SEPANG: The move to launch the third national car project is to enable Malaysians to gain knowledge in automative engineering technology, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He raised concern over Malaysians’ lack of knowledge in the automative engineering industry.
“We know nothing about automative engineering, that is why we are introducing the third national car...to learn and please learn.
“Malaysians think they know everything already. They don’t want the third national car because they say it is a waste of money.
“They think they know everything about automative engineering but they know nothing. You see the progress China has made in a very short while because they went into the automative business,” he added.
Previously, Dr Mahathir reaffirmed his aspiration for the third national car project during his visit to Japan in June.
The prime minister was also reported as saying that the government was looking at building national car 3.0 after Proton and Perodua.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir launched the Asia GT Festival at the Sepang International Circuit here.
He also commended 70 first generation Proton Saga after flagging off the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) Saga Cup race, which pays tribute to his brainchild from the 1980s, the evergreen Proton Saga.
“The 70 Proton Saga cars sound like Formula One cars and people think our cars are bad and ask others not to buy Malaysian cars but buy foreign cars. They say don’t go into the third national car project,” he added.
Malaysian race car driver Jazeman Jaafar and Dr Mahathir also took NIO EP9, one of the world’s fastest high-powered electric cars, for a lap around the circuit.
When asked about his experience, he said; “It was thrilling. My heartbeat rose to 140 beats per minute.”
Malaysia hosted its first three-day Asia GT Festival which began on March 15 at Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
Hosted by Country Heights and its partner, Goldenport Enterprises, it is also the first to be held outside of China.
The racing festival will see over 30 GT cars from all around the world racing for the coveted prize money pool of RM5.45 million.
Asia GT Festival also hosted the inaugural Celebrity Bazaar, among the highlights visitors can look forward to.
The Celebrity Bazaar will feature a series of pop-up stores and marketplace by local celebrities such as Joe Flizzow, Elly Raja Lawak, Linora Low, KTown Clan, and 47 others