I nearly got swept of my chair after reading about Auto market in 'chronic overproduction,' Proton head warns.

"Malaysia's auto market is maturing and in a state of 'chronic overproduction' due to easy issuance of licences to foreign car assemblers," Proton chief executive Mahaleel Ariff was quoted as saying.

Is he joking or serious, one will never know, but to blame the government for issuing licences to foreign car assemblers on the ground that Proton and Perodua are able to cope with demand is akin to saying that why should we have production plant for expensive handbags when the local ciplak (counterfeit) from Petaling Street will do. Utterly ridiculous and totally unacceptable.

I am flabbergasted that he is passing the blame on to the government when Proton could not compete at all if the government actually allowed a level-playing field for all players.

Our economy is suffering great loss as productive money is being used to purchase unproductive assets (local cars, which in actual fact reduces the spending power of the car purchaser and reduces the multiplier effect on the economy).

If Proton collapses because of the foreign imports and local assembly of other cars, so be it. Probably after that we can enjoy better cars at reduce prices. Bravo to the government for finally slowly but firmly turning the wheels back in favour of consumers and not clueless business ventures.

Until that happen, I hope the Proton chief executive Mahaleel Ariff will stop crying someone took his lollipop away and concentrate on making Proton cars truly superior, not just as depicted in glossy advertisements.