly to counter the perception in the domestic market that Proton cars were less strong.[citation needed] In the United Kingdom, the Waja is sold as Proton Impian, “Impian” being another derivative of the Malay language, meaning “dream”.

This is the saddest part of buying a Proton. Although we know they are made of the cheapest quality available, we still have to buy them because they are cheaper compare to foreign cars, but the yuckiest! After almost 3 years of driving this 5 years old car, it is almost time to change this old piece of junk, I think. Need to start collecting money for this, but buying is a LIABILITY! I am trying to last as long as possible with this junk. I think a Nissan Sunny from the 80s can do better than my Waja.

I was sort of a nationalist and believe in buying Malaysian products. But now, after owning my second proton car (a proton Waja, first was a Wira) – I can conclude that Proton Cars Suck… a piece of junk. Proton the company is a disgrace, a betrayal to the trust given to the company by millions of Malaysians including myself. Few shameful about my Gen-2:

a) Front left power window is not functioning even after 2 or 3 times repair work (under warranty). The last time I sent for repair, the window malfuntioned again the next day. I don’t bother sending again since I do not have the luxury to not have my car. Damn you Proton. Don’t you get it? Do you think I can send my car for service every day?

b) Every time I drive over 100Km/hour, I can hear airflow coming in through God knows some gaps somewhere in the cabin.

c) Since day one I purchased the car, I have changed the driver’s side power window twice, passenger’s side thrice and back left side once. It’s all because of a roller that broke off its holding clip and I have to purchase the whole God damned panel. And its costs around RM300 for a so called local (imitation) version or RM380 for an original one; which to me makes no bloody difference as Proton cars are junk!

Sad to think when we get all angry when the dude from Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, said Proton cars should be banned. In which I agree with him. What most Malaysian Proton owners do not know that the quality sold in Malaysia differs from the ones exported. I was amazed as the Waja sold in the UK has all the safety features such as airbags and anti-lock braking system (ABS –check with the dealer as a friend bought a Satria with ABS and after a frightening accident she found out that that particular ABS was for advanced braking system; disk brakes literally . And since her father was then the RTD chief, Proton almost got sued!)

I shall continue with this Saga (no not the Proton Saga) till we meet again….Gambatei!

]]> http://malaysia-tomorrow.com/proton-cars-suck-the-saga-continues-part-1/feed/ 0 http://malaysia-tomorrow.com/why-malays-are-complacent/ http://malaysia-tomorrow.com/why-malays-are-complacent/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:47:54 +0000 xion http://malaysia-tomorrow.com/?p=46 I was just sitting with a bunch of friends yesterday having teh tarik. We were talking about gadgets to be featured here in MT when suddenly one of them said, “Hey are we ready for all this? Can Malaysians cope with advancement?

Well, come to think of it, Malaysians are far behind in terms of acceptance of new technology; especially Malays. And I am a Malay just in case you are wondering. Why we just simply can’t accept changes or advancements? It’s simply because we are complacent with things the way they are.

We wake up in the morning, doing the same routine thing; shower, morning prayers, drive to work, have breakfast at the nearest Mamak joint (roti canai and teh tarik), do the same tasks at the office, lunch (nasi campur and ikan bakar), work again, teh tarik with colleagues after work and talk either football or when is Pak Lah stepping down or how we will be if Najib runs the country, drive back home, shower, dinner (tomyam or fast food), go back home, watch footie on Astro Supersport and finally falling asleep in front of the telly. These are examples of a Malay bachelor’s lifestyle with an income of RM1,800 a month.

At work, they are so used to using Microsoft Office 2003 that when the management decides to upgrade to Microsoft Office 2007, they complain the management did not consult with them first and so on and so forth. Why are they complaining? It’s simply because they are SO USED TO the old interface that when they have to upgrade or change their work style, they simply can’t accept it. To them, it’s just like a punishment as they have to re-learn or do some extra work.

If possible, they want the task to be simplified rather than having more features or extras. Funny ain’t it? I fond it amusing when I remembered an incident where the company I am working at did a presentation to another subsidiary company just the same like ours. There we were in a board room full of “old timers”. People in the industry way before I was born! We were presenting to them on the new outlook and interface on Content Management System (CMS) and we were taken aback when one of them starts to be a pain somewhere in the posterior. He starts to complain on how he has to change his normal routine of inputting contents to be published and how troublesome it can be for him and his team and he drones on and on.

I was flabbergasted and aghast. My boss was speechless. These are the people who can’t embrace changes in life. They are complacent of where they are. They have the mindset of, “I don’t want to look at tomorrow, I want today will always be today.”

It’s sad actually when you see other races in other countries are ahead in terms of technology. For example in China, they are already marketing mobile phones which are worn on wrists! It doubles up as a watch too. It is time for us to look ahead, we must prepare ourselves for advancements and when will the so called Melayu Baru will actually be Baru (new) if we choose to be like a popular Malay proverb, katak bawah tempurung or a toad under a upturned coconut shell simply directly translated.

Let us all move forward towards a better tomorrow and towards Malaysia Tomorrow…gambate!