Le Proton

In this post on March 3

• The need for more rational opposition and government

I wrote (excerpts) -

As for selling off Proton to the Chinese, in the first place, I don't think it's going to be so.

I forwarded my uncle the link to this story;

Maker of Peugeot, Citroen eager to partner Proton

Yup, I think it's going to be the French.

And yesterday there is this story,

Peugeot in talks with Proton for possible tie-up

Well, I'm quite sure that's going to be the deal as far as Proton's foreign strategic partnership is concerned.

That's because this is the story about the other potential partner,

Geely pulls out of Proton bidding process

Well, I think I got this one right.

Anyway, as I previously wrote, the move to set-up Proton with a foreign partner doesn't seemed a bad idea.

You can read it here,

Maybe Dr Mahathir wouldn't mind the Japanese too much

excerpts;

Of course the potential foreign partner will want some control over Proton to make things work, thus that 51 per cent stake.

I don't see anything wrong with that.

It's better that way than letting Proton suffer the way it is now.

I think a reliable foreign partner will do good for the company, particularly in correcting the bad practices currently plaguing the company which brought down the Proton badge in the eyes of even Malaysians.

For example, a foreign partner with controlling power can get rid of vendors who supply substandard parts for the Proton cars.

I was made to understand that many of these vendors got their work with Proton via political connections and no matter how bad they performed in supplying parts for the cars, they were always retained.

Proton people can't get rid of them because they would pull their "cables" to stay on the job.

That's how Proton cars became famous for their faulty power windows, cheap plastic interior, making funny noises just weeks after purchase, etc.

Okay, let's watch a Peugeot versus Proton video with the fair Richard Hammond as the judge,

I first like Hammond and think he's fair because of this video on Perodua Kelisa which was thrashed by his friend Jeremy Clarkson,