KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is not ready to use flying cars as a mode of transport here, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said the country was not ready in terms of safety and regulations, despite the announcement that a prototype would be launched by the end of the year.
“At the moment, we are not yet ready. A lot of people talk about flying cars. Just imagine if everybody owns a flying car, there will be traffic jams up there and the policemen will be flying also, directing the traffic. It's a little bit of problem, even in Europe and America.
“Well, the car will fly one day. But not today. Nowadays, we have drones which can carry increasingly heavier weight; maybe one day you can drive a drone (flying car),” he told a press conference after launching the National Transport Policy here on Thursday.
Dr Mahathir was asked on the flying car issue as it was not included in the policy. He also replied to a question on a statement by the United Nations that the flying car project was not viable.
“No, I think when we receive advice, we will always consider that,” he said.
Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof was reported as saying that Malaysia’s first flying car prototype is expected to be launched by the end of the year.
He said the prototype project was led by the private sector and sponsored by local companies.
Redzuan had said Cyberjaya had been chosen as the testbed to develop the air mobility industry, as discussed in the National Development Council in December, last year.